Sixty-One

Hunter followed Steven’s directions and met him outside the disused factory in Gardena.

‘Jesus! What the hell happened to you?’ Steven asked as he caught sight of Hunter’s battered face.

‘Long story. What have we got here?’

Steven handed Hunter a pair of binoculars. ‘Down there, towards the back of the building.’

Hunter looked in the direction Steven had indicated.

‘It’s too dark. What the hell am I supposed to be looking at?’

‘Close to the north wall. Right over there,’ Steven said, pointing at the main building again.

‘Wait . . . Is that a van?’ Hunter asked, a little more excited now.

‘That’s D-King’s van. He and four of his men parked down there about half an hour ago and went into an underground entrance further towards the rear of the building. They were carrying a small arsenal with them.’

Hunter’s interest grew. ‘What’s this all about?’

‘I don’t know, but we split the surveillance team in two. One team kept an eye on D-King and the other tailed his right-hand man, the giant muscle guy.’

‘Yeah, and?’

‘Well, in the past few days something’s happened. They’ve been going crazy searching for something or someone. Whatever it is that they’ve been after, I think this is it.’

Hunter had another quick look at the rear of the main building. D-King doesn’t know the first victim isn’t Jenny, he thought. He’s been after the killer and he might’ve found something, some sort of lead. ‘Where’s the rest of the surveillance team?’

‘I pulled them. You said we didn’t need to keep an eye on your drug-dealer friend anymore. I’m just showing you this because I thought it could be of some interest. I’m out of here myself.’

‘Before you go, where exactly did they go?’

‘See that little trail at the back of the main building?’ He pointed down to the factory once again. ‘Follow it. That’s where they went, but you’re crazy if you’re thinking about going down there alone. Where the hell is your new partner?’

Hunter hesitated for a few seconds. ‘He’s coming,’ he said in a not very convincing tone.

‘Do you want me to call for back-up?’

‘No. We’ll be OK.’ Hunter knew Captain Bolter would throw a fit if he called for back-up after their conversation earlier.

‘Suit yourself.’

Hunter watched as Steven jumped back into his unmarked vehicle and drove off.

‘What the fuck am I doing?’ he said out loud while checking his weapon. ‘Haven’t you had enough action for one day, Robert?’ He retrieved a small flashlight from his glovebox and started down towards the little path Steven had indicated.