Part 33: Skippy

Two hours later, Smith and Iwata are back in front of 2204 Steiner, car now facing south. Traffic has picked up on the street and sidewalk. “It’s early,” Iwata says, keeping his eyes on the front of the building.

“We know the widow’s awake,” Smith replies. “Ms. Mieke too, I bet.”

“When?”, Iwata asks.

Smith thinks for a second, then says, “Nine’s good.”

“I’m going for coffee,” says Iwata.

“I’ll join you,” says Smith.

“No fog this morning,” says Smith as she and Iwata walk down Clay. “Bet our boy will stay indoors.”

“Where was he last night?”, Iwata asks.

“I can tell you where he wasn’t,” Smith replies. “Anywhere near Market.” There’s not a hint of irony in her voice.

Iwata laughs anyway.

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At the coffee shop door, Smith spots Karen Mieke seated at a table near the back. She turns around before Karen spots her, signals Iwata, then leads him around the corner. “Buy her a coffee,” Smith says. “Introduce yourself, get on her good side. I’ll meet you at the car.”

“Mieke?”, Iwata asks.

“Who else?”, Smith replies. “She needs a buddy. Use your charm. It’s in there somewhere.” She heads back up Fillmore.

Iwata enters the cafe, pours himself a self-service cup, drops some money in the box, and heads for Karen’s table against the back wall. A book is open on the table in front of Karen. She looks out the cafe’s front window as Iwata approaches. “Hey,” he says, “Karen, right? Remember me?”

“I’ve seen you around the neighborhood,” Karen replies without looking at him.

“Mind if I join you?”, he asks.

“That depends,” says Karen. “Are you on duty?”

“I just wanna ask how you’re doing,” Iwata answers, “your shoulder.” He remains standing.

“Better, thank you,” Karen says flatly.

Iwata hesitates. “If you should ever be concerned about your safety,” he says.

Karen nearly laughs. “I should do what, call you?”

Iwata says, “I mean, your attacker hasn’t been apprehended yet, so I-.”

Now Karen really laughs. “I’m sure you put your best detectives on the case,” Karen says, acting serious.

“You live alone,” Iwata says in his defense.

Karen tenses. “That’s not where I was attacked,” Karen says. “Are you trying to make me feel better? Because it’s not working.”

Iwata nods, turns, leaves.

“Hey,” Karen calls to Iwata’s back. He stops, turns around. “The least I can do is invite you to finish your coffee,” Karen says. “Sit. Please.”

Iwata takes the seat next to her against the cafe’s back wall. “I meant the part about helping if I can,” he says.

“The other parts not so much?”, Karen asks.

“I meant them too,” Iwata replies. “They’re just less important. I didn’t mean to alarm you.”

They watch the Fillmore traffic through the cafe window. Karen says, “I’d be more cooperative if I didn’t think you were wasting your time.”

“I’d be more sociable if it felt helpful,” Iwata replies, “but it doesn't. It's just time I don't spend catching bad guys. Like tonight, for instance,” Iwata continues, ignoring his coffee. “Like I’m stealing money from the city.”

“Boo the fuck hoo,” says Karen. She turns to face Iwata. “You ever think maybe you’re arresting the wrong people? Just filling the jails with more victims?”

“I never put anyone in jail I wasn’t pretty sure broke a law,” Iwata replies.

“That’s not saying much,” Karen says, “considering who wrote ‘em.”

“I admit, a lot of people in jail are there because they’re poor and they made some bad decisions. Then there are the others. They’re in prison because that’s where they belong,” Iwata says softly.

“And you’re gonna keep putting them there,” says Karen.

“Damn skippy,” Iwata replies with a small smile.

Karen laughs. “Okay, Skip, a grateful public salutes you for your sacrifices.”

“C’mon,” says Iwata, “I didn’t, I mean--”.

“Kidding,” Karen says reassuringly. “I’ve known my share of cops. You don’t fit the profile.”

Iwata looks at Karen sideways. “You might’ve meant that as a compliment,” he says, “but it wasn’t.”

“Aw, don’t worry, Skip,” Karen laughs, “if I ever compliment you, you’ll know it.”

Now Iwata laughs. “If you ever do,” he says, “I’ll pretend I give a goddamn.”

“Oh, very cop-like reply, Skippy,” Karen says.

“What do you think happened to your ex?”, Iwata asks.

“Very cop-like question,” Karen says. Iwata waits. “What do you think happened to him?”, Karen asks.

“Somebody killed him,” Iwata replies.

“I think you’re right,” Karen says.

“Who do you think killed him?”, Iwata continues.

“I don’t think it matters,” Karen replies. “We both know who didn’t. That does matter. You know he didn’t because you were watching him. I know he didn’t because he told me.”

“Not me personally,” Iwata says “Did he mention who did kill him?”

Karen frowns. “No,” she says, “and no more, okay?” She stands up. “Walk me home?”, she asks.

“Sure,” Iwata says. He stands, picks up his half-empty cup. “Sorry.”

Karen shakes her head. “I’m not used to cops apologizing,” she says.

When they’re outside the cafe, Iwata says, “I’m not apologizing for being a cop, or for doing my job. I’m sorry I can’t find the bastard.”

Karen wants to call bullshit but decides to let Iwata’s comment slide. There’s lots of foot traffic on Fillmore. The sun has shown up early. Karen is feeling better than she was when she left her apartment two hours earlier, just after dawn. She thinks about going back to work. “You’re a lucky guy, Skip,” Karen says.

Iwata scoffs. “I spent the night standing in a pile of garbage on Market Street,” he says. “Lucky.”

“You like your job,” Karen says. “You’re lucky.”

“You don’t like yours?”, Iwata asks.

Karen sighs, “I like getting paid. That’s enough.”

“They pay me to spend the night standing in garbage,” Iwata says. “Who couldn’t like that?”

The walkers turn right on Steiner, head up hill. “What I can’t figure,” Iwata says out of the blue, “is how quickly they disappeared him. They must’ve been watching you before the attack.”

“Maybe they were watching him,” Karen says. “They’re watching, you’re watching, and whoever you’re watching is watching you right back.”

“Smith is watching us right now,” says Iwata, pointing to a parked sedan.

“Watching us or watching Tim?”, Karen asks.

“Tim,” Iwata replies. “Us too,” Iwata adds, “but Tim mostly.”

When they reach the apartment building, Karen stops, turns to Iwata, and holds out her right hand. "Thank you for seeing me home safe and sound,” she says in mock formality. “You’re a gentleman.”

Iwata shakes Karen’s hand hesitantly. “I’m glad you’re feeling better,” Iwata says uncertainly.

Karen turns and starts up the stairs. At the top step, she stops and faces Iwata. “Stop by sometime when you’re not working, Skippy,” she says. “Maybe we’ll go for a stroll.” She smiles, turns, and enters the building.

Smith exits the car as Iwata approaches. “How’s your new pal doing?”, she asks.

Iwata leans against the passenger door and folds his arms. “She’s cold,” Iwata says. “Too cold for me. She doesn’t care that her ex got disappeared, or that her new boyfriend’s a vigilante killer.”

Smith regards Iwata and thinks, long night. “It doesn’t surprise me,” she tells him. “The ex was a loser. Karen’s glad to be rid of him.” Smith leans toward Iwata. “I wouldn’t refer to Charlie as Karen’s boyfriend,” she says. “I don’t think Charlie would ever say such a thing.”

Iwata looks over his shoulder at the apartment building. “Forget the basement,” he says. “We gotta get a good look at Charlie’s computers.”

Smith looks down Steiner in the opposite direction. “Pellegrini was how we tracked him,” she says. “Charlie’s pretty careful, as a rule.”

“You think Charlie wanted us to find him?”, Iwata asks.

“I think he didn’t mind if we found him,” Smith replies. “We don’t concern him.”

“You don’t think he’s playin’?”, Iwata asks.

Smith shakes her head. “He doesn’t think that way,” she says. “He’s all business. He knows.”

Iwata waits a second, then he asks, “Knows what?”

“We can’t get him,” Smith answers. “Seven murders, no physical evidence, no witnesses. He probably knew we’d find Pellegrini’s old link into the SFPD network. Knew we’d likely check Pellegrini’s neighbors.”

“Knows knows knows,” says Iwata. “Knows we’re out here talking about him right now.”

Smith thinks, knows our next move months before we do. “Forget following him when he walks,” she says, now staring straight at the apartment building. “We need to follow him when he works.”

“Villa Lobos,” Iwata says.

“Villa Lobos,” Smith repeats.

The detectives get in the car without another word. Smith heads south on Steiner. “Good bye, Charlie,” she says as they turn left on Bush.

“I hate workin’ nights,” Iwata says.

“You meet the nicest people,” Smith adds.

Iwata thinks about his conversation in the coffee shop with Karen Mieke. He almost believes Karen’s invitation to meet again was legitimate.

Part 34: Blisflix