L.A. Requiem (Elvis Cole, #8)

L.A. Requiem by Robert Crais
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The book I have been waiting for finally some answers about Joe Pike and I love him now more than ever.

(view spoiler)[When a former girlfriend (Karen Garcia) of Pike's goes missing her Father ask Pike for help finding her and he brings Elvis Cole aboard. Unfortunately her body is discovered by some hikers, but due to the police refusing to look for her when she first goes missing her Father (who is a wealthy business man with pull) insist that Pike and Cole be part of the investigation. Things soon deteriorate when Krantz is brought in to head up the investigation.

Pike humiliated Krantz year's ago when he was investigating Pike's partner ( Wozniak, who was a dirty cop) and he has been itching to get even ever since. But he isn't the only one who wants to get even with Pike. Cole soon tumbles to the fact that they suspect one of the hikers (Dersh) in the killing when he realizes they have the guy staked out. But while he agrees the hikers were hiding something he doesn't think the guy is a killer. Digging deeper he discovers that the case in part of a series of killings. The victims don't seem to have any connection so they suspect a serial killer, and they are determined to keep a lid on it. But someone leaks the info to the media right before Karen Garcia's funeral. Then things get way worse Dersh winds up dead and a eye witness puts Pike at the scene even though he was miles away at the time. Krantz can't wait to arrest Pike and the evidence is piling up against him. An impromptu prison break has Pike showing up at Cole's shortly before Lucy arrives and she has a melt down when she finds him there. I kind of understand her POV as she could lose her law license and custody of her son if anyone knew she was aware of Pike being there and didn't report it but...she leaves in a huff, when Cole insist Pike stay until full dark when he will have a better chance of getting away. To further complicate matters when she returns latter that night for her purse she finds him hugging Samantha Dolan (a cop who is helping Cole).

Dolan and Cole dig into the last case Pike worked as a cop, where he supposedly saved the pedophile DeVille's life and killed Wozniak in the process. But Cole quickly realizes that Wozniak isn't the connection it's Deville when they find the witness list of people who had filed complaints against Deville and six of the victims are on it. They quickly realize Laurence Sobek is the killer and track down his Mother, a picture of him as an adult reveals how he knew what the police were up to and was able to gain access to so much information he is working as a civilian employee at Parker Center delivering the mail using the assumed name Curtis Wood. Cole even tried to chat him up to get info at one point. Cole calls Pike to let him know what is going on and that Wozniak's name will come up. Pike goes to tell Wozniak's wife Paulette and Cole and Dolan continue to Parker Center to tell Krantz and Bishop (Krantz's boss). They get a warrant for Sobek/Wood's home and while entering the property Samantha Dolan is killed by a booby trap. Pictures of Ben at tennis camp and Lucy are discovered and Cole and the police put them under lock down but Cole realizes that they are merely a distraction and that Wozniak's wife and daughter are the target. A few police are left behind to protect Lucy and Ben in case Cole is wrong but Cole and the majority of police head to Wozniak's home.

Sobek shot Pike in the back while he was talking to Paulette (the love of Pike's life and she returns his feelings) Pike manages to shoot him but Sobek catches Pike off guard and shoots him in the chest when Cole and the police arrive Pike is down and Paulette and her daughter are being held hostage. Cole and Krantz go in but Sobek gets the drop on them, Cole is badly wounded in the arm he uses to shoot and Krantz puts down his gun to keep Sobek from shooting Paulette Pike who everyone assumes is dead or dying shoots and kills Sobek. Krantz tries to arrest Pike but Cole interferes and Pike escapes. Cole loses his license and is a convicted felon after he takes a plea deal.

Frank Garcia gets his license back for him.

Cole realizes what is missing in the police report on Dersh's murder (the car) and points it out to John Chen. With Cole's help Chen finds the oil drips that proves it was Sobek who killed Dersh not Pike and he is cleared. (hide spoiler)] When a former girlfriend (Karen Garcia) of Pike's goes missing her Father ask Pike for help finding her and he brings Elvis Cole aboard. Unfortunately her body is discovered by some hikers, but due to the police refusing to look for her when she first goes missing her Father (who is a wealthy business man with pull) insist that Pike and Cole be part of the investigation. Things soon deteriorate when Krantz is brought in to head up the investigation.

Pike humiliated Krantz year's ago when he was investigating Pike's partner ( Wozniak, who was a dirty cop) and he has been itching to get even ever since. But he isn't the only one who wants to get even with Pike. Cole soon tumbles to the fact that they suspect one of the hikers (Dersh) in the killing when he realizes they have the guy staked out. But while he agrees the hikers were hiding something he doesn't think the guy is a killer. Digging deeper he discovers that the case in part of a series of killings. The victims don't seem to have any connection so they suspect a serial killer, and they are determined to keep a lid on it. But someone leaks the info to the media right before Karen Garcia's funeral. Then things get way worse Dersh winds up dead and a eye witness puts Pike at the scene even though he was miles away at the time. Krantz can't wait to arrest Pike and the evidence is piling up against him. An impromptu prison break has Pike showing up at Cole's shortly before Lucy arrives and she has a melt down when she finds him there. I kind of understand her POV as she could lose her law license and custody of her son if anyone knew she was aware of Pike being there and didn't report it but...she leaves in a huff, when Cole insist Pike stay until full dark when he will have a better chance of getting away. To further complicate matters when she returns latter that night for her purse she finds him hugging Samantha Dolan (a cop who is helping Cole).

Dolan and Cole dig into the last case Pike worked as a cop, where he supposedly saved the pedophile DeVille's life and killed Wozniak in the process. But Cole quickly realizes that Wozniak isn't the connection it's Deville when they find the witness list of people who had filed complaints against Deville and six of the victims are on it. They quickly realize Laurence Sobek is the killer and track down his Mother, a picture of him as an adult reveals how he knew what the police were up to and was able to gain access to so much information he is working as a civilian employee at Parker Center delivering the mail using the assumed name Curtis Wood. Cole even tried to chat him up to get info at one point. Cole calls Pike to let him know what is going on and that Wozniak's name will come up. Pike goes to tell Wozniak's wife Paulette and Cole and Dolan continue to Parker Center to tell Krantz and Bishop (Krantz's boss). They get a warrant for Sobek/Wood's home and while entering the property Samantha Dolan is killed by a booby trap. Pictures of Ben at tennis camp and Lucy are discovered and Cole and the police put them under lock down but Cole realizes that they are merely a distraction and that Wozniak's wife and daughter are the target. A few police are left behind to protect Lucy and Ben in case Cole is wrong but Cole and the majority of police head to Wozniak's home.

Sobek shot Pike in the back while he was talking to Paulette (the love of Pike's life and she returns his feelings) Pike manages to shoot him but Sobek catches Pike off guard and shoots him in the chest when Cole and the police arrive Pike is down and Paulette and her daughter are being held hostage. Cole and Krantz go in but Sobek gets the drop on them, Cole is badly wounded in the arm he uses to shoot and Krantz puts down his gun to keep Sobek from shooting Paulette Pike who everyone assumes is dead or dying shoots and kills Sobek. Krantz tries to arrest Pike but Cole interferes and Pike escapes. Cole loses his license and is a convicted felon after he takes a plea deal.

Frank Garcia gets his license back for him.

Cole realizes what is missing in the police report on Dersh's murder (the car) and points it out to John Chen. With Cole's help Chen finds the oil drips that prove it was Sobek who killed Dersh not Pike and he is cleared.

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