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What can I say? I must be pretty forgettable.
    “All I’m saying, Captain,” she continues where she apparently just left off, “is that it’s absolutely essential that we get that cello back. Today.”
    “As soon we get an expert to take a look at the cello to confirm its value as well as conduct a thorough examination, we’ll be returning it. It’s in a very secure place, believe you me.”
    “Xu’s already had to rehearse with another cello. But he says that he needs the Stradivarius. In addition to being an extraordinary instrument, it’s very special to him. An anonymous donor from China gave it to him while he was a conservancy student in Philadelphia. It’s always represented that his country believed in him. It’s really responsible for getting Xu through hard times.”
    Well, whoop-de-do, I think.
    “It seems as if you are very familiar with the cello’s history,” says Randle.
    Do I detect a touch of snark in Captain Randle’s tone?
    “I interviewed Xu about it for our program,” Kendra says, straightening her back in her chair. “He and his cello, in fact, are going to be the centerpiece of a special concert in China this week. So, you see, this is not only a matter of national significance, but also of international importance. I’m sure you don’t want the president involved in this.”
    I exchange glances with Johnny. Did s he just say what I think she said? Did she just threaten to get the president, as in the president of the United States, involved?
    “Ms. Prescott, we are dealing with two serious issues here. One is possible attempted grand theft. The other, attempted murder. No politician can circumvent our legal system, especially during my watch.”
    “Attempted murder? That’s utterly ridiculous. Mr. Xu was just defending himself and a five-million-dollar cello from a thief.”
    “Do you think Mr. Fuentes, one of your employees, would be capable of such a thing?”
    “Well, he’s not officially an employee, more like anemployee of a vendor. And you never know, right?” She turns to Johnny. “You were there; what do you think?”
    Johnny starts to stammer and I feel so bad for him.
    Kendra begins to frown and even Captain Randle seems a bit distressed. A police officer with a speech impediment? I know that Johnny’s been working on his issues with a speech therapist (she called the station once), though I haven’t mentioned anything to Johnny; hey, I’m part Japanese and know all about saving face.
    “Neither one of us saw clearly what was going on,” I break in. Both the captain and Johnny seemed relieved that I’ve interrupted. “Officer Mayhew was at the bottom of the stairs and I was in the restaurant at the time of Mr. Fuentes’s fall.”
    “Why else would Mr. Xu have a conflict with this man? It’s not like he knew him,” she says.
    “We do have a witness.”
    “The other gardener? She works with Eduardo. She’s probably just protecting him.” Still holding on to her phone, Kendra crosses her arms tightly around her chest. This meeting is obviously not going the way the she wants. She glances at her screen, and then reports to Captain Randle that she can give him the name of an appraiser for the cello. “He’s available right now.”
    Captain Randle seems skeptical.
    “Or do you have another string instrument expert that the LAPD uses on a regular basis?” Kendra has a point. She shares the screen with Captain Randle, who writes down the name of the expert and his phone number. “It’s Phoenix Instruments. In Arcadia.” Arcadia, home to not only the Santa Anita Racetrack and one of the biggest malls in San Gabriel Valley, butalso the best Taiwanese dumplings in perhaps all of Southern California.
    “Okay, I’ll get on this, Ms. Prescott.” The captain then gives her one of his blinding smiles. “See what happens when you actually cooperate with police?”
    *   *   *
    As soon as my shift is over, I take off for a small rental car company