Jake Randolph in "The Naked Beat" Pt. 57

I reached Pico at a quarter to nine. I parked my car in an alley behind a bowling alley, which seemed rather ironic, and eased my way down the street. I was hoping my powers of observation hadn't been diluted by the long years of being a rich, bloated waste of space.

I was confident no one was waiting in ambush so I made my way down to the corner where Alvarado crosses Pico. I stood there wondering what awaited me.

At 9 o'clock a black, unmarked delivery van pulled up driven by an extra from a Fu Manchu movie...