The
Disappearance of Dulce and Bonita is the second volume in a new series
featuring former DEA agent Charlie Parker.
Charlie made his first appearance in The Two Way Shake. At the end of that story, Charlie was adrift
and damaged by the loss of the woman he loved.
His only remaining tie to that lost love is Jackie Black, an off the
track Thoroughbred who is all that keeps him going.
Charlie
is sidetracked from his path of self-destruction by his landlady Blanca who insists
that Charlie is the right person to search for two young girls gone missing
from the neighborhood.
Charlie’s
investigation into the disappearance of Dulce and Bonita leads to the discovery
that they are only two in a series of disappearances – downplayed by the
authorities as typical teenage runaways.
His
search will lead him through the backstreets of L.A. and into a heartbreaking
world of lost, damaged and forgotten children preyed upon by people who Charlie
believes don’t deserve to live.
Ultimately,
the truth that Charlie uncovers is completely unexpected.
There
is a very personal reason that a lot of this story is set in one of my favorite
L.A. neighborhoods – Echo Park.
Many
years ago, when I first came to L.A. with my friend Georgie, we lived with my
beloved Auntie Eva in Echo Park. Her
apartment was on the second floor above a branch of the Bank of America, just a
couple of doors from the intersection of Sunset and Alvarado. The apartment was big. It even had a formal dining room. All across the back was a room resembling an
enclosed porch with louvered windows all across the outside wall. Georgie and I
used to sit on the back steps overlooking a weed strewn empty lot. It was not the most scenic of views but there
was an undeniable charm to the area.
I
left L.A. for awhile but ultimately I returned.
When we drove into town, I insisted that we get off the freeway and
drive to the corner of Sunset and Alvarado.
I wanted to get out of the car and kiss the ground. I wasn’t born here but L.A. is home and Echo
Park is my special neighborhood.
The
building that housed my Auntie’s apartment is long gone and sad to say,
developers are taking over Echo Park.
Every
time we drive down Glendale Boulevard on our way to The Pantry, there is a new
multi-unit building which seems to have appeared overnight. No matter how steep the hillside or how tiny
the lot, builders are managing to cram some charmless building that is totally
out of harmony with the character of the neighborhood.
People
call it gentrification. That’s a polite
term for pricing out people whose families have lived there for
generations.
The
area’s proximity to downtown and the jewel at its center – Echo Park itself and
its beautiful lake – plus the steep hillsides with their breathtaking views of
the downtown skyline are all drawing people who a few years ago would not have
considered calling it home based upon a reputation for gang activity and
crime. Interestingly enough, according
to the L.A. Times, the most recent figures place the crime rate as lower than
nearby Silver Lake.
There
are plenty of people out there who believe that the remaking of Echo Park into
a neat middle class community of overpriced fancy boxes is a good thing. I am not one of them. I miss every little old frame or stucco home,
every unique apartment building. It’s
enough to make you long for graffiti or at least, artistic street murals.
You
will continue to see my Echo Park in this and future books in which I will
single handedly attempt to celebrate and preserve the character of one of
L.A.’s most picturesque neighborhoods.
A
special reason to celebrate the neighborhood is Masa of Echo Park 1800 West
Sunset Boulevard L.A. CA. Masa is a
delightful restaurant with a large and eclectic menu. I wanted to try everything but settled for
what brought me there – the Chicago Deep Dish Pizza. It is simply the best deep dish pizza I’ve
ever eaten and that includes the original that I enjoyed in Chicago. Most deep dish pizza that I’ve tried in L.A. has
a thick, doughy crust. Trust me, that is
not what deep dish is supposed to mean.
At
Masa, the cornmeal crust is thin and crisp on the bottom and sides but with a
beautiful crunchy roll of crust all along its edges.
Order
as soon as you sit down because this true Chicago Deep Dish takes at least 40
minutes to bake. While we waited, we enjoyed a Guinness Stout. With the pizza, we switched to Blonde Ale.
We
were really satiated after the pie, but had to try the signature dessert - The
Warm Croissant Bread Pudding made from chocolate and almond croissants in a
vanilla cream custard drizzled with caramel sauce. My review -
it’s even better than it sounds.
As
if all of this isn’t enough, the staff is warm and welcoming, the place is pet
friendly with outdoor tables. It was
delightful to see staff rush out with a bowl of water, a big biscuit and a rug
for each doggy guest.
Wait,
there’s more – this is a restaurant which is vegetarian and vegan friendly as
well – with lots of choices for non- meat-eaters.
This
kind of research is one of my favorite parts of writing. Masa of Echo Park makes its first appearance
in this book but I’m pretty sure Charlie is going to be spending a lot of time
there in the future.
Check
out the website masaofechopark.com for all details.
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