Walter Mosley A Red Death Pocket Books: NY, 1991, 245 pp. (1953)
Chapter 32 [Easy Rawlins and Shirley Wenzler drive to Santa Monica to find her father, Chaim Wenzler, dead . . . ]
". . . It was a small house across the street from a park. The park was small too. Just one little grassy hill that rose up to the street on the other side. No trees or benches. Just a hill that was only fit for the two children who rolled down it, pretending that they'd lost control . . .
"The house was decorated in some cool, dull color, green or blue. The ceiling was so low that I remember ducking to go through the door from the living room to the bedroom.
". . . We got to a small coffee shop in Venice Beach. A small place that had sandy floors and nets with seashells that hung from the ceiling. Our window looked out onto the shore . . .
"She was shivering so I put my hand out.
"The white cook came out from behind the counter and a few people turned all the way around in their chairs to watch . . ." p. 199