Ace of Spades — Dell Shannon

The Ace of Spades continues the case histories of Mendoza, the Mexican detective of the Los Angeles Police Department. Lt. Mendoza specializes in homicides … he has brains, uncanny flair, wealth, a passion for justice and Abyssinian cats. He has a weakness for poker and Alison Weir, the central female character in his life.
Mendoza's new case enters Homicide through the back door of Stolen Property … in this instance the old fashioned jalopy, belonging to the redhead Alison Weir.
The story fast becomes estrangled with importers, museums, and a mysterious Madam K.
A chance scrap of paper begins as exciting, detective chain of events, quickly leading to high tension as Mendoza realizes that the life of the woman he loves is in danger.