“He never said they had problems with it.”
“Not your thing,” said Milo.
“I mean…I like to know where I’m going so I assume a chick does, too.” Small smile. “Not that I been doing much. Between the job and hitting the waves. Also I try to do some volleyball.”
I said, “Ricky’s sport was women.”
Emphatic nod. “In school, he was never a jock, so I guess for him…”
Milo said, “What did he use to relax his dates?”
“Nothing weird,” said Briggs. “Sweet drinks, he said chicks always went for the sugar, liked to pretend they were doing 7UP or something.”
“He mixed them sweet cocktails.”
“No, he’d buy them. Getting them to try stuff during dinner. Or at the bar.”
I said, “Stuff with parasols.”
“He said little paper things.”
“He didn’t party here?”
“He brought a few home but I can’t tell you who. I’d only know the next day, I’d come home he’d be washing sheets, giving me the V-sign. Like I said, I work nights. Even on the weekend.”
Milo said, “Seven-day job.”
“Professor Van Ness needs me. Also, I need the money, got loans.” Briggs’s head dropped. “I didn’t want to talk smack about Ricky like he’s some sort of freak. He was just a friendly dude who liked to have fun.”
“Sure,” said Milo. “Okay, tell us what else you know, Jay.”
“Nothing,” said Briggs. “A couple of times, he bragged. Like the few times when we were both home. I’d be in my room, Ricky would have the door closed. I’d be getting ready to leave and he opens it, does this.”
Hushing himself with a finger on his lips.
“Someone’s sleeping.”
“Exactly. But not him. He’d open his robe and peel off his rubber and give this big smile.”
“Mission accomplished,” said Milo.
“What can I say, it made him happy,” said Briggs. “Nothing wrong with happy, right?”
“Ever see who he was with?”
“Never.”
“Deep sleepers.”
“I guess.”
“Think they were unconscious?”
“I don’t know. I hope not. I don’t want you to think of Ricky as a bad person. ’Specially now that he’s—this is freaking me out. This is the last thing I expected to hear.”
Milo said, “You okay with us seeing Ricky’s room?”
“Sure.” Briggs pushed himself upright. “You need my permission?”
