“Then your prints won’t come up.”
“I have to do that?”
“Any reason you wouldn’t want to?” said Milo.
Briggs’s lips twisted. His eyes raced to the right, then back.
“They use a little computerized gizmo, Jay, you won’t even get your fingers dirty.”
Briggs chewed his cheek. “Here’s the thing. I’ve been busted. A long time ago. DUI. Twice.”
“Couldn’t care less, Jay.”
“But here’s the thing. Sir. I lied about it when I applied for the job with Professor Van Ness. Ineedthe job.”
“No background check, huh?”
“They said they did,” said Briggs. “I was figuring,Oh, shit, I’m screwed.But then they hired me so I figured it didn’t come up.”
“How long ago were your busts?”
“Like…fifteen years ago.”
“Sometimes minor stuff doesn’t make it to the files, Jay. Sometimes they’re wiped off the record.”
“Really? Cool.”
“Whatever the situation, same answer: Couldn’t care less, this is about homicide.”
“Okay, sure, I’ll do it. Sure, thanks, anything to help.”
“There you go,” said Milo. “Now give us contact information for Ricky’s parents.”
“They both died,” said Briggs. “He talked about it once, some kind of accident. Then he said don’t bring it up again, just wanted you to know. ’Cause I’d asked. Right after I’d moved in. Shooting the bull, you know? I’m telling him about my family, trying to be polite, ask about his. That’s when he told me.”
“Any sibs?”
“I have four, he had none. He liked that, said he got all the attention. I told him brothers were cool, sisters could be also. I hope you analyze pretty soon. There’s bad energy floating around since you told me. Like I’m out in the water waiting for a wave, see this red tide floating toward me.”
I said, “You and Ricky both surf?”
“Nah, just me. His only sport was chicks.”
Milo said, “Where’s Ricky’s BMW?”
“We’ve got two spaces and his has been empty since Friday. Like I said I figured he’d hooked up with a hot one.”
Briggs knuckled an eye and sucked in breath. “Guess he didn’t. Once you guys leave, I’m getting out of here, too. Take a run. A walk, something.”
Milo said, “The girls Ricky brought home. Rememberanynames?”
“Can’t remember what I never knew, sir.”
I said, “Did he have a type?”
“What do you mean?”
“Tall, short, blond, brunette.”
