“What if meeting Okash changed that?”
“Femme fatale?”
I said, “She could be his patron in more ways than one. From what I saw, if they do have a relationship, she’s the dominant one. Meaning she could be free to explore sexually, like with Ricky Gurnsey. And it’s not a stretch to see Gurnsey being attracted to all that sexual energy.”
“Medina and Ricky against a hedge. Hmh.”
I said, “Geoffrey goes along with it until he doesn’t.”
“The two of them work through their relationship issues by killing four people?”
“More like taking it to the next step.”
—
As I cruised the 10 West at the ambient thirty per, Milo conference-called Reed and Binchy, caught them up, told them to begin a two-man surveillance on the gallery and Okash’s address on Fountain Avenue, in Hollywood.
Reed said, “What about sea-mammal guy?”
Binchy began humming “I Am the Walrus.”
Milo said, “Glad I caught you kids during happy time. No local address on Dugong, so far. He home-bases in Key West. You get lucky, he’s staying with Okash and one watch handles everything.”
“Got it,” said Reed, sounding a bit chastened. “How should we divide it up?”
“As you see fit. Andstayhappy.”
—
Next step: educating Alicia Bogomil and assigning her to return to the homeless camps where Mary Jane Huralnik had slept rough.
She said, “Still working Roget’s ads with nothing to show, so thanks for letting me shift gears. These people sound bizarre, L.T. Who picks an ugly animal for a name?”
“And here I was considering Willy Warthog for my new avatar. Yeah, they’re different.”
“Hart Street,” she said. “Not a huge hike from some of the homeless camps.”
“Just saw a bunch of homeless on the same block, for all we know Mary Jane got lured inside right there. So, yeah, ask if anyone’s ever seen her near there.”
“On it, boss. And here I was thinking arty types were delicate.”
—
I was nearing the Western Avenue exit when Milo’s phone abused Beethoven’s Fifth by repeating the first four notes at a frantic pace and chipmunk frequency.
“Sturgis—oh, hi, Doctor. No, sorry, I wish there was…when? Of course. I can meet you at your father’s place or you’re welcome to come to the station…sure, see you then.”
I said, “Roget’s son?”
“He’s here along with his sister. Coroner okayed releasing the body, they’re taking care of business, want to meet tomorrow.”
“What time?”
“Nothing to tell them so don’t bother.”
“Can’t hurt to know as much as possible about the victim. When?”
“Three p.m.”
