Milo said, “Someone making Marty’s life easier.”
“Oh. Good for you, man, good for you. He makesmylife easier. I’m putting him up for saintliness at the Vatican. Even though I’m a Martin Lutheran.”
A brief staring contest ensued. Milo won and the man tottered out.
Kehoe said, “Clayton sometimes helps me clean up so I tip him. But the owners don’t know. And don’t think I do that for everyone.”
“If you did, we wouldn’t think less of you, Marty.”
“Whatever.”
“Marty, you’re obviously a stand-up guy with a big heart. You roomed with Paul and now he’s been murdered. No one suspects youof anything. We need people to give us information. Without that, we’re screwed, and so far on Paul’s case we’re super-screwed.”
Kehoe’s lips folded inward, emphasizing the size of his chin.
He said, “Whatever, okay. But it’s no big deal.”
“Thanks, Marty. Now what did you want to tell us?”
“Paul,” said Kehoe. “He wasn’t a good person.”
—
We coaxed Kehoe from behind the bar and over to one of the tables and sat down facing him.
Milo smiled and said, “Go on, Marty.”
“We used to room together,” said Kehoe. “At first it was okay, then I learned about him and knew I had to get out of there. Problem was I couldn’t afford my own place. But as soon as I could, I was out of there.”
Milo said, “How long ago are we talking?”
Kehoe gave the question serious consideration. “I think…we started…like four years ago? I left like two years ago?”
“And he’s owed you money all that time.”
“Yes, sir.”
“May I ask how much?”
“A lot,” said Kehoe. “Like eighteen hundred dollars. Actually, seventeen hundred eighty-five.”
“That is a lot,” said Milo.
“Not in one bunch, he’d ask for twenty, fifty at a time, then a hundred, then fifty, even ten. That kind of thing. When I’d ask him for it back he’d tell me to keep a record so we’d both know. So I did. That’s how I know.”
“He pay any of it back?”
Kehoe shook his head.
“So how’d you guys meet?”
“We were both at the Roxy, working the door. Then we found out we had both done stunt work. I stopped because I tore my ACL butPaul did a little more. He was even in a couple of movies but he didn’t get paid much.”
“You do any acting?”
“Nah,” said Kehoe. “I don’t like being looked at. After my ACL surgery, I started doing this and that’s what I still do.”
“Tending bar.”
