Heck sighed. “Whatever.”
Knitting sculpted eyebrows, Bel Geddes turned to Wendy.
Wendy said, “That’s about it.”
“So far.”
No reply.
The Queen of All Frowns took over Bel Geddes’s face. Amazing what anger can do to beauty.
“Okay,” she said, turning to us. “What is it you need to know from Mike?”
Milo said, “Whatever he thinks could help us.”
Heck said, “Sure.”
Milo said, “Great, Mike, and thanks a ton for doing this. I could understand if you didn’t want to—”
Bel Geddes said, “Talk about an understatement.”
Heck said, “I want to. I wanted to help right from the beginning because I care—cared about Sophie. We weren’t a couple anymore. But we stayed friendly and I’d never do anything to hurt her.”
Tears welled up in his eyes. Heck swiped them away with a sleeve. Angry at displaying emotion. No attempt to milk the situation.
I told myself:Oscar winner orinnocent.
Milo might’ve been feeling the same thing, because now it was his turn to frown. He pasted on a smile. “Got it, Mike. Can you think of anyone who might hurt Sophie?”
“I mean,” said Heck. “I guess you guys always look for someone close. Which makes sense. I guess. Unless it’s one of those serial killers who prey on strangers.”
Fixing his eyes on Milo.
“Mike, we’re not even close to guessing. That’s why you’re here. And yes, we do look at the victim’s inner circle. We had no idea you were in it until your DNA—”
Bel Geddes said, “Ancient history. Move on.”
Milo said, “Mike, who else was in Sophie’s inner circle?”
Heck, relieved not to be talking about himself, said, “When we were together, she had a couple of friends. Ashley was one, don’t recall the other. Maybe something with an M. Don’t know their last names.”
As Milo copied, Bel Geddes huffed. “You don’t even know her friends yet?”
Milo ignored her. “Do you have numbers for them, Mike?”
“Nope, sorry, it wasn’t like that.”
“Like—”
“Hanging out with them. I just met them a couple of times, both when Sophie and me were having drinks and they came in. Sophie told me they were her friends and they sat down and had drinks with us and I got to know them a little. Ashley’s a flight attendant. For…Southwest, I think. The other—Maria, I’m pretty sure that’s it, she does something in the industry.”
Milo said, “Films and TV.”
Bel Geddes huffed again.Like there’s another industry?
Milo said, “Were they by themselves?”
“The first time, yeah,” said Heck. “The second time they were with guys but I couldn’t tell you their names because they just talked to us for a few minutes then went to their own table.”
