“Why what?”
“The edginess,” he said. “Walking while overly pigmented.”
—
The street around the corner was residential with permit-only parking that left lots of curb-space available. Like most daytime streets on the West Side, devoid of people, the sole fauna a few randy squirrels.
Milo placed the car across from a well-tended two-story Spanish Revival with no vehicles in the driveway. We were out and waiting when the silver Audi zoomed in and short-stopped behindus.
The three of us convened under a pepper tree.
Frank Winchell said, “Okay, what do you think I can tell you about Sophie?”
Milo said, “Can you think of anyone who’d want to kill her?”
“Of course not. She was a good person. Plus we didn’t date for that long and it’s been months since I’ve seen her. Who directed you to me, anyway?”
“Sorry, can’t get into that.”
“Yeah, right,” said Winchell. “Probably the dude she dated after me. Some lawyer type, something.”
“Why would you think that?”
“Because it’s logical,” said Winchell. “I met Sophie at the gym—helped spot her on some forty-pound bench presses—” Smiling. “Later, I saw him do the same thing. Am I right?”
Milo said, “How long did you and Sophie date?”
“Two months or so, maybe fifteen dates. And we’re not talking hot, heavy, and exclusive. After I spotted her, she started talking to me. Good-looking girl and she seemed nice. Next time we saw each other at the gym, we went out for tea—I don’t drink. She was easy to be with. That’s why when you ask who would hurt her, it’s crazy, she’s the last person someone would hurt.”
I said, “Tea and then…”
“More tea,” said Winchell. “Then eventually something to eat. Did it lead to something? Yes it did but not always. Sometimes we just talked and went our separates.”
He sighed. “Neither of us deluded ourselves we had a big romantic thing going.”
Milo said, “Purely physical.”
“No, no,” said Winchell. “That makes it sound tacky. Sophie and I liked each other, we could converse.”
“You’ve been to Sophie’s place.”
“Sure. Oh. She was killed there?”
“Afraid so.”
“Right in her own place,” said Winchell. “That’s…” His voice broke. He swiped at his eyes. “Yes, I was there. Months ago. But I didn’t kill her. Are we through?”
Milo said, “Almost. Why’d the two of you stop dating?”
“Oh man. Why? Was it some big emotional thing? Not even close. I had some vacation time and asked her to come with me for a week in Maui. She said she couldn’t so I went by myself and met someone there. Who turned out also to be from L.A. Who I’m still seeing. When I got back, I told Sophie and she did this little pouty thing.”
He demonstrated. “But then she laughed and gave me a cheek peck and said congratulations.”
“Good sport,” said Milo.
“No,” said Winchell. “Sophie didn’t need to be any kind of sport, because it honestly didn’t bother her. We had fun but it wasn’t hearts and flowers between us. And it didn’t take her long to find someone, next time I saw her at the gym she was with the lawyer dude. She called him Mike. Standing around while he overhead-pressed. About half of what I press. Then sure enough, he’s spotting her for her forties and afterward they’re leaving together. Then she stopped coming to the gym and so did he. What I’d like to know is why the bastard tried to snitch me out.”
Milo said, “Don’t assume anything, sir. And please don’t act on any assumptions.”
