He tried for that but it didn’t feel right and he placed both feet flat on the ground, hands on his knees. Looking past us. Pressing his hands against the sides of his face and compressing it to a rubbery mask.
“Okay,” he said, letting go. “I might possibly know who did it. And if you’re smart, you’ll get off my case and look at her.”
“Her?” said Milo. “Bettina?”
Heck cracked up. The opportunity for scorn relaxed him. “No-o-o, not Bettina. Like I said, she’s all mouth. Another her. His wife. Darren’s.”
We sat there, caught off guard and trying not to showit.
Milo said, “Really.”
“Yup,” said Mike Heck. “Here’s my thinking: Number one, she hated both of them. And me. Number two, trust me, she can be batshit crazy.”
Milo thumbed through his pad. “We’re talking about Tiana Crown.”
“That was her Playboy Mansion name. Her real name’s Rhonda.Rhonda Cronin. I know that because I saw some forms Darren had me fill out for her. Don’t ask me for what, I don’t remember.”
“Why does she hate all of you?”
“For different reasons,” said Heck.
Smiling. Rejuvenated.
Milo said, “Love to hear them.”
“No prob. She hatesmebecause I finally dumped her. Also, originally, because she thought I ratted Darren out. Which I didn’t because like I said I knew nothing.”
I said, “She suspected you of being an informant. Which was true.”
“Not if I didn’t inform. And anyway, I convinced her that I didn’t. So we started…you know.” He jabbed a finger horizontally. “Again.”
“Resuming an affair.”
“Not an affair, just plain in and out. And not from Tinder. She was easy-peasy, met her in a bar, she’s the one got me the job at the firm. We kept it going while I was working for Darren. She’d come into the office, tight clothes, big hair, you know, signaling. We’d go take a break for some afternoon delight.”
Able to cross his legs now and lean back.
Milo said, “You and women.”
“What can I say? It’s always been that way. I was twelve the first time.”
“Impressive, Mike.”
“What can I say?” Heck repeated.
“So you and Tiana—”
“She wasripe,man. Because Darren couldn’t satisfy her. Little blue pills didn’t do it for her, she wanted reality. Which I provided.”
“When did you end it?”
“Right around when I started seeing Sophie. Who wasnormalhere.” He tapped his temple.
I said, “Unlike Tiana.”
“Sophie being normal showed me how weird it had went with Tiana. ’Cause it had been a while with Tiana, she left town.”
“To go where?”
