Milo said, “Names.”
“I just told you they’re all okay.”
“We like to be thorough, Mike.”
“Shit. Fine, but don’t freak them out, okay?”
“We’ll be gentle.”
Heck blinked, kneaded one palm with the opposing hand. “Okay…” He reeled off a list of five women, first names only.
Milo said, “Last names, too. And contact information.”
“I don’t know their numbers by heart.”
“We’ll borrow your phone.”
“Aw, c’mon,” said Heck. “Like I said, there’s all kinds of stuff—okay, fine, but you need to swear to keep it private.”
“Mike,” said Milo, “your dick pics interest us as much as drying paint.”
“Hey,” said Heck, “they’re actually pretty—Fine, here’s the phone. But I need it back before I leave.”
Milo placed the phone in a jacket pocket. “We’ll transfer it and get it back to you as soon as that’s through.”
“You’re going to always have my data?”
Milo said, “If there’s nothing murderous in your data, you have nothing to worry about.”
“Geez,” said Heck. “I’m trying to help and—”
I said, “Why’d Tiana hate Detective Matthias?”
“Got to be something Detective Matthias told her.”
“Such as…”
“I don’t know exactly, but I saw it.”
“When?”
“The day I talked to her in her office. Tiana was in there before me. I was on time but she kept me waiting—Detective Matthias. I go ask one of you other guys, he says just go back and wait. A few minutes later, I’m sitting there and the door swings open, Tiana stomps out and slams it hard. Her face is totally red. And sweaty and tight, you know? Like someone stretched her skin. Also, her eyes are that crazy bright they always get when she’s in a batshit crazy place. Same way she was when she showed up and I wouldn’t let her in.”
I said, “Tiana doesn’t like being told no.”
“Oh man,” said Heck. “It’s like a switch gets flipped. I’m just sitting there and she sees me, stops cold, points back to the door she just slammed, and goes like this.”
He ran his hand across his throat.
Chapter
36
Milo’s face was unreadable. I took that as a sign and kept my mouth shut.
Michael Heck said, “I mean that’s hatred, right?”
Milo said, “Did Tiana tell you what upset her?”
