“While I didn’t scope this area for marks, even for the entertainment, did you ever work the beat here back in your uniform days?”
“No, and thank God. Backed up a few calls, sure, but never worked Times Square on the regular beat.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever asked you. Where did you meet Mavis?”
“Downtown, just off Broadway. Pretty sure. And you know what? She was nothing like the one I busted today. That one screamed, whined, tried to clock me. When I busted Mavis, she was like: ‘Hey, got me. You’re really good at this. How long have you been on the job? I like your hair.’ I’m ‘You’re under arrest,’ and reading her rights. You know, to remain silent. She really just didn’t.
“There’s nobody like her.”
“There isn’t, no. And she recognized you.”
“Sure, she might’ve seen me in her territory.” She started to shrug, then realized what he meant.
“You mean in an Irish woo-woo way.”
“I do.”
“Maybe.”
Because she had to admit there’d been… just something there. On both sides.
“After she got sprung, she hunted me up, told me she had a gig singing at… Not the Blue Squirrel, not then. Ah, Artie’s Den, Marty’s Den—something. It’s gone now anyway. It made the Blue Squirrel look like a ballroom. I just couldn’t shake her off. I don’t know why I finally went.”
As they walked, he skimmed a hand over her hair. “You recognized her.”
“Maybe. That’s the porn place up on the right. I’m looking for Luce and Ansel. Naked guy only had first names, and there’s no telling if those are their legal names anyhow.”
She stopped by the first LC she spotted. The woman, with a long fall of curly hair as red as Roarke’s new toy and a trailing vine of flowers down both bare arms, cocked a hip.
“Look, Handsome might be good for business, but cops aren’t. I’m licensed, and I’m working.”
“Me, too, so let’s make it quick. Bobby Ren. Did you know him?”
“Everybody working the Square knows Bobby, and what happened to him. Why aren’t you out catching who killed him instead of hassling me?”
“That’s what I’m trying to do. Did you see Bobby last night?”
“Before work. He was wolfing down a burger up the block. Me, I eat light and at home before work. I had a good night. Not a lot of time for socializing. I liked Bobby. Don’t know any who didn’t.”
“Do you know Luce and Ansel?”
“Yeah, yeah. Come on, you’re costing me.”
Roarke gave her a fifty.
“Okay then, handsome and classy buys some time. They stroll, like literally. This block, up the next, down the next. Cover three or four easy most nights.”
“What do they look like?”
“Depends. Luce has a shit-ton of wigs…”
Frowning, she trailed off, then nodded.
“No, wait, I saw her before. She’s got the short blond going, with the little petal dress. If she had wings, she’d be a fairy. Little white girl, looks like she wouldn’t know a cock from an elbow.”
“Ansel?”
“Haven’t seen him yet. Black guy, smooth looks. Usually wears his hair in twists and does the tips to match whatever he’s wearing.”
