“Know them? That’s a stretch. I know who they are. The tall one with long hair who turns into a wolf at the full moon, that’s Konrad. The chubby one with glasses and her hair in a bun is Roz. What her deal is, I haven’t heard yet. Enlighten me.”
“Roz is a lawyer,” Morgaine said. “I may need her help in the museum case I’m working on.”
“Why? Did you catch the thief?”
“Not yet.”
Konrad and Roz stared alternately at her and at each other. At one point, they both shrugged.
“Okay, I need to demonstrate to Roz and Konrad that you and I are really communicating. What can you tell me about them that I wouldn’t know?”
“Have you been in Roz’s apartment before?”
“I was here when Merry lived here, but this is the first time since Roz moved in.”
“Good. Have you been in her bedroom yet?”
“No. I’ve only been out here in the living room. I see what you’re getting at. Maybe you can find something in her bedroom that I’ve never seen. Describe it to me in detail, and I’ll tell them what it is.”
“You’re pretty smart for a woman who wears black lipstick and nail polish.”
“I’m not wearing the black lipstick today, in case you didn’t notice. I try to be more conservative when I visit the museum.”
Chad laughed.
Morgaine rolled her eyes. “Whatever. Get on with it, please.”
“I’ve already been in there. Tell her she left the top drawer open in her bedside table and there are three things in it: a box of tissues, a book, and a long plastic cylinder. Bright pink.”
“Good. That’s very specific.” Morgaine faced Roz. “He said you left your bedside table drawer open. There’s a book, a box of tissues, and some kind of pink plastic cylinder in it.”
Roz’s jaw dropped and she turned bright red.
“What’s wrong?”
“Oh, and extra batteries. I forgot to mention them.”
Roz coughed and composed herself. “Nothing. Tell him to look for something else.”
Chad was laughing hysterically.
“Chad, what did you do?”
“Can I help it if she likes to read erotica and keeps a vibrator handy?”
Morgaine dropped her head in her hands. She straightened, took a deep breath, and tried again. “Chad, cut the shit. Now find something else, and don’t embarrass the poor woman.”
Konrad smiled.
“Okay, I’m going into her closet. Never mind. It’s dark in there. I’ll try the bathroom.”
Morgaine waited and tapped her foot. Roz folded her hands and bit her lower lip.
“Here’s something. It’s behind the shower curtain, so unless you’ve taken a shower with her—”
“Of course I haven’t. Now tell me what you’re seeing.”
“She has about a dozen bath products. One of those natural sponges, a purple washcloth, a set of red plastic bottles with all kinds of perfumey…Aaa-cho.”
