Chapter 35
Chapter
Michael Heck took another trip to his coffee cup. He took a sip, put it down. “Still sucks and now it’s cold.”
When he returned, our legs were crossed and we looked relaxed.
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 show it.
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 hates me because 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 was ripe, 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 was normal here.” 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?”
“Their place in Aspen, after the investigation started she went there. If she went other places, I don’t know.
But she was gone, even after they lost all the houses.
Like for three years. Then she was back half a year ago and calling me.
It started off okay but then it got weird.
She was always into control but now she’s kicking it up, you know? ”
We said nothing.
Heck licked his lips and smiled. “You want the details, fine. She was always like let me get on top and hold your arms down. Which was fine. Now it’s let me tie you up with neckties, which I did a few times and then I said no effing way.
That pissed her off, but she didn’t push it.
So what does she do the next time? Pulls out effing handcuffs.
Starts jangling them right after we’re getting into it.
Guess she had them under a pillow or something.
I say uh-uh, no way, she’s like you got to let me, Mike, it satisfies me.
Making a big deal out of it. But I’m, nope, not happening.
She’s getting obnoxious. Finally I get off her and put on my clothes and book.
Took the effing cuffs with me, also. Tossed them in a dumpster like a mile away. ”
Milo said, “A mile from where?”
“Some motel on Centinela. Big difference from how it used to be. We used to go to her place. Their place in San Marino. She got off on doing it in she and Darren’s bed. Crazy big place, like twenty rooms.”
Wider smile. Smug. “We tested out a whole bunch of the rooms.”
I said, “You ended it and you think she hates you for that.”
“I don’t think, I know. She told me.”
“When did that happen?”
“Few months ago. I was with Sophie in Palm Springs, the next day, I was with another girl in Pasadena. Then I’m by myself resting.
Needing rest, you know? And she shows up at my place with champagne and Mollies, wants to party.
I go to the door, I’m half asleep, made it a whole lot easier to say no.
Told her you need to get yourself some wuss who likes being dominated and that ain’t me.
And she goes ballistic. Tells me I just proved myself as the king of the wusses because a real man would have the confidence to yield.
Her word. Yield. Like I’m a car on the freeway or something.
Then she tries to push her way in and she’s strong, man.
For a girl. But I shove her out and close the door.
She pounds a bunch of times, hard. Finally gives up and leaves and that’s the last I seen of her. So, yeah, she hates me, she said so.”
I said, “You began sleeping with Tiana years ago but stopped recently.”
“It’s true whether or not you want to believe it,” said Heck. “It wasn’t a relationship. Never. Just off and on, sometimes she’d call, sometimes I’d call. And like I said there was a lot of time we had no contact after the investigation began. She probably wanted to steer clear of the whole thing.”
“Was she in on the scam?”
“You know,” he said, “I wish I could say she was but if I had to bet, I’d say no.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because there was no reason for Darren to plan with her, she’s no genius.
And she was super mad about how Darren had screwed up.
Said all he had to do was take his contingency cut, it would’ve still been a shitload.
But no, he got greedy. Stupid and greedy, she called him.
Said if she’d known she’d have set him straight. ”
“Would she have been able to set him straight?”
“Who knows? Like I said, she was dominant and Darren liked the arm-candy. The whole Playboy Mansion thing. But he was pretty alpha, himself. Even though with clients he played Mr. Sensitive.”
I said, “Your theory is Tiana hated you because you dumped her. And she hated Sophie because—”
“I was with Sophie and not her.”
“Jealousy.”
“And also,” said Heck, “she probably wanted to get back at me. Kill two birds, you know—” He colored. “Sorry, wrong way to put it.”
I said, “Did you tell Tiana about Sophie?”
Head shake. “No way. But she could’ve found out. It’s not like I was hiding anything, you know? She could’ve watched me, you know? Going to Sophie’s, taking her out. I was seeing Sophie pretty regular. More than the others.”
Milo said, “How many others were there?”
“At that time?” said Heck. “Probably…five, six.”
“Names.”
“Oh, c’mon. Why?”
“To make sure they’re okay.”
“They are,” said Heck. “I still see them. Except for Bettina, that’s over. Obviously.”
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.