“What wuss is that?”
“The faggot with her, he really got on my case, I don't know his name.”
“You considered getting back at him physically.”
Bateman said, “Detective, that's not a-”
Kenny said, “I didn't consider it, but if I did, he would've been the one. He kept going at me, like trying to… outfeminist her.”
“So if you would've planned to hurt someone it would have been him, not Professor Devane.”
Senior said, “He never said he'd hurt anyone.”
“Exactly,” said Junior. “Him, I could've duked it out fair and square with. But she was a woman. I still open doors for women.”
“Car doors,” said Milo. “Like for Cindy?”
The boy's shoulders bunched.
Milo checked the tape.
“Okay. Now let's talk about where you were the night of the murder.”
“ La Jolla.” Quick answer.
“Why?”
“I live there, I work there.”
“Work where?”
“Excalibur Real Estate, the training program. Used to, real estate's in the dumpster.”
“So you quit.”
“Yeah.”
“What are you doing, now?”
“Exploring.”
“Exploring what?”
“My options.”
“I see,” said Milo. “But the day of the murder you were still in the Excalibur Real Estate training program.”
“Yeah,” said the boy. “But that day, specifically, I was with friends on the beach.” He ticked off his fingers: “Corey Vellinger, Mark Drummond, Brian Baskins.”
“Friends from La Jolla?”
“No, from here. The Omega house. They came down to see me.”
“How long were you with them?”
“From around ten to five. Then they drove back up to L.A.”
“What did you do at five?”
“Went driving for a while, got a video at Blockbuster, then I think the Wherehouse for some CD's.”
“You bought CD's?”
“No, I just looked.”
“Do you have the receipt for the video?”
“Nope.”
“You pay for it with a credit card?”
“Nope, I was overdue on my card so I left them a deposit, paid cash.”
“What'd you rent?”
“Terminator 2.”
“You go home and watch it?”
“First I went for dinner.”
“Where?”
“Burger King.”
“Is there anyone who can remember you there?”
“Nope, it was drive-through.”
“Where'd you eat?”
“At my place.”
“An apartment?”
“Yeah.”
“Where?”
“The Coral Motel, off Torrey Pines.”
“Anyone see you there?”
“Don't think so, but maybe.”
“Maybe?”
“I don't know anyone, it's just this dinky-shit single he was renting for me while I was in the program.”
“Who's he?”
“Dad.”
Senior smoked and looked at the wall. “Month-to-month rent,” he said.
“So you returned with your video and your dinner to your room. What time was this?”
“Six or seven.”
“Then what?”
“I watched TV.”
“What'd you watch?”
“MTV, I think.”
“What was on?”
Kenny laughed. “I dunno, videos, all kinds of shit.”
“Did you go out again that night?”
“Nope.”
“Quiet night, huh?”
“Yeah. I got sunburned at the beach, didn't feel so good.” Smiling, but an uneasiness ruffled the last few words.
“You do anything that night besides watch TV?” said Milo.
Pause. “Nope.”
“Nothing at all?”
“Not really.”
“Not really?”
The boy glanced at his father.
“Kenny?” said Milo.
“Basically that was it.”
“Basically?”
Senior turned to his son and scowled.
“Basically?” Milo repeated.
Kenny touched the pimple on his neck.
“Don't pick at it,” said Senior.
“What else did you do that night?” said Milo.
Junior's answer was nearly inaudible. “Beer.”
“You had a beer?”
“Yeah.”
“Just one?”
“A couple.”
“How many?”
Another glance at Dad. “A couple.”
“Meaning two?” said Milo.
“Maybe three.”
“Or four?”
“Maybe.”
“You get high, son?”
“Nope.” The small eyes were active, now.
“Do anything besides beer?”
“No!”
“Four beers,” said Milo. “Maybe a six-pack?”
“No, there were two left over.”
“So definitely four.”
“Probably.”
“Probably.”
“Maybe I had another in the morning.”
Senior stared at his son, shook his head very slowly.
“Breakfast of champions,” said Milo.
The boy didn't answer.
“Dinner, TV,” said Milo. “Then four beers. What time did you drink the fourth beer?”
“I dunno, maybe eight.”
Leaving enough time for the two-hour ride to L.A. and an hour of stalking. But the dog had turned ill earlier in the evening.
“Then what?” said Milo.
“Then nothing.”
“You went to sleep at eight?”
“No, I… more TV.”
“TV all night?”
“Basically.”
“Be nice to have someone who saw you there, son.”
“It's a small room,” said Kenny, as if that explained it.
“Make any phone calls?”
“Um… I dunno.”
“Maybe?”
“I don't know.”
“It's easy to get a look at your phone records.”
The boy glanced at Bateman.
Bateman said, “We'll have to explore that, Detective.”
“Explore away,” said Milo. “But with no alibi and Kenny's hostile exchange with Professor Devane I'll have no trouble getting a warrant.”
The boy sat higher, then his shoulders fell and he blurted, “I- can I talk to you in private, sir?”
“Kenny?” said his father.
“Sure,” said Milo.
“No way,” said his father. “Pierre?”
“Kenny,” said the lawyer, “if there's something you need to-”
The boy shot to his feet, waving his fists. “I need privacy!”
“I'm here to safeguard your privacy and your-”
“I mean real privacy, not legal bullshi-”
“Ken!” barked Senior.
“This is a murder, Dad, they can do what they want!”
“Shut up!”
“It's no big deal, Dad! I just want some fucking privacy, okay!”
Bateman said, “Kenny, there are obviously some things you and I need to-”
“No!” shouted the boy. “I'm not saying I killed her or anything crazy like that! I just made a phone call, okay? A fucking phone call but they're gonna find out so can I have some privacy?”
Silence.
Finally, Senior said, “What the hell did you do, call a whore?”
The boy blanched, sat down heavily, covered his face.
“Great,” said his father. “Great judgment, Kenny.”
The boy began sobbing. Talking between gasps: “All… I… wanted… fucking… pri… vacy.”
Senior ground out his cigar. “With all the diseases going around. Jesus…”
“That's why I didn't want to tell you!”
“Great,” said his father. “Very smart.”
Kenny lowered his hand. His lips trembled.
Senior said, “If you were so concerned about what I'd think, why'd you do it in the first place?”
“I used a skin!”
Senior shook his head.
Milo said, “What you do on your own time doesn't concern me, Kenny. In fact, it could help you. Who exactly did you call?”
“Some service.”
“Name?”
“I don't remember.” Despondent, soft voice.
“Had you used it before?”
Silence.
Senior turned away.
“Kenny?” said Milo.
“Once.”