Lucey drew on the pipe again and then stretched, bending as far backwards as she could. Her robe parted slightly, revealing a thin line of naked skin from her throat to her lap. She didn’t bother covering up. “She was a little schizo, if you ask me. She could be a lot of fun-a real turn-on-and then she could be real cold and calculating. She could work people, especially old men, or older men, at least. That’s what we did most of, in fact, when we doubled. She wasn’t interested in younger guys much, unless they were super young, like teenagers. It was like she had to have some power over them, you know? Men our age didn’t interest her much. I thought that was too bad. I like an occasional roll in the hay with someone who knows what he’s doing and won’t have a heart attack doing it. But Kimberly had some kind of thing going. I’d watch her sometimes when we were right in the middle of the action, and sometimes-not always-she’d be looking at the guy’s face with, I don’t know, a real calculating expression. And when he finally shot his wad, she always looked pleased with herself. And superior, too, as if somehow she’d put one over on the guy. Maybe that’s why we broke up. I never thought about it before.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, it was kind of unnatural, you know? I mean, God knows I don’t get turned on every time I get laid, but I enjoy it most of the time. If the guy’s not too weird, it feels good, right? But I don’t think what I thought felt good was what Kimberly thought felt good-she was into something else. It was like I couldn’t figure out what was turning her on, the sex or the power trip. Does that make sense?”
“Yeah. It must have been a little unsettling.”
“That’s it. It was hot and cold mixed together. I mean, she was the best I’ve ever been with, but… unsettling-that’s the word.”
She took a final drag from her pipe and then cleaned it out onto the floor.
“You mentioned she said everything good lay ahead. What were her plans?”
“Money. She wanted lots of money. Nothing new there, I suppose, except with her it wasn’t just wishful thinking. I mean, I want money too, but I know I’ll never get it-takes too much effort. But she was going for it.”
“How?”
She shrugged. “Sex, I guess. She didn’t have anyndththing else that I could see.”
“Prostitution?”
“In this town? Give me a break.” She opened her robe wide with a laugh. “I may not be much, but I’m about the best you’re going to get around here.”
I smiled, embarrassed. “Was she zeroing in on anything specific that you know of?”
She got up and crossed over to the kitchenette in the corner. “You want some coffee?”
“No, thanks.”
She found a dirty cup in the sink, spooned in some instant coffee from an open jar on the counter, and filled it with hot water from the tap. I was glad I had passed. She returned to her chair. “Something was cooking. She had that look in her eye-you know, the calculating one I told you about-but she wasn’t about to tell me.”
“Did you keep in touch after you split up?”
“No. I saw her around some, but she wasn’t in the business anymore. She was looking good, though; nice clothes and all. I just figured she’d hit her target.”
“What did you think when she was killed?”
She shrugged. “What’s to think? It was too bad, but somehow it didn’t surprise me. I mean, I wasn’t looking for it to happen, but it didn’t surprise me when it did. She didn’t strike me as the safest driver on the road, if you get what I mean.”
“Do you think the black guy did it?”
“Hey, who knows? She was a secret. I figured her death was too.”
“Going back a little, what was her relationship to Floyd Rubin?”
She laughed and shook her head. “That was pathetic. She played him like a violin. I don’t know why she bothered-the little faggot-but she got him around her little finger. That’s what I mean, see? An old guy, right at death’s door, and she did a total power thing on him. Typical.”
“Did she have sex with him?”
“I don’t know. We didn’t-that’s for sure. I wouldn’t have done him for a hundred bucks.”
“Why not?”
“Self-righteous little creep, that’s why. The day I set eyes on him, I knew he thought I was beneath him. The only reason he hired me was because Kimberly liked me-she had a quick eye. But as soon as the Christmas rush was over, he dropped me like a rock.”
“But you don’t know if Kimberly and he had a thing going?” She shook her head. “It wouldn’t surprise me, except that he’s such a tight little asshole-he’d probably think it was immoral.”
I looked at the dusty, debris-covered floor for a moment, trying to think of anything else I might ask. “Where do you think she was from?”
“Not far from here. I mean, she didn’t have a weird accent or anything. I don’t think she was a Vermonter, ta Vid ahough. She came across like a flatlander, but she seemed to know her way around.”
“I don’t suppose she ever alluded to a home state or town or anything.”
Susan Lucey shook her head.
I got up and buttoned my coat. “Well, I guess that’s it. If you think of anything else, you know where to find me.”
She hadn’t moved from her chair. “I do have something else.”
My hand was already on the doorknob. “What?”
“Did you get your twenty bucks worth?”
“I did all right.”
“Well, then I guess that’s it.”
I sighed. This kind of money was hard to get back from petty cash. “How much is your tidbit worth?”
“Why get complicated? Another twenty’ll do.”
“You do all right for yourself, don’t you?”
“Some days. I can throw in a little extra if you’d like. A goodwill gesture.” She passed one hand across her breast and down to her stomach. I had to admit she wasn’t bad looking, in a round, compact kind of way. It was her environment that gave me the willies. “I’ll settle for the information.” I fished out another couple of tens and handed them over. “Not that I’m not flattered.”
She took the money and smiled. “Kimberly Harris wasn’t her real name.”
“What was it?”
“I don’t know. She just told me once that she’d chosen Kimberly because it sounded classy-a name men would like.”
“Was Harris invented too?”
“I don’t know.”
“That’s it?”
“Yup. That’s more than you knew before, isn’t it?”
I shook my head in defeat. “You’re very good at this.” Again, I reached for the door.
This time she rose and crossed over to me. “You said everyone you came in contact with could be hurt. Where’s that put me?”
“I hope it doesn’t put you anywhere. As far as I know, I’m the only one who knows about you, except Rubin. But I may have been followed here.”
“Now you tell me. Who’s out there?”
“We don’t know, but if anyone else asks you about all this, don’t play games, okay? There’s no profit to be made from this man-or men.”
“What am I supposed to do in the meantime? Wait until some creep kicks in my door?”
“You could go somewhere else. Stay with a friend or relative for a while.” eighn="reep kicksWhat about police protection?”
I shook my head. “That’s movie stuff. I can have a patrol car swing by every once in a while, or even have a cop check your door, but we don’t have the staff for full protection. I doubt you’ll need it anyway. Just be careful.”
“That’s a real comfort. I should have hit you for ten times this, you asshole.” She held up the money I’d given her.
I opened the door, and she gathered the robe around her throat against the gush of cold air. Her face was hard. “I better not get shafted for this. I played straight with you. Shit, I even offered you a freebie.”
“I appreciate that. You’ll be all right.”
“Says you.”
As I inched my way down the rickety steps, her last words rattled around in my mind. I hadn’t overlooked the fact that Frank’s death was a direct result of my hanging on to this case. The addition of Susan Lucey to the list was not something I wanted to see.