Jeff laughed meanly. "Hey. You know, I like humor. It's funny. Okay, Mr. Wise Guy. You're in the wrong place. You've had it explained. Move out. Now." He poked Connor in the chest with a stubby finger.
Connor said quietly, "That's assault."
Jeff said, "Hey. Fuck you, buddy. I told you you're in the wrong place– "
Connor did something very fast, and Jeff was suddenly down on the floor, moaning in pain. Jeff rolled away, coming to rest against a pair of black trousers. Looking up, I saw that the man wearing the trousers was dressed entirely in black: black shirt, black tie, black satin jacket. He had white hair and a dramatic Hollywood manner. "I'm Rod Dwyer. This is my home. What seems to be the problem?"
Connor introduced us politely and showed his badge. "We're here on official business. We asked to speak to one of your guests, Mr. Sakamura, who is the man standing over there in the corner."
"And this man?" Dwyer asked, pointing to Jeff, who was gasping and coughing on the floor.
Connor said calmly, "He assaulted me."
"I didn't fucking assault him!" Jeff said, sitting up on his elbow, coughing.
Dwyer said, "Did you touchhim?"
Jeff was silent, glowering.
Dwyer turned back to us. "I'm sorry this happened. These men are new. I don't know what they were thinking of. Can I get you a drink?"
"Thanks, we're on duty," Connor said.
"Let me ask Mr. Sakamura to come over and talk to you. Your name again?"
"Connor."
Dwyer walked away. The first man helped Jeff to his feet. As Jeff limped away, he muttered, "Fucking assholes."
I said, "Remember when police were respected?"
But Connor was shaking his head, looking down at the floor. "I am very ashamed," he said.
"Why?"
He wouldn't explain further.
"Hey, John! John Connor! Hisashiburi dana!Long time no see! How they hanging, guy? Hey!" He punched Connor in the shoulder.
Up close, Eddie Sakamura wasn't so handsome. His complexion was gray, with pock-marked skin, and he smelled like day-old scotch. His movements were edgy, hyperactive, and he spoke quickly. Fast Eddie was not a man at peace.
Connor said, "I'm pretty good, Eddie. How about you? How you doing?"
"Hey, can't complain, Captain. One or two things only. Got a five-oh-one, drunk driving, try to beat that, but you know, with my record, it's getting hard. Hey! Life goes on! What're you doing here? Pretty wild place, huh? Latest thing: no furniture! Rod sets new style. Great! Nobody can sit down any more!" He laughed. "New style! Great!"
I had the feeling he was on drugs. He was too manic. I got a good look at the scar on his left hand. It was purple-red, roughly four centimeters by three. It appeared to be an old burn.
Connor lowered his voice and said, "Actually, Eddie, we're here about the yakkaigotoat Nakamoto tonight."
"Ah, yes," Eddie said, lowering his voice, too. "No surprise she came to a bad end. That's one henntai."
"She was perverted? Why do you say that?"
Eddie said, "Want to step outside? Like to smoke cigarette and Rod doesn't allow smoking in the house."
"Okay, Eddie."
We went outside and stood by the edge of the cactus garden. Eddie lit a Mild Seven Menthol. "Hey, Captain, I don't know what you heard already so far. But that girl. She fucked some of the people in there. She fucked Rod. Some of the other people. So. We can talk easier out here, okay with you?"
"Sure."
"I know that girl real well. Real well. You know I'm hipparidako, hey? I can't help it. Popular guy! She's all over me. All the time."
"I know that, Eddie. But you say she had problems?"
"Big problems, amigo. Grande problemos. I tell you. She was a sick girl, this girl. She got off on pain."
"World's full of 'em, Eddie."
He sucked on his cigarette. "Hey, no," he said. "I'm talking something else. I'm talking, how she gets off. When you hurt her real bad she comes. She's always asking, more, more. Do it more. Squeeze harder."
Connor said, "Her neck?"
"Yeah. Her neck. Right. Squeeze her neck. Yeah. You heard? And sometimes a plastic bag. You know, dry-cleaning bag? Put it over her head and clamp it, hold it around her neck while you fuck her and she sucks the plastic against her mouth and turns blue in the face. Claws at your back. Gasp and wheeze. Christ Almighty. Don't care for that, myself. But I'm telling you, this girl has a pussy. I mean she gets off, it's wild ride. You remember afterwards. I'm telling you. But for me, too much. Always on the edge, you know? Always a risk. Always pushing the edge. Maybe this time. Maybe this is the last time. You know what I'm saying?" He flicked his cigarette away. It sputtered among the cactus thorns. "Sometimes it's exciting. Like Russian roulette. Then I couldn't take it, Captain. Seriously. I couldn't. And you know me, I like a wild time."
I decided that Eddie Sakamura gave me the creeps. I tried to make notes while he talked, but his words were tumbling out, and I couldn't keep up. He lit another cigarette, his hands shaking. He kept talking fast, swinging the glowing tip in the air for emphasis.
"And I mean, this girl, it's a problem," Eddie said. "Okay, pretty girl. She's pretty. But sometimes she can't go out, looks too bad. Sometimes, she needs lot of makeup, because neck is sensitive skin, man. And hers is bruised. Ring around the collar. Bad. You saw that, maybe. You see her dead, Captain?"
"Yeah, I saw her."
"So then . . ." he hesitated. He seemed to step back, reconsider something. He flicked ash from the cigarette. "So. Was she strangled, or what?"
"Yes, Eddie. She was strangled."
He inhaled. "Yeah. Figures."
"Did you see her, Eddie?"
"Me? No. What are you talking about? How could I see her, Captain?" He exhaled, blowing smoke into the night.
"Eddie. Look at me."
Eddie turned toward Connor.
"Look in my eyes. Now tell me. Did you see the body?"
"No. Captain, come on." Eddie gave a nervous little laugh, and looked away. He flicked the cigarette so it tumbled in the air, dripping sparks. "What is this? Third degree? No. I didn't see the body."
"Eddie."
"I swear to you, Captain."
"Eddie. How are you involved in this?"
"Me? Shit. Not me, Captain. I know the girl, sure. I see her sometimes. I fuck her, sure. What the hell. She's little weird, but she's fun. A fun girl. Great pussy. That's it, man. That's all of it." He looked around, lit another cigarette, "This's a nice cactus garden, huh? Xeriscape, they call it. It's the latest thing. Los Angeles goes back to desert life. It's hayatterunosa: very fashionable."
"Eddie."
"Come on, Captain. Give me break here. We know each other long time."
"Sure, Eddie. But I have some problems. What about the security tapes?"
Eddie looked blank, innocent. "Security tapes?"
"A man with a scar on his hand and a tie with triangles on it came into the Nakamoto security office and took the security videotapes."
"Fuck. What security office? What're you doing, Captain?"
"Eddie."
"Who said that to you? That's not true, man. Take the security tapes? I never did thing like that. What're you, crazy?" He twisted his tie, looked at the label. "This is Polo tie, Captain. Ralph Lauren. Polo. Lot of these ties, bet you."