“Starlet said the word on the street was that Lady Die was in the hotel room with Keith when he beat up on Sugar. Starlet said she heard that Lady Die was the one who beat her so badly, she died.”

Norman just sighed and shook his head. “It’s a terrible life for these girls. And most of them get into it young, before they know what’s really going on. They don’t learn the truth until it’s too late for them to get out.”

Hannah reached out to squeeze his hand. Norman looked very sad and she knew he was remembering the volunteer work he’d done at the Seattle dental clinic for the unfortunate people who lived on the street.

“There was only one more thing that Starlet told us and it’s important,” Hannah went on. “She said Keith left last week for some little town because he was chasing a girl who ran away so he could take her back.”

“Who?” Mike asked.

“Someone she knew as Honey, but I’m afraid that doesn’t help us much. We don’t even know if Honey passed through Lake Eden. Keith may have just stopped here on his way to somewhere else.”

“How about the diamond in the tooth?” Norman asked her. “Did Starlet know anything about that?”

“No. Starlet was relatively new to the street. She said she’d been working for less than a year, and Keith had the diamond in his tooth when she met him.”

“Where did she meet him?” Mike asked.

“In her hometown in Wisconsin. She didn’t mention the name of the town, and we didn’t want to press her.”

“Okay,” Mike said. “How about the ring?”

“She knew nothing about that. She said she didn’t think that Keith ever wore a ring. I think Doc’s theory is right and that Keith picked it up after the man who fought with him lost it.”

“Did she say any more about Lady Die?” Lonnie asked.

“Not really, just that she was really nasty and mean.”

“I’ll call Stella and give her Lady Die’s name,” Mike said. “Or better yet, I’ll talk to some of the guys I know in Vice.”

“If you talk to Stella, thank her for me,” Hannah told him. “And . . . ask her if there’s any way she can arrest Starlet for something so that they can bring her into the station. Lady Die sounds dangerous and if she finds out that Starlet talked to us, Starlet could be in big trouble.”

Mike shook his head. “It’s not going to work, Hannah. Stella’s got enough juice to do it, but she can’t keep Starlet there indefinitely.”

“I know, but maybe Starlet will tell Stella where she’s from and she can get out of Minneapolis and go back there.”