“That, too, sir, but I was talking apologies.”

“For what?”

“Everything,” said Tasha. “Taking up my time. Comes in wanting what he wants and then after he gets it, he’s all Prozacky frowny-frown, says he shouldn’t be doing it, he’s really not like that.”

“Denying he’s gay.”

“Tony’s mind, he’s never gay. You call him that, he gets cranky. He figures he likes me ’cause I’m a girl, he only likes girls. A lot of them are like that. Want to have it and eat it, too.” Laughter.

“How often does he see you?”

“Most often was once a month, sir. Then it stopped. Tonight was the first time in like… three months? Could I go back? Please? I don’t know this part of town, don’t like being where I don’t know.”

Milo said, “Sure.”

I found a driveway, did a turnaround.

“Thank you, sir. Can I have my little helper back?”

“Don’t push it,” said Milo. “So Tony’s conflicted.”

“Call it what you want, sir. Before they get what they want, they’re all hungry. Then it’s over slam bam wham and it’s like a light’s shining deep inside them and they’re seeing something they don’t like. A first-timer, you never know how they’re gonna deal with that light. That’s why I need my helper.”

“Pretending only goes so far,” said Milo.

“There’s your Fantasyland. Tony really a badman?”

“Don’t know yet.”

“The wannaboo is a badman? You asking all those questions about him.”

“Just collecting information, Tasha.”

“Someone got killed? I’m on the street, I need to know, sir.”

“Tony’s mom.”

“No! I noticed Tony was a little edged off tonight. But he didn’t say nothing.”

“Edged off how?”

“Looking around like enemies everywhere. Parking in a place no problem before then getting all paranoid it’s too easy to see and moving to another place and he’s still edged off. He coulda done that? To his mama?”

“What do you think?”

“I mean… I’m speechless, sir.”

“His mother gets murdered, he never mentions it,” said Milo.

“Nothing,” said Tasha. “Edged off like I said, but then just the usual.”

“Meaning?”

“Boom boom boom. Then getting all quiet. Then the apologies.”

CHAPTER 28

CHAPTER
28

When we were two blocks north of Gordito’s, Tasha said, “Drop me here, sir.”

Milo returned her purse and we watched her sway along Highland. Another he-she loitering near a phone booth waved. Tasha gave a barely visible nod and kept going.

“Wannaboo,” I said, driving away. “Must’ve missed that one.”

“You didn’t miss anything,” said Milo. “She made it up. How much of her story do you believe?”

“If she wanted to lie, she didn’t need to get into any of it.”

“Tweed,” he said. “Just being a helpful guy.”