Passant said, “Stern with her legs wide open. And she even got into more details.” Winking. “She said he did her standing up behind a trailer. Facing her, it was real friendly, almost like they were having a conversation, except they weren’t.”

Bettina Sanfelice said, “She made it sound like his being inside her was a surprise.”

The three of us stared at her.

She burst into tears. Retched and slapped her hand to her mouth and motioned frantically with the other. Milo scooted out and she ran to the bathroom.

Sheryl Passant said, “She always had a bad stomach.”

I said, “She said the same about you.”

“Me? No way. I’ve liked chili and spicy my whole life.”

“After Marjorie told you about Des, what else did she say?”

“Nothing. She just shut up and drank some more. We had to sit there a long time until she could drive. Helga left first, me and Tina and Ms. Holman sat there looking at each other, like no one had anything to say anymore. There was CSI: Miami on a big plasma and we just watched then we all drove home.”

“What happened the next day?”

“What do you mean?”

“No mention of the discussion?”

“Nope.” Her hand dropped to fool with her napkin, again. This time she lingered at my crotch.

I shifted away. “I’m going to make sure Bettina’s okay.”

“Don’t bother, she’s okay—all right, fine, but she’s really okay.”

It took nine minutes for Sanfelice to emerge from the ladies’ room. Her steps were wobbly and her eyes were raw. When she saw me, she gasped.

“You all right?”

“I’m terrible,” she said. “That was terrible.”

“Sorry. I didn’t intend for it to get that detailed—”

“With Sheryl it would have to. She likes to show off. Her dad’s a drunk and he beat her mom all the time, Sheryl never did well in school and her mom died a few years ago. My mom says she’s a slut but she’s had it hard.”

Glancing toward the booth. “You won’t tell my mom, right?”

CHAPTER

8

Passant and Milo weren’t talking. Passant looked bored.

When Bettina Sanfelice settled back in, Milo said, “A woman died with Des—”

“Omigod—”

“—and I’ve got a picture of her. It’s not disgusting or bloody, but it was taken after death. Can you handle looking at it?”

Passant said, “I just saw it, Teen, it’s no big deal and you don’t know her.”

Sanfelice took a deep breath. “How can you be sure?”

“I didn’t know her, so no way you did.”

“That makes no sense, Sher. Show it to me, sir.”

Milo produced the death shot. Sanfelice studied. Smiled triumphantly. “I’ve seen her with Des.”

Passant said, “Sure you have.”

Milo said, “Where and when, Bettina?”