“Reynold didn’t have too many options. Brad ever let on to anyone that Reynold was family?”

“Nope,” said Milo. “Would Billy and Nora be aware of the connection?”

“Not unless Brad told them. There’s no blood tie there.”

“Or Reynold told them. We’ve heard he and Billy hung out.”

“That so?” she said. “Hung out how?”

“Reynold dropped by Billy’s apartment, allegedly to drop off lost objects.”

“Allegedly?”

“Brad denies sending him on errands.”

“You believe him?”

Milo smiled. “They’re both your cousins but you’d prefer we focus on Brad, not Reynold. That why you came down to L.A.?”

“I came down because Reynold’s dead and no one else is going to bury him. He’s all I’ve got left in terms of family.”

“Except Brad.”

“Brad’s your concern, not mine.”

“You don’t like him.”

“He was raised in another family,” she said.

Silence.

Finally, she said, “Julie the dancer. That bothered me big time. Now you’re showing me photos of other blond girls. Reynold was dumb and sloppy and a drunk but he was never cruel.”

“So far you haven’t told us anything Brad did that was cruel.”

“No, I haven’t,” said Marcia Peaty. “And I guess I can’t because, like I said, he and I haven’t exactly been hanging out.”

“But...”

“You know, guys,” she said, “this is real weird and I don’t think I like it.”

“Like what?”

“Being on the receiving end of what I used to dish out.”

“It’s for a good cause, Marcia,” said Milo. “In terms of Julie the Showgirl, did Harold Fordebrand’s gut say anything more about Brad than he was slick?”

“You’d have to ask Harold. Once he found out Brad was my cousin he kept me out of the loop.”

“How about your gut...”

“Brad’s demeanor bothered me. Like he was enjoying some private joke. You guys know what I mean.”

“Despite that, you got Reyn a job with him.”

“And now Reyn’s gone,” she said. Her face crumpled and she turned to hide it from us. When she faced us again, her voice was small. “You’re saying I screwed up big time.”

“No,” said Milo. “I’m not trying to guilt-trip you, far from it. All this stuff you’re telling us is beyond helpful. We’re just groping around here.”

“No case yet.”

“Not hardly.”

“I was hoping I was wrong,” she said.

“About what?”

“Brad being somehow involved with Reynold’s death.”

“No indication he is.”

“I know, an altercation. You’re saying that’s all there was to it?”

“So far.”