“Okay, okay,” said Kleffer. “Did I drive by her place a few times? Yeah, yeah, sure. I was drinking, there was like a big hole, you know? In my heart, guys, in my brain. Then I heard about a TV pilot, being on a team with Mr. Luong, he’s a fucking genius. So I fly to New York, apply cold, get the gig and work a million hours and forget about women, including Kathy.”

He looked at Milo. “Then one night I get home late, listened to my messages, there’s that one from you. Homicide cop? Kathy? I just fell apart, man. When I started with Mr. Luong, I went clean and sober. I listen to your message, I’m right back on the Jack.” Insipid smile. “Good American booze. Patriotic, no? I knew it was getting totally out of control. Maintaining my knife skills and sucking the bottle. I tried to stop suddenly, ended up in the E.R. at Bellevue with a detox reaction, they said I could’ve died. I said fuck the rent and got evicted, slept on couches, finally got this gig and came back.”

“Everything going okay?”

“You mean drinking?” Kleffer crossed his fingers. “So you don’t know who killed my Kathy?”

Milo said, “Not yet.”

“Not yet,” said Kleffer. “American optimism. You guys believe in the future, that’s why Americans invent all the good stuff.”

“Is there anyone who might want to hurt Kathy?”

“No one. She was a nice girl.” Kleffer bent a knee and scuffed the wall with one clog. “Obviously, someone didn’t agree with that, but who? I can’t tell you.”

“Did you introduce her to any of your friends?”

“What, you think some freak killed her?”

“We’re looking into every possibility.”

Kleffer grimaced. “Okay, sure, but no, we didn’t socialize with anyone from my work. I wanted to keep her away from freaks, didn’t want to share her with anyone. She calmed me down, I liked being alone with her.”

I said, “The man you figured she was dating. Any ideas about him?”

“Ideas?” said Kleffer. “Yeah. He outclassed me.” Barking laugh. “Not too hard, right? I figured it was money, prestige, a nice car, all the stuff women like.”

“Did she say something about that?”

“No; she never admitted seeing anyone but I figured. Because I didn’t have all the good stuff and she dumped me.”

“How’d she do it?”

Kleffer grimaced. “She called me and said I’d been a great friend, she’d enjoyed our time together but she needed for it to end.”

“She used the word ‘need’?”

Kleffer thought. “I’m pretty sure that’s how she put it. I see what you’re saying, the asshole pressured her. She also said she wanted stability in her life and I told her I could provide stability. Kathy didn’t argue, she just kept quiet and that was even worse.”

“Dismissing the idea.”