Begin with your relationship with Roth, Harley said, keeping her voice gentle and soothing. Inside, however, she was coiled tight as a spring. If Candy suddenly changed her mind, they would have nothing.

Candy nodded. I was on his cleaning staff at first. He must have hired a hundred people to work there when he first built the place. She made a small, humorless laugh without opening her mouth. I say people but they were almost all young women like meexcept those involved in security.

She opened her hand, staring blankly at the used tissue. Then she set it aside and continued.

Turned out I wasnt much good at cleaning. Bleached my hands pretty bad, and always seemed to stay longer than what I was getting paid for. Anyway, one day Roth told me it wasnt working out. Said he just might have another opportunity for me, though.

She shook her head ruefully. You have to understand: I had just left home, and I needed to prove to my parents and myself that I could make it on my own. And with my college debt… Her hands began to wrestle one another in her lap. Looking back now, I think he hired me specifically because I was desperate. I think he had other ideas for many of us, and he used the cleaning jobs as a…screening process. More than once, Id be on my knees scrubbing the floor and look up to see a group of men standing in the doorway, just watching me.

Did they ever hurt you? Callaway asked. Harley could hear the anger just beneath the surface of his words. She hoped he would keep it there.

No, Candy answered. Felix kept them away. He was very careful about that. If anyone other than Roth wanted to get close to us, they had to go through Felix.

Like they were Roths property, Harley thought, holding back a shudder.

So what was this opportunity Roth offered you? Harley asked.

Candy bit her lips. You have to understand, I really needed the money. I never would have

Harley placed a hand on Candys knee. Its okay, Candy. Were not here to judge you. We just want to find the killer.

Candy shot her a grateful glance before continuing. He told me some of his guests had taken a liking to me, and if I wanted to, I could…get to know them. Thats how he put it: Get to know them.

She paused to take a shaky breath. I was going to say no, but when he told me how much he would pay meit was just unbelievable. And he promised all Id have to do was talk.

That didnt prove true, did it? Callaway said.