Cord glanced over at Matilda as if seeking her permission, but she showed no visible reaction, so he continued.

Jaspers parties can get wild. Sometimes people in the restrooms are having sex or…doing drugs. They lose track of time. Meanwhile, the rest of us are outside waiting to relieve ourselves.

But you knew where to find an unoccupied one, Karen prodded.

Right, he said, getting back on track. Jaspers been letting me crash here for the last couple of weeks. I work as a VP of production at his studio, Otis Ocular. My condo complex had a gas leak. We were all relocated to a crappy motel. When he found out, he said I could stay here until it got resolved. So wed hang out sometimes in his wingplay pool, watch a movie. So when things got tight last night, I thought Id use his private bathroom. No ones supposed to go in the wing without express permission, which is why I thought it might be free. But I also felt guilty because it was like I was betraying his trust.

Sure, Karen said. So thats when you found Millicent Estrada. Did you recognize her?

Not then, because I was so freaked out and she looked so messed up, with her neck and all. But later on, when I saw a picture of how she usually looks, she was familiar. I think shes some kind of lawyer or something. And shed gone to lots of Jaspers parties lately. Id see her at the ones with fifty people and the ones with five hundred. But I didnt really know her, if thats what youre asking.

So she was a regular at the parties? Jessie clarified.

He shrugged.

I couldnt really say what makes for a regular. Jasper throws so many of them and there are always tons of people coming and going, doing all kinds of wild stuff. Its usually a madhouse. But Ive definitely seen her around.

And she was wet when you found her? Jessie reconfirmed.

Yeah, when I shook her, hoping shed wake up, water was dripping off her.

Karen leaned in and Jessie could sense that she was about to get more aggressive.

Cord, Detective Purcell here says you were pretty out of it when you gave your statement earlier. Is that correct?

Yeah, Id been partying pretty hard.

In light of that, is it possible that you inadvertently stumbled upon Ms. Estrada alive in Mr. Otiss personal wing and mistook her for a threat of some kind? Maybe lashed out at what you thought was an attacker?

Cord looked at her as if she was crazy.