Josh leaned toward her so far I thought he might fall. His eyes were pleading.
“Kimberly, you are golden. Please. A short interview about you and Rachel would make my year.”
Kimberly glanced away and shrugged.
“I’ll think about it.”
“If you don’t want to use your name, I won’t use your name. I’ll change your voice, if you want.”
“I’m considering it.”
I thought about where we were and what we had. Nothing in the planners linked Locke or his associates to Rachel’s death. None of the notes indicated Rachel had been threatened. But if established as fact, her notes showed Richter and Locke influencing city officials and others with illegal gifts and benefits. The names, dates, and locations would have to be checked. The workload would be enormous.
I said, “Kimberly.”
She looked at me.
I said, “The police should have this. They need it.”
Josh lumbered to his feet and waved his arms.
“Uh-uh! When I finish. I’m blowing the whistle on that sonofabitch, not them.”
Kimberly didn’t look at him, and neither did I. She glanced past me and pulled her fingers the way she had when I met her.
She said, “You’re right. I know you’re right.”
Josh stalked to the door and back.
“This isn’t fair. Rachel wanted me to do it. She could’ve gone to the police, but she came to me.”
I looked at him.
“It’s bigger now, Josh. It’s murder.”
Kimberly said, “What should I do? Just call the police?”
“You don’t have to do anything. I’ll set it up with a detective I know. His name is Poitras. He’ll probably come see you. He’s a good guy.”
“Will I be arrested?”
“No.”
“So I just wait?”
“Whatever you want. I’ll give him your cell.”
Josh said, “The least you can do is give me an interview.”
Kimberly rolled her eyes.
“Okay.”
I flipped back to the early dates she’d had with Horton Tarly while Josh set up his gear. The little rose she’d drawn didn’t look like a rose, but it was still a rose.
Josh began the interview. His questions focused on their friendship, Kimberly’s dislike of the escort business, and Kimberly’s role as Rachel’s safety.
Grady Locke had provided an escort to his own sister’s husband. A man among men, for sure. A champion turd. This was likely Grady’s way of enticing his brother-in-law to cooperate with Chow Wan Li, and Horton had, but he hadn’t liked it. Just as he’d felt guilty for cheating on his wife, he came to feel guilty for signing on with Chow and Locke.
An idea nibbled at blurry shapes I couldn’t quite see. The shapes became Tarly and Locke and a woman between them. The idea grew.
I said, “Kimberly.”
Josh shouted.
“Please! I’m recording!”
“Would it be okay if I photographed the Tarly pages? I won’t photograph anything else. Only the Tarly.”
“Sure. Why not? The whole world will know.”
Their interview only took eight or nine minutes, but Josh was pleased. I snapped shots of the planner pages with Tarly’s entries and made sure they were in focus and readable. Then we packed up, thanked her, and went to the door. Josh stepped out, but I stopped in the door and gave her a card.
“I’ll set it up with my friend. If you get nervous, or want to talk, call me.”
She stared at the card.
“I don’t know what to do. She was my life. She’s never not been in my life.”
“You’re going to help catch the people who killed her.”
“I hope so.”
I said, “Kimberly. If anyone ever gives you trouble, anyone, about anything, call me.”
She took a single step back, and her eyes grew pink.
“I miss her so much.”
Kimberly Laird closed the door.
I didn’t look at Josh. I didn’t say anything. I walked away and went to my car. He followed, and we got in.
52
Josh squeezed into the seat and shifted to get comfortable. Buckling the belt was a wrestling match.
He talked while he struggled.
“Listen. Interpersonal people skills are not my strength. I get weird, and something about me puts people off. I can be a jackass. You’ve been very supportive, not telling Wendy where I was. I wanted to thank you. I appreciate it. So thanks.”
“I’m going to call my cop friend about Kimberly. You should talk to him. Tell him what you know and let him hear Rachel.”