“You’re sure his name is Randal Hudspeth?” Benet asked.
“Yes. He’s been hanging around the gym I used to go to for a couple of years.” Aud sighed and let out a little irritation. “We had an encounter in the steam room over a year ago. He’s recently started hitting on me again.”
“Was there anything more than this encounter?” The detective’s stress on the word told Aud volumes about how he felt about the idea of doing another man in the steam room.
“No.” Then Aud paused. “Okay, every so often Randal would spot me on the weight bench and I’d spot him in return.”
“Anything sexual happen during those times?”
“A few comments now and again, but nothing physical happened.”
“What kind of comments?”
“Things like telling me how big his ax was getting while we worked out together.”
“His ax?” Benet raised a brown eyebrow.
Aud sighed again. He can’t be this dense. “That’s what he called his cock: his ax.”
“That’s a new one. Before the past couple of weeks, had he been aggressive in any way?”
“No more so than normal. But I’ve recently started seeing Leo. The guy in the video with me. I think that sent him over the edge.”
“It’s not uncommon for stalkers to be pushed by a change in relationship status.” Benet made more notes. “So you never did anything that would tell him you were interested in being more than just gym buddies.”
“We weren’t even that. I’d never seen him outside the gym until the other day when I spotted him across the street, then at the opening.” Some of the detective’s questions were trying his patience and making him feel like he’d done something wrong.
“So you don’t happen to have Mr. Hudspeth’s phone number or address?”
“No,” Aud snapped. “I never had the urge to have them either.”
“Okay. Well, I have the name of your gym.” Benet put his tablet back in his briefcase. “I can go by there and see if they will release the information without a search warrant. Or see if the DMV has anything on him.” He closed the briefcase. “I’ll be in touch.”
Aud stood to escort him out of the gallery. “Thanks for coming by.”
“If there are any more incidents, or you get some firm evidence on the stalker, please don’t hesitate to call me. These cases can be very difficult to solve without hard evidence, so anything you can provide will be helpful.”
“Trust me. Anything else happens, you’ll be the first to know.”
Heather raised an eyebrow at them as Aud led Benet to the door. After he was gone, Aud turned and walked back to the counter.
“Well?” Heather asked with a note of excitement. “We’re still empty, so tell me.”
“There’s not a whole lot to tell. He says we’ll need more evidence before they can go after anyone, including Randal.” Aud leaned against the counter, suddenly feeling worn out.
“So they’re not going to do anything?” Heather sounded appalled.
“No, they’re looking into Randal to see what they can find. Since I don’t know his address or anything, they’re starting at the gym and DMV. But until something else happens, it’s a waiting game.”
She frowned at him. “I hate waiting games.”
“I know. But this isn’t the Old West. We can’t just go off and convict him on a bit of hearsay and guessing. Until we get more information, it’ll be his word against mine.”
“So let’s just hope he doesn’t do anything more drastic than look through your window and take videos.”
Aud shook his head and headed toward the fridge in the back room, desperately in need of some water to dampen his throat and wash out the bad taste the discussion with the detective had left in his mouth. “Let’s hope so.”
19
LEO STARED at his computer monitor and stifled a yawn. The day was going slow, but that was a good thing. Sitting around, quietly watching movies, seemed to be helping Felix relax.
“Hey, do you think we could drive over to my apartment and pick up a few things?” Felix stretched on the couch. “It’ll be easier if we do that before you take off with Aud for the weekend.” A sad, beaten-puppy look crossed his face. “I’ll feel safer with you there.”
“We can go whenever you want. I’m not going to the mountains with Aud this weekend. I called him last night and told him we’d have to put it off.” Leo still felt pangs of regret in delaying things with Aud, but Felix was his best friend.
Felix looked sadder than before. “Not on my account, I hope.”
Leo shrugged. “I don’t want you to be alone right now. You need me.”