“Well then, maybe you two will remember in a bit, but we’ll try not to take up too much of your time.”
“That would be great. I have to be at work soon,” Tad said. Lizzy cleared her throat, and Tad spoke up. “Not with the escort service. I’m working at a restaurant across town.”
“A restaurant?” Darek’s eyes narrowed. Bay sure worked fast.
“Yeah, I work at Bakes; ever hear of it? Great food.”
“I’ve been there. My wife loves it.”
Lizzy smiled. “Maybe that’s it, then. Where you’ve seen him.” She glanced back and forth between the two. “About Alicia. Did you two know each other?”
“I knew her, yeah, but not more than any of the other escorts.”
Lizzy leaned closer, giving him a knowing smile. “I’ve heard from some of the others that there are a few of the escorts who hook up from time to time. That wouldn’t be something you did with Alicia? She was a beautiful girl.”
“She was, but I have my share of beautiful girls.” Tad held his hand out as if to say, look at me, and Darek cleared his throat.
Lizzy let loose a short breath. “You are a looker, Mr. Halston. I’m sure you have a lot of special clients. I’m sure a lot of women pay you for more than just holding hands and opening doors. This is a nice place you have.”
He sat on the couch and offered us a seat. “Thanks. I share it with my sister. It’s no secret that our work leads to two people agreeing to have sex, but no, that’s not what Arm Candy’s policy was. We are usually just that, arm candy. Although I have to admit, I’ve had some charming lady clients who I’ve indulged off hours.” He was very careful to make it clear he wasn’t selling sex.
Lizzy settled on the couch beside him while Darek took the closest chair. “Do you or have you ever engaged in BDSM or kink? Anyone ever persuade you to do those sorts of things after hours? You know, explore a fetish?”
Tad glanced over at Darek, giving him an is she for real glance. Darek cleared his throat again.
“I’m not into that personally, but I’ve indulged in a few things that I guess could be considered BDSM. It’s a lifestyle for many, a hobby for others. Most just experiment, though. They read about it in books and want to try a vibrator or anal beads. It’s not that big of a deal.” He shrugged. “Once you get to know a client, you talk about all sorts of things, and let’s just say you know who to give special attention to.”
“Some give bonuses for special attention?” Darek spoke, simply for the sake of not letting Lizzy do all the talking.
“Yeah, but again, they pay those bonuses for my company. They hope for a little extra attention each time. It doesn’t mean they always get it.” Tad stared at Lizzy; his eyes looked her up and down as she opened the envelope with the victim’s pictures. Darek hoped she wouldn’t catch him doing that.
“Have you ever had a client ask to be tied up? Anyone ask you to hurt them for pleasure?”
Tad lifted his chin, glaring down at her with a smirk. “I’m known as a gentle lover. I like the wining and dining, which is what turned me on to being an escort. So no, I’d never go along with that.” He gave Darek another look, and this time, Darek stared through him.
Lizzy passed the pictures over to him. “Have you ever seen this tattoo?”
Tad stared blankly at the picture, and Darek waited for any sign of disgust or shock. Unlike most who had seen the photo, Tad didn’t turn away. The man had seen far worse in his life, at least once, but to Lizzy, it might have looked suspicious.
“No, actually. I’ve never seen that before. We’re not supposed to have visible tattoos; it’s part of Arm Candy’s policy. If we have one, we have to cover it with clothing.” His eyes narrowed, and his eyes turned to the side as if a thought crossed his mind.
“Starting to ring a bell?” Lizzy sat back and let loose a deep breath.
“No. I was just thinking of some of the dresses the girls wear. They like to show a lot of skin, particularly their neck and back. I can’t imagine how she’d hide something like that. For me, it’s easy.”
“You have tattoos?” Lizzy asked.
“No, I just mean, if I had to cover something, well, us male escorts have it easier than the women. It must limit her wardrobe.” He spoke as if the girl still had the problem; as if she weren’t dead.
“Well, she’s got nothing to worry about now.” Lizzy pulled the picture from his fingers and stuffed it back into the envelope.
“Thank you for your time, man,” Darek said. “I’ll be sure and say hello next time I’m over at Bakes.”
“You do that. I’ll try to put you at the best table.”
Lizzy cleared her throat and forced a smile. Darek could see the muscle in her jaw tightening.
When they went out to the car, Lizzy groaned. “He’s bound to know more. And you didn’t have to act so fucking chummy.”
“Good cop, bad cop?”
“Oh, don’t even. And if you’re going to let me do all the talking, at least give off an intimidating vibe.”
“Duly noted.” He wasn’t about to argue with her and hoped she’d drop the subject of Tad Halston altogether. But no luck.
“Did you see how he looked at that photograph like he was looking at a picture of his Aunt Gertie?” Lizzy asked.
“He has an Aunt Gertie? Damn, you’re thorough.” Darek looked over and realized that Lizzy wasn’t in a joking mood.
“Don’t be cheeky. The guy had no fucking response of shock at all.”
“Some people don’t react to things the same.” Darek didn’t want to seem like he was defending the guy, and he wanted to kick Tad for not at least popping open his mouth or making a face.
“I’m sorry, but I think it’s weird. You see a fellow escort lying there with her fucking back sliced up, blood everywhere, and you don’t even frown.”
“For the record, he wasn’t smiling.”
“What is this? Are you hoping for a discount the next time you bring your wife to Bakes? This could be our guy.”
He did a doubletake and wasn’t sure if she was just in an argumentative mood, or if she really believed that, but even if he hadn’t known Tad, he wouldn’t have suspected him of the crime, based solely on his answers to the questions. “That’s a stretch. I don’t think he seemed the type.”
“Everyone is the type. In this world today, you really think there is a type? Motivation. That’s all a person needs.”
“The guy lives with his sister, for Pete’s sake.”
“So?”
“I’m just saying, I think we have other leads to follow. Like the tattoo artist. There was tattoo ink in that room. She’d just had a session. Most likely, he’s our man.”
“And you’re so sure this is a man?”
“Something that brutal against a woman? Are you kidding me? The strength alone would be tough for a woman, not to mention the level of violence.”
“The toxicology report said the girl was most likely in a euphoric state. So, all bets are off. Not to mention, she was found face down and was most likely compliant to a degree.”
“Compliant? To being murdered?”