“Pain? Like she got off on pain?” Darek’s eyes narrowed.
“Yeah,” Kari said. “She called herself a pain slut. Showed me where some guy had put a sewing needle through her wrist. After that, I just didn’t ask.”
“The escort agency she was going through doesn’t have that kind of reputation,” Darek said. “How long ago was that?”
She blew out a breath that sent her bangs in motion. “As far as I know, that was just a client or two being sick. It happened months ago. She didn’t do that stuff all the time, and she said they paid her really well for the freaky stuff.” The girl held up her hands and winced. “I know it sounds horrible, and I feel awful for what happened, but I never really cared how she got her money, just that the rent was paid. I don’t know what I’m going to do. I can’t afford this kind of place on my own.”
“I’m sure you’ll find another roommate.” Darek’s words weren’t meant to offend or be insensitive, but Lizzy gave him a look that made him wish he could take them back.
“The last time you saw Alicia, was she wearing a collar like this one?” Lizzy showed the image of the collar still around Alicia’s neck.
The girl stared with widened eyes and covered her mouth. “No. Oh god. What happened to her?”
“She was stabbed. Someone carved a message into her back just under that big tattoo.” Lizzy held the image out, and the girl shook her head.
“Alicia didn’t have a tattoo. Not that I knew of.”
“This one was on her back,” Lizzy said. “When was the last time you saw her back?”
“I don’t know, maybe a month. With our schedules, it’s hard to tell, but she used to give me a hard time about my ink.” The girl raised her arm and pulled up her sleeve. She had an intricate tattoo of a lacy band and flowers on her wrist. “I guess she could have gotten it recently.” She let out a long sigh.
Darek leaned in closer, giving the girl his sincerest smile. “It’s beautiful work.”
“Thank you.” She pulled her sleeve down.
Lizzy cleared her throat. “Does the cuff signify anything?”
“I wanted a half-glove, but the man at the shop said I’d need too many touch ups on my hand. So, I just got the cuff instead.”
“Where’d you get it done?” Lizzy gave her a warm smile, and the girl eased a little bit.
“On the corner at Ink Bites.” She shook her head, and fresh tears pooled in her eyes. “For a minute, I’d hoped there’d been a mistake.” She glanced back down to Lizzy’s lap where the photo lay. “That’s her, though.”
“Is there anything else you can tell us?” Lizzy pressed, and Darek let her lead. “A reason she might have had a collar on? Anyone she considered a lover?”
“No, I really don’t know anything. I wish I did. Life’s so fucked up. You live with someone and don’t even know them. I wish now I’d known her better.”
“Did she ever bring clients here? Any men?” Lizzy gave her a pressing look.
“As I said, if she did, I wasn’t home and never saw them, but I know she told me she used the place a couple of times. One was a girl. I hadn’t known she was bisexual until then. Not that it mattered to me, but I’d never known it before.” She wiped her eyes.
“Did the two of you ever get physical after you found out?” Lizzy’s question surprised Darek. He never would have been bold enough to ask it himself.
The girl blushed and gave a little shrug. “There was one time about four months ago. We both had the day off, and it was snowing. I was pissed off at my boyfriend, and we hated on men a little. One thing led to another. She did tell me she preferred men.” She shrugged, and her eyes went to her lap where her hands wrung together. “I’m not really into girls. It was just experimental. My mom would kill me.”
Darek cleared his throat. “We’re not going to tell anyone, but we thank you for being honest with us. If anything comes back to you, you be sure and call.”
Lizzy reached into her pocket and handed the girl a card. Then she straightened the photos, flipping through them as if to organize them. She made sure the girl saw every image, even the bloody carving on Alicia’s back.
When they got in the elevator, Darek gave Lizzy a nudge. “Did you have to be so insensitive with the photos? The girl was obviously distraught.”
“Too distraught if you ask me. She barely knew the girl, but she fucked her? Even ships in the night get to know one another when they pass. She didn’t see a collar? But she has a cuff? She didn’t see a fresh tattoo?”
“She seemed pretty surprised, and it’s not that far off base to think that our victim might have been leading a double life.”
“I suppose, but by exposing her to it, I’m hoping she coughs up more information later.”
When they walked out of the building, Lizzy turned to walk down the street instead of heading into the parking garage.
Darek moved to catch up. “Where are we going?”
“The tattoo parlor on the corner. I’m hoping that Alicia used it as well. It would make sense, and while we’re in the neighborhood, we can at least mark this one off the list.”
Darek tried not to stare at her or notice the sway of her hips as she walked, so he thought it best to stay beside her. They approached a large yellow sign with the word tattoo in red block letters with big round bulbs. The sign on the door read “Ink Bites,” and the logo was a red and yellow viper.
“Red and yellow, kill a fellow,” Darek said. “Or a girl, as the case may be?”
Lizzy met his stare. “I’m not sure it’s going to be that easy.”
“One can hope.”
The place smelled of cheap incense. The walls were covered with paper drawings, some original and some that looked like they’d been taken right out of the pages of a book. The buzz of needles inking skin and quiet chatter filled the air, along with the stinking smoke that burned on the front counter.
A sign read: “Please ring the bell.” So he did. Lizzy seemed more intrigued with the art.
A man covered in tattoos came out from the back room. “Can I help you?” His shirt was unbuttoned, and his pants were so tight that they showed off his pencil-thin legs.
Lizzy took out the photo of Alicia’s bloody back tattoo. It only showed half the carving, but he didn’t want the witnesses to focus too much on that. “Yeah, we’re looking for the artist that did this. Does it look familiar?”
The guy quickly turned his head away. “Jesus, man. What’s that? Some kind of cult shit?”
“We’re investigating the murder of Alicia David. Does the name ring a bell?” She shook the picture at him, and the paper made a crinkling sound as if it was begging for his attention.
“No, not at all. How awful.” The man didn’t want to look at the photo, but Lizzy put it in his hands to take a better look.
“I need you to tell me what you can about this tattoo,” she said. “Are you the only artist here today?”
“I’m Felix Strother; I own this place. My apprentice is here. He’s with a client.”
“Okay, could you ask him to come and take a look, please?”