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She said, “That’s why they call it performance.”
—
In real life, Nostrum had been slumped and emaciated, with a plain, round face and downcast eyes.
Her stage persona was a shrieking, galloping, spidery visage in Spandex wearing white-face makeup, kohl around the eyes, and spiky Technicolor wigs.
The day Robin had introduced us, I’d extended my hand. Still fixed on hardwood, Mare Nostrum had barely grazed my fingertips.
I smiled, said “Nice to meet you,” and went to my office. A few minutes later, I heard the front door shut. Robin entered alone, shaking her head.
I said, “Shy.”
“Petrified.”
“Of me?”
“From what I can tell, of life. She could use someone like you.”
“Why’d she name herself after the Mediterranean?”
“Did she?”
“Mare Nostrum,” I said. “ ‘Our sea’ in the words of the Romans.”
She laughed. “The stuff you know. I have no idea. She’s not even Italian.”
—
Now, wondering if Robin had recent contact information, I headed back to the studio, made it as far as the kitchen where she sat at the table drinking orange juice.
I said, “Let’s hear it for vitamin C.”
“Let’s hear it for sugar. Keep me company, handsome.”
I sat next to her. “I was on my way to ask you if you’re still in contact with Mare Nostrum.”
“I’m not, hon. She hasn’t been active in what…three, four years? Why?”
“She’s listed as one of Cordi Gannett’s friends.”
“A real friend or a promo friend?”
“Don’t know,” I said. “She could also have been a client.”
“Because of her issues?”
“She did seem sad and scared.”
“What do you think she could tell you?”
“I don’t really know,” I said. “But Gannett seems to have had no current social life or family. Meaning no one for Milo to talk to, which is the ultimate case-killer. Be nice to find someone who knows anything about her. Not that Mare’s the talkative type but you play the cards you’re dealt.”
She nodded, drank. “So no idea who did it.”
“Nope, just theories.” I told her about the naked man as either a suspect or a victim, the notion of a threesome gone bad.
She said, “In her house. What a terrible way to go.” She finished the juice and stood. “Let’s see if I can find my old address book and if Mare’s number still works.Andshe’s willing to talk to you.”
