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“Keep the change.”
Sophie sighed. “Meagin was like that, too. The service providers get tipped but I don’t. She tipped me anyway.”
“Nice woman.”
“Sonice. I can’t believe what you’re telling me, she didn’t deserve it…sorry, Mikel wants me to see you out.”
“Sure,” said Milo. “So there’s nothing you can tell us.”
The question perplexed her.
“Anything, Sophie, that could help us catch whoever killed such a nice person.”
“I wish,” said Sophie, stashing the five in a pocket and stepping out from behind the counter. “I really, really wish.”
We followed her to the main door and Milo opened it before she had a chance. Traffic on Montana seemed to have intensified. Daylight felt brighter.
Sophie said, “This is cray-cray insane. She was here last week so so happy. I can’t believe it.”
Milo said, “Here’s my card. If you think of anything.”
“I’ll take it,” she said. “But I won’t think.”
—
We got back in the unmarked.
Milo said, “Monks from Tibet. Wonder what that cost. If it happened.”
I said, “Maybe Lhasa, Ohio.”
“There’s such a place?”
“No idea.”
He laughed, retuned quickly to serious. “If we just learned something, I missed it.”
“Nothing new but confirmation,” I said.
“Of what?”
“Predominantly female clientele, plenty of opportunity for a man on the prowl. The prices ensure a well-heeled clientele.”
“Yeah, I saw that.” He whistled. “Happy hunting ground, no obligations. Which takes me back to plenty of potentially pissed-off husbands and boyfriends besides Doug so maybe Meaginwasn’tthe primary.”
He started the car, had made it halfway to the station when a text beeped.
He sped up and handed me the phone.
I said, “Claudio Aggiunta, Gio’s brother. He’s in town, wants to meet A-sap at your ‘precinct.’ ”
“Text him back.”
Immediate response.
I said, “Being driven over from the Peninsula.”
“Good, we’ll get there first.”
