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“If not her husband, maybe someone else’s.”
“Exactly. Alex has confirmed that he took other women to the Bel-Air and the calls I have had a chance to look at say other Five-Stars were also his hunting grounds.”
Sean said, “Any I.D. on the women at the Bel-Air, Doc?”
I shook my head. “The hostess was hazy on details.”
Moe said, “You made a special trip or just happened to be there?”
“The latter.”
Milo suppressed a smile. “In any event, maybe someone at the Waldorf or the Peninsula or wherever will remember more.”
Sean said, “Maybe we should also check hotels that don’t show up in his call history. Places he could’ve dropped in on without planning.”
Alicia said, “Happy hunting grounds. He does sound like a guy who did nothing but party.”
“Good point,” said Milo. “Along those lines, he also called restaurants so let’s start with everyplace in the call history and if nothing shows up there, we can branch out.”
Moe said, “Five-Stars, we’re talking rich folk. You think some waiter’s going to give up a name?”
“Let’s hope,” said Milo. “Yeah, it’s thin soup but until the total call history comes in, I don’t see any other way to go.”
He waited. Silence.
“Anything else?”
Alicia said, “A hotel might give up his older women but what about her younger men?”
Milo said, “Good point. We’re also looking for any other guys she dated, especially older ones.”
“Problematic coots,” said Alicia.
Sean said, “Do we know if she was married before?”
Milo said, “Not in California, as far as I can tell. Gio arrived hereseventeen months ago, not sure about Meagin but she’s only been married a year and a half.”
Alicia sat up straighter. “This may be out of left field, Loo, if she did arrive around the same time as Gio, could they have known each other before?”
“Not unless she lived in Italy.”
“Which I’ll check. Any chance of a personal look-see in Florence?”
Everyone laughed. Milo’s lips twisted. He cracked his knuckles. “I’ll take on the paperwork aspect, you guys handle the hotels and the eateries. Hell, have a snack on me.”
“Just a snack?” said Alicia.
“Now you’re pushing it. Fine, bring me serious info and have a T-bone on me. Or whatever your pleasure is.”
CHAPTER
18
The following day, a courier from L.A. County Superior Court, Family Division, delivered a legal-sized envelope to my door.
Inside was a handwritten note on Julie Beck’s from-the-desk-of stationery:Here it is, Alex. Thanks. J.
“It” was a two-page summary ofRuffalo vs. Ruffalo,current addresses in Brentwood, Cancún, New York City, Aspen, Vermont. He, a financier specializing in “entertainment start-ups and artistic development,” she an “activist and advocate.” A few years back Milo and I had met a guy named Ruffalo…Charles. Naive money guy living with a hooker who’d been raped. This guy was Brian Ruffalo. Anything but naive. Maybe the tough older brother? Or just coincidence.
