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From what I could see, the pants were too tight to hide a gun bulge. But you never know what can happen when people get surprised and Milo’s own hand had slipped into his jacket.
We didn’t move.
Kilic stared at us, removed his hand, and backed away. Then he took a second to stare ruefully at wasted weed smoldering on the ground.
Milo flashed his badge. “L.A. police, Mr. Kilic, didn’t mean to alarm you.”
“Alarm me? You nearly gave me a fucking heart attack.” Hoarse voice. Levantine features but an Irish brogue.
“We had no idea we’d actually find you back here,” said Milo. “You’re not in any sort of trouble, we’d just like a few minutes of your time.”
Bobby Kilic drew himself up. Stooped low, picked up the still-active joint, studied it, said, “What the ef,” and dropped it back down. “Don’t think about a littering ticket, guys, this is private property. What do you want to talk about?”
“Meagin March.”
“Meg? What about her?”
“She’s been murdered.”
Splotches of pallor rose to the surface of Kilic’s solar-enhanced skin. “No way. You’re shitting me. Can’t be.”
“I’m afraid it can be, sir.”
“Meg? How the—who the—you’re telling me this just happened? I didn’t hear about it, I hear about things, I always hear.”
“Last Sunday,” said Milo.
“Who the fuck did it?” Clenching both hands. “Some homeless lowlife? Some gang-banging home invader? Don’t tell me it was at her house, she said she wasüber-protected there, felt safe even though her husband was gone all the time.”
“Can’t get into the details, sir, but it didn’t happen at her house.”
“Where, then? Where?” said Bobby Kilic. “Where, c’mon? I live in the hills, if it’s the hills I need to know.”
“At the home of a friend. Gio Aggiunta.”
Blank look. That told me plenty about the purple diamond transaction.
Kilic said, “He—whoever the fuck he is—he killed her?”
“No, he was also killed.”
“A double homicide? Here in Beverly Hills?”
“In Bel Air,” said Milo. “We’re L.A. police.”
“Oh,” said Kilic. “Yeah, you said, I wasn’t focusing.” Crooked smile. “Taking a relax break, you know? Trying to think positive thoughts. Murder. Now,that’sfucked up.”
Another look at the joint. He winked and smiled. “Got to say it’s weird, being able to smoke up in front of the cops. Long time coming. Bet you guys indulge yourselves.”
We said nothing.
Kilic’s smile crumbled. “Meg. Dead. Fucking obscene. So what do you want from me?”
“We’ve heard you sold her a purple diamond.”
Kilic’s face closed up like a flower exposed to frost. “Did you.”
“It’s not true?”
