The Museum of Desire: An Alex Delaware Novel(12)

The top drawer of a wicker dresser under the TV was filled with Calvin Klein briefs and socks rolled inside out. In the middle drawer, polo shirts, tees, a black silk Nat Nast bowling shirt with golden saxophones embroidered on the front.

In the bottom drawer, twelve packages of Ultra-Sleek XL ribbed and lubed condoms (“For her pleasure and yours”). One package opened, three rubbers missing.

“The simple life,” said Milo. “Long as it’s ultra-sleek and lubed.”

He checked the bathroom. White tile and towels. The toilet seat lid was shut.

Milo said, “Endearing himself to his visitors,” and opened the medicine cabinet. A couple of Speed Sticks, OTC analgesics and cold remedies, a boar-bristle shaving brush, cream from Truefitt in London, a walnut-handled razor and a week’s worth of blades. Off to the right, given its own space, sat a small blue glass canister. Milo squinted at the label, handed it to me.

Cannabis blended with “a host of other botanicals.” Inside, a waxy, fragrant paste the color of beer.

The entire top shelf was more condoms. Another ten packages.

Milo said, “His date comes in here, sees that, what’s she gonna think?”

I said, “Sounds like Ricky arranged things so they wouldn’t be thinking much.”

“Then he shifts gears.”

“A woman’s caught off guard, thinks about it later, doesn’t like the memory. Could be a motive.”

“So what about the other three victims?”

I shrugged.

He laughed. “I was hoping you wouldn’t say that.”



* * *



—

Jay Briggs was across the hall, in his own quarters, smoking. Two-thirds the size of Gurnsey’s room, set up with a plastic carton for a nightstand and a mattress on the floor that dipped under Briggs’s weight. He’d put on a crushed-looking gray T-shirt. Piles of equally tortured-looking clothing littered the floor randomly.

Briggs stood. “Anything?”

Milo said, “Just doing our thing, Jay. I know I can trust you to stay out of Ricky’s room until our forensics crew gets here.”

“They’re coming here? When?”

“Probably sometime today, they’ll call first so give me your number, please.”

Briggs recited, Milo copied. “Thanks. They’ll also take your fingerprints.”

“Mine? What for?”

“To eliminate you from any prints we find in Ricky’s room.”

“I never went in there.”

“Then your prints won’t come up.”

“I have to do that?”

“Any reason you wouldn’t want to?” said Milo.

Briggs’s lips twisted. His eyes raced to the right, then back.

“They use a little computerized gizmo, Jay, you won’t even get your fingers dirty.”

Briggs chewed his cheek. “Here’s the thing. I’ve been busted. A long time ago. DUI. Twice.”

“Couldn’t care less, Jay.”

“But here’s the thing. Sir. I lied about it when I applied for the job with Professor Van Ness. I need the job.”

“No background check, huh?”

“They said they did,” said Briggs. “I was figuring, Oh, shit, I’m screwed. But then they hired me so I figured it didn’t come up.”

“How long ago were your busts?”

“Like…fifteen years ago.”

“Sometimes minor stuff doesn’t make it to the files, Jay. Sometimes they’re wiped off the record.”

“Really? Cool.”

“Whatever the situation, same answer: Couldn’t care less, this is about homicide.”

“Okay, sure, I’ll do it. Sure, thanks, anything to help.”

“There you go,” said Milo. “Now give us contact information for Ricky’s parents.”

“They both died,” said Briggs. “He talked about it once, some kind of accident. Then he said don’t bring it up again, just wanted you to know. ’Cause I’d asked. Right after I’d moved in. Shooting the bull, you know? I’m telling him about my family, trying to be polite, ask about his. That’s when he told me.”

“Any sibs?”

“I have four, he had none. He liked that, said he got all the attention. I told him brothers were cool, sisters could be also. I hope you analyze pretty soon. There’s bad energy floating around since you told me. Like I’m out in the water waiting for a wave, see this red tide floating toward me.”

I said, “You and Ricky both surf?”

“Nah, just me. His only sport was chicks.”

Milo said, “Where’s Ricky’s BMW?”

“We’ve got two spaces and his has been empty since Friday. Like I said I figured he’d hooked up with a hot one.”

Briggs knuckled an eye and sucked in breath. “Guess he didn’t. Once you guys leave, I’m getting out of here, too. Take a run. A walk, something.”

Milo said, “The girls Ricky brought home. Remember any names?”

“Can’t remember what I never knew, sir.”

I said, “Did he have a type?”

“What do you mean?”

“Tall, short, blond, brunette.”