“Everyone liked her?”
“Yeah, I’d say so, even if they didn’t understand her.”
“Do you know what it was that prompted her to take up the promise ring and avoid alcohol? Her mother said she just decided on her own.”
“It’s true. Millie and I talked about it and she said it was to do with her father.”
“How so?” Gordon questioned.
The waitress returned to take their order. After Tamsin decided on an omelette Gordon quickly ordered a sandwich, just so that he could return to his questions before Tamsin went off track.
“Millie loved him. She was still young, very young, when he died, but she had the fondest memories of him. Isabelle would tell her about him - how they met, how he treated her so well, things like that - and Millie desperately wanted to be loved as completely as her mother had been. She knew if she waited for the right person it’d be perfect, just like it was for them. As for the drinking, she just didn’t see the point. She had a great evening every time she went out and didn’t have to pay for it the next morning. Truth be told, I was jealous of her sometimes.”
“But not enough to skip the drink.” Gordon commented with a smile that Tamsin returned.
“True.”
“So, how did she do with men? I’ve seen some pictures of her and she was a very pretty young woman, so I imagine she had more than a few admirers.”
“Oh, God, yes.” Tamsin blurted out. “She did very well, but she let them know up front she wasn’t interested in sex. A few stuck around, most didn’t.”
“She had some boyfriends during her time in University then?”
“A few, there was one that was more serious than the others.”
“Derek?” Gordon asked. Tamsin’s eyes flickered again.
“Not Derek, no. It was a guy called…” Tamsin trailed off, looking thoughtful for a second. “Josh. Josh Grant.”
“Interesting. I didn’t see him in her address book and Ms Reese-Smyth never mentioned him.” Gordon told her. It was a name he’d seen on the list of interviews, but there hadn’t been anything of note that stuck out.
“Millie never mentioned him to her.”
“Why not?”
“Because she wanted to be sure before she took him home to meet her.”
“Okay, and why was that?”
“He had a bit of a reputation before he got together with Millie; at first she thought he was just trying to make her his latest conquest, a challenge if you want to call it that.”
“Was he?”
“No. Actually, he was really good to her, but they broke up about a month before we graduated.”
The waitress arrived with their food. Gordon couldn’t have been less interested, but poked at his beef sandwich and discovered it seemed to be rather well put together.
“And why did they break up?”
“Millie didn’t want to talk about it, so I don’t really know.”
Gordon was pretty sure she was holding back; Tamsin was now focussing heavily on her omelette, not even looking at him. It seemed Jenkins hadn’t had the skill to detect Tamsin was concealing something and his estimation of him slipped even further.
“You were practically sisters and yet she didn’t tell you what had happened to the one man she was apparently serious about?” Gordon asked incredulously.
“I respected her privacy.” Tamsin responded after swallowing.
“Did the police ask you about any of this?”
“They did.”
“And did they believe you more or less than I do?” Gordon asked scathingly. She flashed an angry look at him.
“It was an accident; that cop told me it was an accident. I don’t see what all of that has to do with anything!” Tamsin snapped, drawing a look from the waitress and the few other patrons.
“It matters because I believe someone raped and murdered Millie.” Gordon told her, his voice suddenly filled with ice. “Someone abducted the woman you claim you loved like a sister, drugged her and defiled her for days before bashing her head against a dumpster. Now, Jenkins may be an incompetent asshole, but I’m not. So tell me, what happened between her and Josh?” Gordon commanded. He didn’t raise his voice, but Tamsin shrank back as though he’d slapped her.
“It was because of Derek.” Tamsin said softly.
“How so?”
“Derek was a fringe part of our group. He was funny and smart, but just a little weird.”
“Weird how?”
“Well, he was just… weird.”
“That’s not very helpful.”
“He and Millie got along really well, they had things in common. He didn’t drink and you never saw him with a girl - even though more than enough threw themselves at him. He always joked that he was saving himself for marriage. Whether he was or not, I don’t know, but that’s what he would say.”
“Okay. So, why was Josh and Millie’s break up Derek’s fault?”
“Like I said, he and Millie got along really well. They’d spend time together, just the two of them. Off campus, between classes; he followed her around everywhere and, while he didn’t quite fit in with the rest of us, he was always there in the background.” Tamsin took a deep breath. “So, this one night, Josh and I were talking and he tells me he’s concerned Millie’s cheating on him with Derek. I told him it was ridiculous and he said if it was any other girl he’d have been certain she was. She’d take calls from Derek, answer his messages just a little too quickly, stuff like that.”
Gordon remained silent and focused on her as she continued the story.
“A few days later he decided to check up on them. Millie was supposed to be helping Derek study for a test but when Josh walked in on them Millie had her hand on Derek’s face. He told me he flew into a rage and broke up with her, and that was that.”
“What did Millie have to say about the situation?” Gordon asked.
“Millie wouldn’t tell me what happened in that room. I… I probed the subject by asking if she should still be wearing her promise ring and that was the first time she swore at me. It took a few days for us to settle things but, honest to God, I don’t know what happened. I believe if she’d been sleeping with Derek she’d have taken off the ring, so I just left it alone. Millie moped around for a couple of weeks but she took solace in her faith in the fact that if she and Josh were meant to be then they would be.”
“And she never told her mother any of this?”
“No. I asked if she was going to talk to Isabelle about it, but she said before she could tell her mother and me what had happened some other things would have to come out. I didn’t know what she meant and I left it at that.”
“I see.” Gordon thought for a few seconds, processing what she’d told him. “So, do you know where Josh is these days?”
“He didn’t have anything to do with it!” She exclaimed hotly.
“Great, but that’s not what I asked.”
“I’m serious, there’s no way he could’ve had anything to do with Millie’s disappearance.”
“And that’s still not what I asked. I can either find out from you or call up my contacts in the police and have him hauled in for official questioning.” Gordon lied. Tamsin seemed to consider what he said for a few seconds and then nodded.
“He works at a gym.”
Gordon heard what she said, glanced at the bag beside her and put the clues together.
“You and Josh have… stayed in touch?”
“It was never supposed to be like that.”
“Did Millie know?”
“I was going to tell her but the time never seemed right.”
“It’s pretty hard to tell your best friend you’re sleeping with her ex, especially when she’s hoping they might get back together.” Gordon commented dismissively. Tamsin flushed with offense and embarrassment.
“We got together after they’d broken up. It was just something that happened, we never planned on it!”
“Truthfully, as
long as it doesn’t have any impact on why she went missing and then turned up dead, I don’t care. Just tell me where he works so I can pay him a visit.”
“Why? He’s already been questioned by the police and they didn’t find him suspicious.”
“Because I’m asking you nicely.” Gordon stated coolly. “Either you can tell me or I can easily find out another way.”
Tamsin reached into her bag, grabbed a pen from one of the side pockets then wrote down the address on a napkin. She scrunched it up and tossed it at Gordon. He’d had worse things thrown at him in the past.
“I want you to look me in the eyes, Tamsin. I want you to look me in the eyes and tell me you don’t have any idea what happened to Millie, and that to the best of your knowledge, neither does Josh.”
Tamsin glared at him, focusing her eyes on his and then she declared herself clearly and calmly.
“We didn’t have anything to do with it. She was my best friend; I loved her more than anyone.”
Gordon examined her face and felt she was telling the truth. He nodded and smiled.
“Thank you for your time, Miss Muller. I didn’t mean to offend--” Gordon started, but was cut off by the sloshing of her water into his face. She stood up, grabbed her bag and left angrily.
“Well, then.” Gordon commented as he reached for his napkin to dry his face. The waitress appeared a few moments later and looked at him quizzically.
“Is everything okay?”
“Can I get a to go box?” Gordon asked as he switched off the recording.
Chapter Five
After eating lunch in his car, Gordon drove to the gym where Josh apparently worked, parking across the street. He had no doubt Josh would’ve received a call or a text message from Tamsin by now, warning him about the grumpy private investigator coming his way. Gordon wasn’t worried. If the guy was riled up it might make it easier to get him to admit to something - if he had anything to admit to of course. Gordon glanced over at the gym. It was a fairly large building, the entire facade of which was almost entirely glass, with a few metal separators that divided the window into three uneven parts; two larger pieces on either side of the central pane that housed the double glass doors.
“‘Unlimited Fitness Gym Company’.” Gordon read aloud. He wondered briefly just what ‘unlimited fitness’ would feel like. It was the kind of pointless name that sounded good but really meant absolutely nothing. Despite it being a little after lunch on a weekday, there were a dozen or so people visible through the windows, working out on treadmills or cycling machines. It was brightly lit inside the building, so Gordon could also see that there were more machines and weights at the back of the room. He casually exited his vehicle and moved towards the entrance, where a woman who was leaving held the door open for him. Inside was a wall of sound; a blaring of generic rock music, which was likely intended to ‘pump up’ those working out. Gordon thanked the woman and entered, looking immediately to the left as he crossed the threshold and seeing a semi-circular desk behind which an attractive, muscular woman sat on a swivel chair.
“Hi! Are you looking to join or are you an existing member?” She questioned immediately. Gordon approached her and smiled.
“Neither.” He informed her, coming to a stop and resting his hands on the desk. “My name is Gordon Crane, I’m a private investigator and I need to have a word with someone named Josh Grant. I’ve been told he works here.”
“Oh.” She responded, looking disappointed. “Do you have an appointment?”
“Not quite.”
“Well his schedule is pretty busy today; we might be able to pencil something in for tomorrow.”
“It’s not related to whatever it is he does here; it’s about his ex-girlfriend.”
“I see.” The woman returned. Her face mirrored an inner conflict of uncertainty, then she seemed to reach a decision. “He’s got a ten minute window between his current client and the one after. I’ll let him know you’re here to see him and maybe you can talk to him then?”
“That sounds perfect.” Gordon told her.
“Great!” She beamed with enthusiasm. “Please, have a look around the gym while you wait. There’s thirty percent off for people who sign up for our one year Member’s Plus package today.” She informed him brightly. Gordon nodded noncommittally and turned away, walking into the gym proper. There wasn’t much to see that he hadn’t seen from outside. Exercise equipment was strategically placed and there were punch bags hanging from the ceiling in one corner. In addition, there were several doors in the wall to the right, which he guessed might lead to private rooms, save for one that was marked ‘Staff Only’. Eventually, in front of a bank of cycling machines, Gordon spotted a big screen television showing a news channel. The sound was off, probably because no one would have been able to hear it, but the subtitles were on, so he watched for a while.
He wasn’t sure how long he was standing there, becoming lost in the music, the news and the desperate desire not to focus on the stench of sweat, cleaning products and cheap deodorant, which was clearly not doing a good enough job, that filled the air conditioned space. It was one of the reasons Gordon didn’t like visiting a gym. The news reports bled into one another as he let the subtitle text wash over him: possible corruption amongst a local business conglomerate, a murdered female escort and a missing person who had been found in the desert. The latter had gone camping or some such thing and become lost, and, by all accounts, it was a miracle he was still alive. There was also a fluff piece about celebrities who were working the theatres and casinos downtown, leading Gordon to briefly consider going to see a magic show. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d done such a thing, and then he immediately thought of Shelly’s birthday. Perhaps, he considered, tickets to the show would be a nice gift. After a long while he heard the chipper voice of the receptionist behind him.
“Mister Rayne?” She questioned. Gordon turned to face her and smiled.
“Crane.” He corrected, taking in the sight of the muscular man just behind her. He was tall, clearly well over six feet in height, and obviously in love with weight training. His face was rugged and handsome, his dark hair cut short and a hint of designer stubble speckled his face. He was the kind of guy a lot of women would fall for, only to realize he had about as much personality as a dumpster fire after he’d had his way with them.
“Crane!” He roared. Clearly he had received Tamsin’s message. “What the hell did you say to Tamsin?” Josh demanded; his voice rough and aggressive. He flexed himself, clenching his fists as though he was anticipating a fight. Gordon half smiled; if the oaf intended to throw the first punch then Gordon was ready to throw the last.
“Not much actually. I’m looking into Millie’s death and she became a little defensive when I discovered her best friend and her boyfriend were sleeping together.”
“We weren’t together when all that started, and besides, it was Millie who cheated on me!” He exclaimed angrily, taking a step towards Gordon. It seemed he was hoping to intimidate the smaller man, and the receptionist took an apprehensive few paces back, a concerned look on her face as she glanced between the towering form of Josh and the shorter, leaner private detective.
“Listen, I don’t want to you to hurt yourself so why don’t you take a step back, take a deep breath and we’ll talk like grownups.”
Josh, whether truly blinded by a desire to ‘defend’ his girlfriend or simply a dumb thug who was used to getting his own way, reared back. Despite the speed with which he threw it, he clearly telegraphed his incoming punch. Gordon easily leaned out of the way, then slammed his own fist as hard as he could up into Josh’s gut. The bigger man was caught off guard and slumped forward, his grunt of pain immediately followed by the sound of him heaving. Gordon quickly stepped out of the way and, after the big man had finished, Gordon put his hand on his shoulder.
“It’s all right, kid.” He offered consolingly, glancing at the receptionist. “Get him some water.”
Gordon was aware that the patrons were looking at him, but he ignored them and focused on the downed man before him. The receptionist returned with the water and Josh reached up and took it, his hand shaking as he fought to hold back the next wave of nausea.
“So, are you ready to talk or do you want to try that again?” Gordon asked after a few moments.
“What do you want?” Josh responded, his voice croaky and rough, clearly humiliated by how easily he’d been brought to his knees. Gordon considered setting up the recorder but, given Josh’s already volatile attitude, he thought better of it on this occasion.
“I just want to know about Millie. Unless you and Tamsin have something to hide, this won’t take long.”
“I don’t have to answer your questions.”
“Perhaps not, but if you don’t then people might say that makes you look pretty suspicious. I’ve still got some friends on the force and they’d be really interested to know how shady you acted.”
A few moments later, Josh stood up and moved away from where he’d been sick, sitting heavily on the seat of a cycling machine. The receptionist disappeared to a supply closet and returned with a mop and bucket.
“So, when was the last time you spoke to her?”
“The night I caught her with Derek.” Josh replied; his skin pallid and a look on his face as though he might be sick again.
“Tell me about that night.”
“We… we’d made plans to meet and she cancelled on me again. She’d been doing that a lot and almost every time she cancelled it was because Derek needed her. I asked what was so important and she would tell me it was because they were both studying for the same test. She became secretive; hiding her phone when we were hanging out in the communal areas or turning away to text him when we were on a date. I changed who I was for her and she was cheating on me with Derek for who knows how long.”
His Twisted Smile Page 6