“What did Kyle tell you?”

“That you were going back and looking into her death and that possibly it was related to Lester’s death.”

“How’d you find out about Lester’s death?”

“Kyle called me in Venice and told me.”

“When?”

“Yesterday morning.” Wry smile. “Quite early in the morning. Right after I arrived from a rather gourmandish night in Paris and was trying to sleep it off.”

“What else did he tell you?”

“That’s it,” said Bedard. “The part about Patty didn’t come up until the ride from the airport.”

“Kyle’s explanation for why he wanted to drive past Tanya’s.”

“Not that it clarified matters.”

“Why’d you come back to L.A., sir?”

“Kyle asked me to.”

“Just like that, with no explanation.”

“You’re not a father, Lieutenant. I heard the need in my son’s voice and responded. I did try to get him to explain, but it made him more upset so I dropped it. I’ve learned to let Kyle proceed at his own pace-did you see how tough it was just getting him to leave the damn room?”

Milo said, “Why exactly did Kyle say he wanted to drive past Tanya’s house?”

“To make sure she was okay. And then he blushed and got fidgety. From that I inferred that he was smitten by the girl. That surprised me but not unpleasantly. ‘Kyle’ and ‘women’ aren’t two words often uttered in the same breath.”

“Not a ladies’ man.”

“It wouldn’t shock me if he was still a virgin.” Dry chuckle. “Where did I go wrong?”

I said, “Why did Kyle drive by Mary Whitbread’s duplex?”

“I had no idea he was going to do that. When he turned on Third instead of Beverly, I figured it was an alternative route, maybe something to do with traffic patterns-I haven’t been in L.A. for months, the bastards at City Hall keep digging up the streets. Then he turned off at Orlando and before I knew it, we were idling in front of Mary’s duplex. I asked him what the heck he was doing and he turned and gave me a strange look and began humming ‘Auld Lang Syne.’”

“Doing it for old times’ sake.”

“But he didn’t look amused. Quite the contrary, he was uptight and stayed that way, refused to explain.”

Bedard swallowed the last of the bourbon. “The ride home was tense. I’d just left Venice for him and believe me, that city is gorgeous any time of year-if you haven’t been there, trust me, you have to. Before the whole damn thing sinks into oblivion.”

“You came home because Kyle sounded upset,” I said, “but he wouldn’t explain why.”

“I tried to get it out of him. That’s why we were sitting in the driveway when you pulled your little commando raid.”

Running a finger under the knot of his ascot, he said, “Why can’t you tell me what the hell’s going on?”

“Let’s go back a bit,” I said. “How exactly did you meet Mary Whitbread?”

“Through my brother-in-law.”

“Lester Jordan.”

“The late, unlamented.”

“How did he know her?”

“As I said, Mary’s an exuberant gal. Do you know anything about her background?”

“In Chicago?”

“Her story-and I can’t vouch for it-is that back in Chicago she hung around with Mafia types. She also said she knew Mayor Daley, the Kennedys. But isn’t that the standard claim? Perhaps if you chat with her long enough she’ll claim to have bedded Jimmy Hoffa and Amelia Earhart.”

“Standard claim for who?”

“Aging bimbos. I’m not trying to be cruel, but let’s face it, that’s what Mary is. I’d take anything she says with more than a dash of sel de mer.”

“You don’t trust her but you did a real estate deal with her.”

“Her cashier’s check was genuine.”

“How’d she know Lester Jordan?”

“Among her varied interests were musicians,” said Bedard. “Les played sax in a traveling combo that had a gig at a club where Mary was ahem dancing.” Wink wink. “I suppose push led to shove…so to speak. And wouldn’t you know it, that’s the one time Mary got careless. A one-night stand and it’s time to buy diapers.”

He shook his head. “Stupid.”

Milo said, “Jordan was Peterson’s father?”

“Perhaps that was what motivated her to get her tubes tied. Or perhaps it was just a convenience. Given her new occupation.”

“Porn.”

“Aha,” said Bedard. “You know about all that. Have you ever seen Mary’s work?”

“No, sir.”

“High-quality, Lieutenant. For what it is.”

“If she didn’t want kids, why didn’t she abort?”

“She considered it,” said Bedard. “Told me so-pillow talk and all that. Her reason for not doing so was that she was dating a wealthy old man at the time. A wealthy generous old man, whom she thought she might be able to con into thinking the baby was his. Unfortunately, the plan backfired.”

“Sugar Daddy wasn’t overjoyed,” said Milo.

“Sugar Daddy demanded a paternity test and when she procrastinated, he kicked her somewhat enlarged butt out into the street. By the time it happened, she was too far along to feel comfortable aborting.”

“Scruples.”

“I suppose she has a few. Poor Mary. She’s blessed with vaginal muscles from heaven but her judgment sometimes falls short of the mark. She had the baby but from what I could tell, didn’t do much in the way of raising it. In that way, she’s not unlike my ex-wife.” To me: “No, my seeing her was not an example of neurotic pattern. In crucial ways, there were differences between Mary and Iona.”

Playing with his glass. “One hears about maternal instincts but I’ve run into quite a few women who seem to lack it.”

“When’s the last time you saw Mary?”

“I thought I answered that.”

“You said she was too old.”

“And has been for at least a decade. That’s why I was surprised when Kyle pulled up in front of her place and started humming. I do my best to forget old acquaintances.”

“Unpleasant memories?”

“Not at all, Doctor. I believe in moving on.”

“So you met Mary through Lester Jordan.”

“Ah, Lester,” he said. “Lester was a cancer on my married life-rock-filled baggage that I was willing to tolerate when I still had feelings for Iona. But I never liked giving him money because I knew where it was going. I met Mary, when I came by to give Lester yet another check and she was there. The sight of a woman who looked like that associated with a dried-up scrotum like Lester caught my attention.”

“Why was she there?”

“The two of them were having some kind of spat. Lester’s mood didn’t concern me but a beautiful woman so upset?” Touching a blue silk breast. “She ran out, I handed Lester his dole and went after her, gave her a shoulder to cry on.” Adjusting his glasses. “One thing led to another.”

“Why was she crying?”

“She wanted Lester to see Pete. Pete always asked to see his father but Lester rarely agreed. Par for the course.”

“His being an addict,” said Milo.

“Addiction’s all about self-indulgence, right? That’s what Patty told me. My sense was she was happy to be rid of him. That would be any rational person’s reaction to Lester.”

“Except his son’s.”

Bedard removed his glasses. “Sons can be like that.”

“Attached,” I said.

“Beyond the point of reason. I’m sure being rejected inflicted wounds on the kid’s psyche, but believe me, Pete was better off not being exposed to Lester. The man was dirt.”

“And you had to support him.”

“Like I said, baggage.”

“Your ex thinks you killed him.”

Bedard pulled out a foot of ascot and wiped his lenses. “That tells you about her judgment. I’ve been in Europe for two months.”

“She says you wouldn’t do it yourself, you’d hire someone.”

“I’m sure I would. If killing Lester was my aim. Unfortunately for Iona, Lester had been out of my life for years. Why the hell would I waste money-not to mention put myself in jeopardy-to squash a roach in someone else’s kitchen?”

I said, “What else did Patty tell you about Lester?”