The Museum of Desire: An Alex Delaware Novel(40)

Milo said, “I wish we knew enough to theorize, Dr. Cerillos.”

“But I’m not the only woman you’re talking to.”

“You’re not. So he could come across romantic.”

“Looking back, he was obviously following a routine. Pretending to be interested. The whole medical thing, he kept telling me how smart I was. Smarter than him, he hoped that wouldn’t be an issue.” She smiled. “I suppose it might’ve been had it lasted.”

I said, “How’d the two of you meet?”

The smile dropped like a dry leaf. “Must I get into that? This feels invasive.”

Milo said, “Sorry about that. It’s just that Rick was killed pretty brutally and we haven’t made much progress.”

She winced. “Brutally. My God, don’t even tell me.”

“The point is, Doctor, anything we can learn about Rick—his habits, his approach to life—”

“His approach was obviously hooking up with gullible females.”

“How’d you meet?”

Her small frame shifted forward. “At a restaurant. The Proud Rooster, it’s in Brentwood, they have a cocktail lounge where you can get a light dinner. I live nearby, had been there a couple of times. That particular night, I’d had a tough day. On call for someone else’s patient, fifteen-hour delivery and then the baby ended up being born with a defect that hadn’t been picked up on screening. I drove straight from the hospital to the Rooster, ordered a sandwich and some wine, and tried to decompress. Not at the bar, they have tables, I don’t sit at bars.”

Milo said, “Why’s that?”

Ellen Cerillos said, “It’s been my experience that men who spend extended time at the bar can be less than…appropriate.”

I said, “Rick was also at a table.”

She nodded. “Two tables away, also by himself. I didn’t see him at first, in between us a couple. But when they left Rick and I had a clear view of each other. He didn’t notice me at first, then he did and smiled. Friendly, not gross. I thought he was cute. More than cute, he’s—was a solidly good-looking guy, obviously took care of himself. We exchanged a few more looks and then he went to the bar and bought two drinks, one for me, one for him. I said sure, sit down.”

She looked to the side. “Am I the first on his call list you’re talking to?”

“Why would that be important, Doctor?”

“I wouldn’t want to think that you’re prioritizing me. There’s absolutely no reason to do that.”

“No, there’ve been others.”

“A whole bunch, I’d imagine.” Cerillos frowned and pushed the stethoscope to the side. “I need to cut this short. I’m just out of my fellowship and have a ton of student debt. Getting this job was a great deal, I can’t risk having it jeopardized.”

Milo said, “Our showing up jeopardizes you.”

“Agnes told me everyone was looking at you.”

Milo said, “We came here in person because we left messages and no one got back.”

“Messages with who?”

“Your front desk.”

“Oh, shit, Agnes—she can be…well, whatever. That’s all I know about Rick.”

Milo said, “Four dates then he cut it off.”

Ellen Cerillos blinked. “Precisely. That’s certainly nothing to kill someone over. And please don’t give me that line about woman scorned, hell hath no fury. In my experience it’s men who get angry and stalk.”

She licked her lips.

I said, “You’re speaking from experience.”

Cerillos fiddled with the tubes of her stethoscope. “My second year of med school. A respiratory therapist got it in his head that we were destined for each other. We’d never even gone out, just had coffee in the cafeteria. Then he asked me out and I said no. Then a second time. And a third. That’s when the problems started. He never got violent but he did get scary. Threatening demeanor, calling incessantly, showing up at my apartment with flowers. Eventually, he was arrested for stalking three other women. One he beat up. They wanted me to testify. That terrified me and I refused and the police did their best to make me feel guilty. So you can see why I’m not thrilled when you drop in and dredge up my personal life.”

“What happened to your stalker?”

“He pled guilty and got a couple of years in prison. It was a tough time for me.” Looking at the desk. “But you probably know that.”

“Pardon?”

“You’re the police. You also probably know I got a DUI.”

“It came up, Doctor.”

“It could’ve affected my licensing,” she said. “But it was a stupid arrest. I was .85, instead of .80. My lawyer got it turned into a ticket and told me I didn’t need to report it.”

“Glad it worked out,” said Milo. Out came his pad. “What’s the name of the guy who stalked you?”

Rusty eyes widened in terror. “You can’t tell him I told you!”

“We have no intention of contacting him, Doctor. We’d just like to know where he is.”

“Why?”

“For your sake. What if he’s in L.A. and found out you dated Rick?”