“Ricky was a lawyer at Sony.”
“Um, not exactly,” said Briggs. “He went to some law school but didn’t pass the bar. To be honest, he was more of a paralegal.”
“Ah,” said Milo.
“He was pretty smart,” said Briggs, sounding uncertain. “Said he didn’t want the hassle of being a lawyer, the main thing was to make enough bank and have free time to party.”
Our eyes swept over the mess on the coffee table.
Briggs said, “That’s on me, Ricky was kind of a neat freak.”
I said, “When were you expecting him back?”
“When he didn’t come up Friday, I figured Saturday. When he didn’t come up Saturday, I figured maybe tonight. But there was no way to tell.”
Milo said, “Did Ricky know a guy named Benson Alvarez?”
“Uh-uh, who’s he? Some Mexican gangster?”
“Did Ricky do any charity work?”
“Like what?” said Briggs, as if the concept was absurd.
“Volunteering his time, helping the homeless, people with disabilities, stuff like that?”
Slow head shake. “Only thing I know is he gave twenty bucks to United Way at the office. Asked me if I wanted to also. I said when I have more, I will, dude. Ricky was cool with that. Ricky was always cool.”
“So not much into volunteering.”
“Not that he told me,” said Briggs. “To be honest, Ricky had time, he’d spend it on one thing.” Shaping an hourglass in the air.
I said, “Did he ever have a long-term relationship—girlfriend, ex-wife?”
Briggs said, “Not since I knew him.”
“He never mentioned a bad situation?”
“Never. But Ricky wasn’t much to bitch. Didn’t talk about his love life, period, just sometimes he’d come home looking happy and I’d say, ‘A hot one, huh?’ And he’d smile and give the thumbs-up.”
“Friendly guy.”
“He liked everyone,” said Briggs. “Sometimes I wondered if that would get him into trouble.”
“In what way?”
“I mean, it’s okay to be okay with people, right? But not all people are good people, right? I mean sometimes it pays to be a little…not paranoid, just a little suspicious. Watch your back, right? I had an ex-wife, right after high school. She lied and told me she was pregnant then she cheated on me, then she got to keep my truck.”
He frowned, remembering.
I said, “You’re careful but Ricky wasn’t.”
“Ricky liked everyone,” Briggs repeated. “Now look what happened.”
Milo said, “You’re thinking he got friendly with the wrong person.”
“It’s possible, no?” Briggs recrossed his legs. “I guess what I’m saying is the guy had no walls around him and sometimes you need walls.”
His hands clasped on his knees and he rocked a couple of times. “He was my friend, I don’t want talk smack about him.”
“Of course not,” said Milo. “But if you know something that helps find his killer, you need to tell us.”
“Yeah…it’s just, all this me-too shit going around. You know?”
“Ricky didn’t always treat women right.”
“He’d say he did. Because they had fun, too.”
We waited.
Look,” said Briggs, “I’m not saying he ever roofied anyone. Did a Harvey or a Cosby, that kind of thing.”
Long arms folded across his bare chest.
I said, “But…”
“But he…oh, man, don’t take this the wrong way. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“Okay,” said Briggs. “He didn’t need to be a perv, chicks liked him.”
As if that mattered. Milo and I waited.
Briggs said, “I’m just saying his way wouldn’t be mine.” His cheeks ballooned. He let the air out slowly. “He liked to get them a little…relaxed. Then, once they were in the mood…already doing it…he liked to stand them up. Sometimes in…both ways, you know?”
I said, “Anal sex by surprise.”
“That makes it sound twisted, he never really forced anyone, they were already in the groove.” Briggs unlaced his hands and waved them. “It was more like…he called it shifting gears.”
“How’d his dates react?”
“He never said they had problems with it.”
“Not your thing,” said Milo.
“I mean…I like to know where I’m going so I assume a chick does, too.” Small smile. “Not that I been doing much. Between the job and hitting the waves. Also I try to do some volleyball.”
I said, “Ricky’s sport was women.”
Emphatic nod. “In school, he was never a jock, so I guess for him…”
Milo said, “What did he use to relax his dates?”
“Nothing weird,” said Briggs. “Sweet drinks, he said chicks always went for the sugar, liked to pretend they were doing 7UP or something.”
“He mixed them sweet cocktails.”
“No, he’d buy them. Getting them to try stuff during dinner. Or at the bar.”
I said, “Stuff with parasols.”
“He said little paper things.”
“He didn’t party here?”
“He brought a few home but I can’t tell you who. I’d only know the next day, I’d come home he’d be washing sheets, giving me the V-sign. Like I said, I work nights. Even on the weekend.”
Milo said, “Seven-day job.”
“Professor Van Ness needs me. Also, I need the money, got loans.” Briggs’s head dropped. “I didn’t want to talk smack about Ricky like he’s some sort of freak. He was just a friendly dude who liked to have fun.”
“Sure,” said Milo. “Okay, tell us what else you know, Jay.”
“Nothing,” said Briggs. “A couple of times, he bragged. Like the few times when we were both home. I’d be in my room, Ricky would have the door closed. I’d be getting ready to leave and he opens it, does this.”