were starting to make her head hurt. The words came out sharp and staccato.
âFuck the police report. You know something, goddamn it, you and this kid youâre trying to protect. What you donât know is that another woman was killed today, just like Pandora. Same word on her body. Iâm not getting anything out of this except a headache, and my patience is running out. Talk now or in court.â
Ozzie shrank in his chair. Lucinda stood up to the onslaught, skin reddening. Miranda took a few deep breaths, trying not to choke on the remains of the Life Savers.
âI suppose big-mouth Sheila told you.â
âYour friendship isnât exactly a secret.â
âNo. Butâ¦â She motioned with her head toward Ozzie âHis was. Ozzie was Pandoraâs boyfriend. And heâs a Jew.â Lowered her voice. âSame as me.â
Miranda turned to the boy. âWas Pandora Jewish, too?â
He shook his head. âShe wanted to convert. Said she was always interested in it. Her family was Presbyterian.â Eyes filled with water. âWe were gonna get married when the Fair was over.â
Lucinda patted his arm. âOzzieâs an Aquadonis for Billy Rose. He and Pandora met about six, seven weeks ago, after we started rehearsals. You know what young people are like.â She smiled benevolently at Ozzie, shooting a warning glance in Mirandaâs direction.
Ozzie didnât pick up Lucindaâs cue, and Miranda twisted her mouth into half a grin. She opened her purse, absentmindedly taking out the second-to-last Chesterfield from the pack still inside. It was in her mouth before she realized it. She shrugged, lit it with the Majorette. Grabbed the Chadwickâs Street Guide and the pencil.
âI need your full names.â
âOzzie Mandelbaum.â
Miranda looked up at the woman across from her.
âLucinda Gerber.â
She wrote it down on the William Rudko ad page and asked, âThat your real name?â
Lucinda was defensive. âCertainly itâs my real name.â
âDid Pandora have any family?â
Emotion clouded the womanâs hard face, softening it momentarily. âPoor kid. Came out here from Ohio. I think her motherâs still back thereâshe used to get cards. Maybe a brother, too, but nobody out in California. You know how it isâcame out all starstruck, figured sheâd be the next Paulette Goddard.â
Lucinda shook her head, stiff waves of her hair trembling flat against her scalp. âShe was a good kid. A sweet kid. Thereâs some real bastards on this island, but I canât think of anybody rotten enough to do something like this. Especially to Pandora.â
âWhat about Henry Kaiser, at Terrellâs place?â
âWhat about him?â Ozzie asked the question.
âI hear he likes to beat up girls.â
Lucinda studied her nails. âDumb animals and dumb women. No offense to Panâshe didnât know any better, and if she did, she wouldnât listen. Always picked the wrong kinda guy. He asked her out the first day we started rehearsals, about eight weeks ago, and she only went with him twice. A real sonofabitch. He might be rotten enough, but I donât think heâs got the balls to kill somebody. He goes for the safe play, the ones who donât fight back. Pan was through with him before she met Ozzie.â
The young man was holding his face in his hands. Miranda inhaled, making it last. Spoke to Ozzie, her voice gentle. âAnything else you can tell me?â
Face red, cheeks wet. Glanced at Lucinda, met Mirandaâs eyes. Deep breath.
âI gotâI got a little packet of her things. She was staying with me to save money. I didnât wantâdidnât want to turn it over to the police.â He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, voice cracked. âItâs all I got.â
âWhere do you live, Ozzie?â
Hotel Shawmut.