Read Online Sam Kincaid 01 - The Commission by Michael Norman - Free Book Online
Authors: Michael Norman
Ads: Link
Mr. Vogue occurred at the motel or your apartment. Is that correct?”
“That’s what I’m telling you,” replied Winkler.
Sue Ann Winkler was proving to be one cool customer. I couldn’t tell if someone had coached her beforehand, but so far, she was good. However, her external facade was about to show some cracks as McConnell asked a plethora of increasingly uncomfortable questions.
“Did Mr. Vogue compensate you for your time and companionship?”
“At first he did, but after a while, I told him that I didn’t want his money. By then, I was in love with him.”
“So, after your initial involvement, he stopped paying you. Is that correct?”
Starting to look a little exasperated, she responded, “Look, he was always buying me little gifts, and on occasion, he paid a bill for me. Now, can’t we get on to something a little more important? I don’t see what this has to do with Levi’s murder.”
Kate ignored her protest. “What kind of ‘little gifts’ and bills are we talking about—cars, boats, jewelry, vacations?”
Winkler forced a smile. “Sorry, no cars, boats, or vacations. Sometimes he bought me jewelry or clothes, and, on occasion, he paid my credit card bills or picked up my rent.”
Sensing that the interview was becoming contentious, I interrupted. “Sue Ann, if we’re going to find Levi’s killer, and I know you want that as badly as we do, we need as much information as possible about his associates and how he lived his life. Unfortunately, that often requires us to ask some seemingly irrelevant and highly personal questions. I know this isn’t easy, but please try to bear with us.”
That seemed to calm her down, but it didn’t last long. “During the times you got together at the motel, was it just the two of you, or was anyone else ever present?” asked Kate.
Winkler hesitated long enough for us to realize that this question had caught her off-guard. She stammered a reply: “I don’t think I understand the question. What do you mean?”
“I’m trying to be as delicate as I can, Ms. Winkler, but what we really need to know is whether Mr. Vogue was involved in any unusual sexual practices that might have some connection to his death. Things such as group sex, sadomasochistic sexual behaviors, anything of that sort?”
“Jesus, who the hell have you been talking to?” replied Winkler.
No response from either of us created an awkward period of silence. “Okay,” she continued. “So Levi had some unusual sexual interests. I still don’t see what this has to do with his murder, but I’ll answer the question anyway. Several times, Levi asked if I would bring another dancer back to the motel. He said that he wanted to try a three-way—you know, two women and a guy.”
“Did you comply with his request?” McConnell asked.
“Never. I always lied to him about it. I told him that the other dancer wasn’t into that sort of thing. That seemed to satisfy him.”
“So you never participated with him in any group sex, is that correct?”
“No. I didn’t say that. I just wasn’t interested in arranging a group scene with another dancer. I didn’t want to share him with anybody else. Twice, Levi showed up at the motel with another guy. He introduced him only as Jerry, and that’s about all I can tell you about him.”
“Can you describe Jerry?” I asked.
“Yeah. He was a white guy, a little older than Levi, probably mid-to-late forties, about six feet to six-one, medium build, short, brown hair.”
“Did he have any facial hair or any distinguishing body characteristics such as tattoos or body piercing?”
“Clean shaven. No piercing that I can recall, but he did have a tattoo on his upper arm. It was a small dragon. Red, I think.”
“Which arm?”
She thought a moment and then said, “I can’t remember.”
“Did Levi ever explain to you who this guy was?” I asked.
“He acted funny about that. He seemed real guarded about it. Once, I think he
“That’s what I’m telling you,” replied Winkler.
Sue Ann Winkler was proving to be one cool customer. I couldn’t tell if someone had coached her beforehand, but so far, she was good. However, her external facade was about to show some cracks as McConnell asked a plethora of increasingly uncomfortable questions.
“Did Mr. Vogue compensate you for your time and companionship?”
“At first he did, but after a while, I told him that I didn’t want his money. By then, I was in love with him.”
“So, after your initial involvement, he stopped paying you. Is that correct?”
Starting to look a little exasperated, she responded, “Look, he was always buying me little gifts, and on occasion, he paid a bill for me. Now, can’t we get on to something a little more important? I don’t see what this has to do with Levi’s murder.”
Kate ignored her protest. “What kind of ‘little gifts’ and bills are we talking about—cars, boats, jewelry, vacations?”
Winkler forced a smile. “Sorry, no cars, boats, or vacations. Sometimes he bought me jewelry or clothes, and, on occasion, he paid my credit card bills or picked up my rent.”
Sensing that the interview was becoming contentious, I interrupted. “Sue Ann, if we’re going to find Levi’s killer, and I know you want that as badly as we do, we need as much information as possible about his associates and how he lived his life. Unfortunately, that often requires us to ask some seemingly irrelevant and highly personal questions. I know this isn’t easy, but please try to bear with us.”
That seemed to calm her down, but it didn’t last long. “During the times you got together at the motel, was it just the two of you, or was anyone else ever present?” asked Kate.
Winkler hesitated long enough for us to realize that this question had caught her off-guard. She stammered a reply: “I don’t think I understand the question. What do you mean?”
“I’m trying to be as delicate as I can, Ms. Winkler, but what we really need to know is whether Mr. Vogue was involved in any unusual sexual practices that might have some connection to his death. Things such as group sex, sadomasochistic sexual behaviors, anything of that sort?”
“Jesus, who the hell have you been talking to?” replied Winkler.
No response from either of us created an awkward period of silence. “Okay,” she continued. “So Levi had some unusual sexual interests. I still don’t see what this has to do with his murder, but I’ll answer the question anyway. Several times, Levi asked if I would bring another dancer back to the motel. He said that he wanted to try a three-way—you know, two women and a guy.”
“Did you comply with his request?” McConnell asked.
“Never. I always lied to him about it. I told him that the other dancer wasn’t into that sort of thing. That seemed to satisfy him.”
“So you never participated with him in any group sex, is that correct?”
“No. I didn’t say that. I just wasn’t interested in arranging a group scene with another dancer. I didn’t want to share him with anybody else. Twice, Levi showed up at the motel with another guy. He introduced him only as Jerry, and that’s about all I can tell you about him.”
“Can you describe Jerry?” I asked.
“Yeah. He was a white guy, a little older than Levi, probably mid-to-late forties, about six feet to six-one, medium build, short, brown hair.”
“Did he have any facial hair or any distinguishing body characteristics such as tattoos or body piercing?”
“Clean shaven. No piercing that I can recall, but he did have a tattoo on his upper arm. It was a small dragon. Red, I think.”
“Which arm?”
She thought a moment and then said, “I can’t remember.”
“Did Levi ever explain to you who this guy was?” I asked.
“He acted funny about that. He seemed real guarded about it. Once, I think he
Similar Books
