'Well, you ever see a theater dressing room, it's not usually like in the movies.' She grinned and pantomimed fixing her hair in a mirror, and did a stage manager voice. '
'Five minutes, Miss Garbo.' You know. It's like the changing room at a discount store.
Everybody's jammed together, in their skivvies, getting out of one thing and into another. It's a mess, and if someone is sloppy, it's that much more of a mess. It is, in fact, a pain in the ass. But Jocelyn…' Deirdre shrugged.
'She could never keep it neat.
She's clean, and she's neat about herself, but she's a slob. You should see her place.'
'Her apartment?'
'Yeah, looks like the day after the last day of Pompeii: bed's a jumble, clothes everywhere, makeup on the floor. It's hysterical.'
'What would you think if you went in there and found it neat?'
Deirdre laughed.
'I'd think her mother came for a visit. Except I know her mother's dead.'
'Father?' I said.
'Father took off when she was a little girl,' Deirdre said.
'I don't think she ever heard from him. I don't think she knows if he's dead or alive. And she says she doesn't care.'
I nodded.
'Maybe she does,' I said.
CHAPTER 43
At lunch we compared findings.
'Nobody in Chinatown will talk to us,' Hawk said.
'You feel it's a racial thing?' I said.
'Naw,' Hawk said.
'I think they seen me with you.'
I nodded. Mei Ling was looking approvingly at Hawk. Vinnie was spreading cream cheese on a bagel. He seemed entirely relaxed, but as always, no matter what else he was doing, he was looking around the room.
'According to one of her friends, Jocelyn had a crush on Christopholous.'
'Which he hasn't mentioned to you.'
'Correct. And according to her friend, she was a legendary slob.'
'So?'
'So when I searched her room it was ready for inspection.'
'Who the friend?' Hawk said.
'Deirdre Thompson.'
'Our Lady of the Boobs,' he said.
Mei Ling blushed slightly and giggled.
'You think maybe Jocelyn cleaned up her room because she knew it might be searched?'
'Maybe,' I said.
'Do you mean to say she knew she would be kidnapped?' Mei Ling said. She looked as outraged as it was possible for Mei Ling to look. Which was not very.
'Maybe,' I said.
'Would you be willing to gain illegal entry to Jocelyn's apartment with me?' I said to Mei Ling.
She looked startled and then looked at Hawk.
'He want you to look, 'cause you a woman,' Hawk said.
'Might see things he didn't.'
'I hope you don't find that sexist,' I said.
Mei Ling smiled.
'No, sir,' she said.
'Women often see things that men have missed.'
'Good,' I said.
'Let's go.'
Mei Ling looked at Hawk again.
