‘I’ve no idea. Those with the real money don’t always throw it around, the reason they became rich in the first place, I suppose. Not that I’d know. I can make a good income, ten times what I did as a police officer, but I like to live well: good food, good drink, a better than average car.’
Not on personal hygiene, Isaac thought but kept it to himself.
‘Women?’ Larry asked.
‘Ambivalent,’ Domett said. ‘I’m not gay, but I prefer to be on my own most of the time. If the need takes me, not that it does that often, I’ve got a phone number.’
Let’s come back to Nancy Bartlett,’ Isaac said.
‘She met with the man on more than one occasion,’ Larry said.
‘It happens. The agreement is that if there’s an ongoing arrangement agreed on between the client and the escort, then the escort makes sure that I receive a commission.’
‘How many of the escorts honour that?’
‘What do you reckon?’
‘Zero.’
‘Correct. I didn’t know that the woman and my man had made a separate deal, and if they had, then what was I going to do?’
‘Accost the woman and the escort.’
‘Sure, I’ll make a phone call, and if the phone is answered I’ll let them know that contractually they’re legally obliged to pay me.’
‘Waste of time,’ Isaac said. ‘Is that all you can tell us about Colin Young?’
‘Seeing I’m here.’
‘Then talk,’ Larry said. ‘We’ve got a cold cell downstairs if you keep procrastinating.’
‘Six to seven months ago, I can’t remember the exact date, so don’t ask, I receive a phone call.’
‘Colin Young?’
‘Who else do you think I’m referring to? The man’s pleasant, he asks if we can meet.’
‘And you agreed?’
‘I had no reason not to. We met not far from here, a small restaurant. I can show it to you if it’s of interest, not that it will help you.’
‘We’ll be the judge of that,’ Larry said.
‘It was the first time I’d met him. I’d seen his photo before, and I’d spoken to him on the phone in the past, and that’s the truth. He’s a good-looking man, I’ll give him that.’
‘Beautiful is the word we’ve heard mentioned.’
‘Maybe he was. He didn’t do much for me, but if you say he was, then we’ll go with that description.’
‘Why the meeting?’ Isaac asked.
‘Bizarre. I’m not sure how else to describe it.’
‘Explain what you mean.’
‘He doesn’t ask for anything directly. We order a meal, he’s paying. I had fish, he had meat, and we shared a bottle of wine. I’m more of a whisky man, but he’s got the money, and I’m there with him. I’ll grant that there’s something about him. Normally, I would have eaten the meal, drunk the wine, made some small talk and left. But he’s got a likeable personality, the type of person you don’t mind spending time with. The same as you, Isaac, from what I can remember of you back in the past.’
‘I’m not the subject of interest,’ Isaac reminded him. ‘And you’ve been withholding vital evidence.’
‘The man’s agreeable, he wants to chat, asks me about business, and how he’s considering returning. We discussed the financial remuneration, and whether he wants it straight or gay.’
‘His response?’
‘Straight. He was adamant on that point.’
‘He came back to work for you?’
‘Not then.’
‘Why have you held back on this?’
‘I have a special clientele,’ Domett said. ‘You’ll not find them in my records. They’ll pay more for confidentiality.’
‘Do you know who they are?’
‘Strictly cash, brown envelope.’
‘Brown envelope? Larry asked.
‘An envelope, sometimes a parcel, arrives at my office. Inside, the money. Credit cards are never used and these people phone on a landline, so I can’t see their mobile number. There’s no way to trace them.’
‘We could try,’ Isaac said.
‘You could, not that you’ll get far.’
‘The dead man is back on the books, you’re organising clients for him, paying him what he wants?’
‘Not until four weeks ago, but there are complications.’
‘What sort?’
‘My special clientele, they’re men.’
‘And you indicated that Colin Young was not interested.’
‘He made that clear when we met before. But now, he wants money, and they will pay whatever I ask. He’s got no option.’
‘Did he say why he wanted the money?’
‘He said he wanted to buy a house, not that I believed him.’
‘Why?’
‘Too clichéd, I hear it too often from my escorts. But he was different.’
‘Explain what you mean.’
‘I couldn’t figure him out. He was an attractive man who could easily find himself a woman his age, and he was educated. No problems for him to make good money in London; not selling himself, obviously.’
‘He was involved with an older woman, taking money from her. We’re not sure if he was emotionally involved.’
‘It’s unlikely,’ Domett said. He had a smug look about him as if he was telling two serving police officers what they should have already deduced.
‘How many times?’
‘If you’re referring to how many times he was rented out to the specials, then twice.’
‘Any feedback from Colin Young about them?’
‘Nothing from Young. He took the money, that’s all. I imagine he was repulsed by what he had done, although he was willing to continue. The first of the specials hired him again, the second never came back.’
‘We need their names,’ Larry said.
‘I’ve told you already. Cash delivered to my office, an address with a time and date inside. That’s all there is.’
‘You have the details?’
‘Not on my computer.’
‘But you do have them?’ Isaac asked.
‘In a notebook, but you’re heading into places you might regret.’ Domett reached
