getting drunk, doin’ stupid shit, you know.” I did not really know what qualified as “stupid shit” among people like Matt Bishop and Dan Kelly, people who started drinking before noon, attacked women with knives, had cobweb tattoos, missing teeth, and had done hard time.
“Did you know Becky Steele?”
“I didn’t know her. I mean, I probably never even spoke to her. I’m sure I didn’t. But I knew who she was ‘cause Matt was all up in that chick’s ass. He used to talk about her all the time. I didn’t get it. I mean, she was good looking and all, but I was selling weed at the time and could get all the pussy I could eat.” He slapped the table with his palm and laughed. “You know what I’m sayin’?”
I had no idea what he was saying, but I smiled and nodded right along. Then I uncapped my pen, trying to look like I was all business. Kelly drank more beer and continued.
“But yeah, I knew who she was. I knew Matt had it pretty bad for her. But that was about it.”
“What kinds of things did he say about her? Becky, I mean.”
“Shit man, it’s been a long time. I don’t remember much other than he talked a lot about her. He used to go over to her house and they’d hang out. I don’t know what they did. I don’t think he ever even fucked her or anything like that. Not that he didn’t want to. Believe me, he wanted to. He said their house was amazing. They lived over in Hancock Park, so I’m sure it was a great pad. I never went inside, but I saw it from the outside. It was huge.”
“Anything else you remember, just generally.”
“Not really.” He held his head back. He exhaled, thinking, tapping his bottle lightly on the table. “I mean, Becky’s mom didn’t like Matt, I remember that. She’d tell him never to come over and shit. Matt hated that old bitch. I remember sometimes he’d call over there and she’d get on the phone and start screaming at him. It was funny. He’d make faces at the phone. Shit, you could hear her all the way across the room, just fucking screamin’. Pissed off.” Kelly took another drink and shook his head. “Man, what a bitch.”
“Are you aware that they had a fight like that the night Becky’s mom was killed?”
“Sure. I was there. It was just like all the other times. Same story. That old hag got on the phone and started screaming that she’d kill him if she ever found him in the house again, if he ever came near her daughter again. You know, typical angry mom shit.”
“And you remember that?” I set my pen down and leaned forward. My heart was starting to pound. It was the first time anyone other than Steele or Becky had confirmed any aspect of Steele’s story. Even if just a minor detail, it felt significant. Kelly continued.
“Sure. I can remember Matt sitting there getting all red in the face going ‘Oh yeah? Oh yeah? Well not if I kill you first you old bitch!’ You know, shit like that.” Kelly was laughing to himself. “You know, back and forth. It went on for like five minutes like that. It was hilarious. Kenny and I were just dying, rolling on the floor we were laughing so hard.”
“Kenny?”
“Yeah, Ken Stevens. Ken thought that shit was hilarious. I mean, it was, but Ken always hated his mom so I think he really dug it, you know, he wanted to talk to his mom like that.”
“Where is Ken now?”
The smile evaporated from Dan Kelly’s face and he shook his head. “Dumb fucker got all coked up and tried to outrun the cops one night down in Long Beach. They shot him.” He stared down at the table, shaking his head. “Fuckin’ cops.” He whispered, then emptied the Mickey’s. “But fuck it. Shit happens, right?”
“Ain’t that the truth.” I nodded, trying to find some kind of commonality. “And so, was anyone else there that night? Did anyone else hear the argument? Was Matt’s mom or sister there?”
Kelly shot me a confused look. “You mean in Ken’s bedroom? Why would they be there?”
I thought of the note under my door and got chills up the back of my neck. I struggled to conceal my surprise, to remain calm, and to keep the conversation rolling, loose and casual — but I knew I might