“Close in proximity,” Marcus amended.“To be blunt, Miss Lopez—”
“Yeni.”
He flashed her a smile, one that worked on vulnerable people very well.It was a kind, strong smile.I’m safe.You can trust me.I’ll protect you.
Yeni softened a little bit under that smile, and Marcus continued.“To be blunt, Miss Lopez, we believe that the Carltons’ sexual proclivities had something to do with their murder.If the Carltons habitually harassed you, then there’s a strong chance they habitually harassed others.”
Yeni stirred a little.She didn’t shrug this time, though.That was a good sign.“They didn’t… harass me, exactly.They always took no for an answer.They just asked a lot.”
“Did you ever ask them to stop asking?”Yeni’s eyes lowered, and Marcus quickly added, “You didn’t do anything wrong, even if the answer’s no.No doesn’t change to yes, no matter how many times someone asks.”
Sensing he was losing the plot, he cleared his throat and said, “So they asked you to join them in their bed repeatedly, and while they didn’t punish you for saying no, they kept broaching the subject.”
Yeni nodded.“I mean, it wasn’t always the bed.Sometimes it was the shower, the swimming pool, the kitchen…” She gave him a ghost of a smile.“That doesn’t matter, does it?”
“Not really,” he replied with another of his superstar smiles.“But I get the point.They were insatiable.”
She laughed.“Yeah, you could say that.Every Saturday, they’d host a party.The others and I used to plan our weeks around it.You know, because we had to cook and stuff and then clean afterward.”She made a face.“I think that’s why they paid us so well.”
“Yeah, I can’t imagine any amount was enough to make up for what you had to see,” Marcus said.
She shrugged once more.“I mean, it’s whatever.They loved each other.I can’t fathom watching my husband fuck some other girl and still loving him, but it’s what they were into.”
“What about the other staff?”Marcus asked.“Or the guests?Any of them have a problem being a part of this?”
She gave him a smile far too hard for a young woman of her age.“They were all invited, and they all knew what they were getting into.None of the guests had a problem.And like I said, no means no, and they understood that.No one was made to do anything they didn’t want to do, and no one was allowed to pressure anyone else into anything.”
That could be a different angle, actually.“Were any of the guests upset by this?”Her brow furrowed, and he explained, “Did any of the guests behave as though they wanted to pressure people into things?Did someone try something and get told off by the Carltons or kicked out?”
“No one was ever kicked out that I know about,” Yeni said.“I’ve only been here for five months, but no one had any big problems while I was working.There were times when people would get drunk and pushy, and Richard would have to talk to them, but I don’t think it ever became a fight.”
Marcus decided to circle back to that.“What about last night?You left around what time?”
“At three in the morning.I was supposed to sleep here, but the Carltons wanted everyone out of the house.”
“Was that normal for their parties?”
She shook her head."No.It never happened while I was here.The other staff member says it happens sometimes, but not often.Usually, it's because the Carltons just want a break from other people.But it's not normal."
Bingo.“Considering how many people they entertain in the way they entertain them, I’m not surprised.Did they seem different at all last night?Other than wanting everyone out.By the way, did that include guests too?”
She nodded.“Oh yeah, the guests always leave by one.That’s the rule.The parties always start at nine and end at midnight.People get an hour to freshen up, sober up, and leave the property.Then we clean everything up.Once we’re done cleaning, we usually sleep on the property in the staff bedrooms in the basement, but last night, the Carltons wanted the house to themselves.”
“Who was left when you left?”
“No one.I was the last one out.They made a pass at me once everyone else was gone.I said no, and like always, they didn’t push it.Then I left.”
“Did you notice any vehicles in the area that shouldn’t have been here?Any suspicious people anywhere on the island?”
She gave him another hard smile.“This is Fisher Island.There are suspicious people here all the time.”
“What kind of suspicious people?”
“Hookers, mostly.High-priced ones.Drug dealers, also high-priced ones.A couple of times I saw people I think were gangsters.You know, like mobsters.”
“Any of them interact with the Carltons?”
She shook her head.“No.That was on the other side of the island, the high-rises.People don’t bother the rich people here.”
