William Bernhardt - Hate Crime

“I’m new to the case.” Christina took the open stool-then immediately checked to see if there were any cameras zooming in on her cleavage. “So you own this place?”

“I do. My pride and joy.”

“How’s it doing?”

“It’s turned into a nice little moneymaker. I’m talking to some people about turning it into a franchise.”

“I’m not surprised. It’s a unique concept. You deserve your success.”

“Thanks, lady, but I can’t take credit. It was all Tony’s idea.”

“Tony? Tony Barovick?”

“Yeah.” Roma waved, and a waitress brought him what looked like a microwaved burrito. “You want something?”

Christina gazed at the mass of congealed cheese and refried beans. “I already ate. Thanks, though.”

“When Tony came on as manager, this was a perfectly ordinary singles joint. People flirting and dancing and coming on to each other just like they have for the last fifty years.”

“And Tony Barovick came up with the idea of modernizing it?”

“Exactly. He was into computers and video and stuff. Understood all this high-tech jazz. Couldn’t figure out why it had never been used to help people get together. We use technology to improve our businesses and transportation and television reception, so he thought: Why don’t we use it to improve the mating process?”

“Good point, if a little clinical. So you went for it.”

“Almost immediately. I can’t take credit for the idea, but I know a good one when I hear it. I took out a loan and invested a million bucks in all these cameras and computers and stuff. We’ve been booming ever since.”

“That’s great.”

“Have you checked it out? It’s fabulous. You can scope the action-without embarrassment or awkward situations. Everyone’s more relaxed. It’s a great way to hook up with someone. I mean, compared to this, computer dating services look like something from the Stone Age.”

“And Barovick also managed the club?”

“Yeah. Did a bang-up job, too. He was on top of everything. Whatever the patrons wanted, he made sure they had it. They loved him.”

“So if Tony was your manager-and idea man-you must’ve known him pretty well.”

“For two years.” Roma took a huge bite, smearing some bean sauce on his gray mustache. “He was a great employee. And friend. I loved him like a brother.”

“You must’ve been pretty torn up after what happened.”

Roma’s cheeks sagged. Hard lines formed across his forehead. “Lady, there ain’t no words for what I felt when-when I found out.”

“Bad?”

“Let me put it this way. I’m not a rich man-but the second I heard what happened, I put it out on the street that I’d pay fifty thousand dollars to anyone who could catch, hurt, or kill the men who did it. Or better yet, all of the above.”

“You put a bounty on their heads? You know that’s illegal.”

“So put the cuffs on me.” He hefted a tall, cold mug of beer. “I did what I had to do.”

“They were caught very quickly. Right here in the bar?”

Roma clenched his teeth so hard his head seemed to shrink. “Yeah, they came back here. Bragging about what they did. How bad they hurt Tony.” His voice became quieter. “If I’d had the chance, I’d have ripped their heads off with my bare hands.”

Looking at the man, his physique, his evident anger, Christina didn’t doubt that he could do it. “I guess you knew Tony was gay?”

“Sure. Everyone knew.”

“And you were okay with it?”

“Didn’t see what business of mine it was who he slept with. Long as it’s between consenting adults, who cares?”

If only we all saw the world through the eyes of Mario Roma. “Did you know the two boys who were arrested? The frat guys?”

“I’d seen ’ em before. But I didn’t want anything to do with them.”

Christina made a mental note. “And why is that? Don’t like fraternities?”

“More than that.” Mario shrugged. “Could be wrong. But the skinny dark one looked like mob to me.”

“And that was bad because-”

“I have to explain what’s bad about the mob? Or maybe you thought that since I’m Italian-American I must be Mafia.”

“I was just asking questions.”

“I’ve kept my nose clean my whole life, lady. I put my life together without any help from anyone, including mob bosses. And I’m proud of it. So don’t start in with your insinuations.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” Christina peered intently at the man’s face. Methinks he doth protest too much.

“My club’s a clean joint. We don’t allow people to stumble out and drive drunk. We don’t permit drugs-not even a hint.”

Christina decided not to tell him about Adam and the back cavern.

“Remote Control is a good place where a guy or gal can go to meet someone. Safe. Wholesome.”

“Sort of a Disney singles bar.”

“Well, yeah, in a way. I mean, there’s a need for this. Used to be, you’d meet a nice girl at church, or a neighborhood dance, or whatever. But those old communities have disintegrated. Hell, with computers, some people never leave home. We got more people, but it’s harder to meet them.”

Christina couldn’t disagree. Being single in Tulsa was like being an atheist in, well, Tulsa.

“We provide a valuable community service. So I was mad as hell about what happened to Tony-not only for Tony but for Remote Control. I don’t like hoods running around. For that matter, I’m not crazy about lawyers.”

“Well, I don’t want to bring the neighborhood down.” She put away her legal pad. “You’ll be around, if I have more questions?”

“I’m not going anywhere.” He gobbled down the last of his burrito. “You know my motto: At Remote Control, you’re only a click away.”

“C’mon, baby. Do something sexy.”

“I don’t know…”

“Please. Who’s going to know?” His voice dropped. “I’ll strip if you’ll strip.”

The woman tentatively unfastened the clasp of her dress. The man started on his shirt.

“Now shake ’em, baby. Shake ’em!”

Without warning, both participants burst out laughing.

Loving turned off the monitor. “Ain’t that gonna spoil the mood?”

“They were both kidding all along,” Shelly explained. “It was sort of a video truth or dare, seeing who would crack up first.”

Shelly Chimka, a petite auburn-haired young woman with an effervescent personality, had been showing Loving the inner workings of Remote Control. “Most of the patrons don’t realize that we can monitor all video conversations. Although I’m not sure it would change anything if they did. Tony and I used to come back here and eavesdrop for hours. We had more fun than any of them.”

“You and Tony were close?” Loving asked. They were standing in the manager’s office, behind the kitchen and bar-the office that used to be Tony’s. There was not much there-a few chairs, a desk, and a lot of audio, video, and computer equipment.

“I adored him. I mean it. I’m not just saying that because he’s dead.” She reached instinctively to wipe her eye-but her arm wouldn’t reach. Her right arm was in a sling. “He gave me my big promotion, you know. I was just a lowly waitress with the slow afternoon shift when Tony became manager. He put me behind the bar and gave me the best shift. Used to say sales doubled once the boys knew I was going to be tending bar.”

“Don’t doubt it,” Loving replied.

“When Tony was here, work wasn’t work. You know what I mean? He made everything fun.”

“How?”

She ransacked her memory. “The last night, before… We’d heard this rumor that there was an undercover cop here.”

Loving’s chin rose.