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friendship with our murder victim. It was clear from the records that Vogue visited the gym as Allred’s guest more frequently than Allred cared to admit.

Chapter Eight
    Lou Ann Barlow turned out to be a real piece of work. A former stripper turned motel owner, she had a mouth on her that would have made Larry Flynt blush. I was ushered into her small office behind the front desk. She was standing in front of a four-drawer file cabinet, with her back to me, busily filing.
    She was a tall, statuesque peroxide blond, who, in her early fifties, still looked good enough to take center stage. Despite the cosmetic surgery, her face showed some age, but her body was long and lean with outstanding breasts.
    She caught me gaping at her pronounced chest and said, “I’m up here, honey. How the fuck can I help you?”
    I showed her my identification and muttered an embarrassed introduction.
    “As Mr. Arnold probably told you, I’m investigating the murder of Levi Vogue. I understand that your daughter, Sue Ann, was involved in a relationship with him. Frank told me that they sometimes met here at the motel. What can you tell me about that?”
    “Nothin’ really. And Frank tends to get talkin’ about shit that isn’t any of his goddamn business. I’ll have to speak with him about that.”
    “Look, I know you’re trying to protect your daughter, but she might have information that would help us solve a murder. She’s not in trouble, but it is imperative that I talk to her as soon as possible.”
    “Like I already told you Mr.—what’s your name again?”
    “Kincaid, Sam Kincaid.”
    “Oh, yeah. Well, Mr. Kincaid, like I already told ya, I don’t really know anything. I will tell you this, though. My Sue Ann wouldn’t have anything to do with no murder.”
    She was starting to piss me off. “Mrs. Barlow, let me put this to you another way. I’m in the middle of a murder investigation, and like it or not, your daughter is somehow involved. I don’t know if she’s a suspect or a material witness, but I’m going to have to talk with her. I need your cooperation. It would save us both a lot of trouble if you’d help me out.”
    “None of my fuckin’ business, honey. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some heavy-duty filing to do here.”
    Diplomacy had obviously failed, and I knew it was time for a small attitude adjustment. “Good idea. When the Fire Marshal and the people from the health department show up, they’ll probably need to check those records. When’s the last time you had a top-to-bottom inspection of this place?”
    She didn’t like that idea very well. Actually, I don’t know a soul in either the health or fire departments, but what the hell, it worked. Her tone became noticeably more congenial.
    “Okay, okay, honey. You made your point. I don’t need that kind of problem. I’ll tell you what I can, but it ain’t gonna be much.”
    “I’d appreciate that very much, Mrs. Barlow.”
    “Sue Ann has been seeing this Vogue fella for nine or ten months now. She’s nuts about the two-timin’ bum. She knew he was married and had several kids. I tried to tell her that married guys like him aren’t about to leave the wife, kids, and their cozy upscale lifestyle for a stripper—even a young, pretty one like my Sue Ann. But Sue Ann doesn’t listen very well. I haven’t been able to tell her anything in years, particularly as it relates to men.”
    “So, how often did they get together?”
    “From what she said, I got the impression she was seein’ him once or twice a week.”
    “Where would they meet?”
    “Mostly here at the motel as far as I know. It bothered her that he didn’t want to take her out in public. He was probably afraid of being seen by one of his rich, uptown friends. On occasion, he’d drop into Satin & Lace to watch her dance. I think he got off watching all that young pussy.
    “One time he tried to talk Sue Ann into bringing another one of the dancers back to the