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“Yeah, I’ve been Randy’s manager from the very beginning,” said the man as he nervously licked his lips. His eyes kept darting to the liquor cabinet, and it was obvious he was in need of a stiff one but afraid to take it in front of this reporter hired by his client. “He was just a fitness club owner back then, but had plans to make it big, and eventually he did. Videos first, instruction videos, and then his own TV show, and over the years he built himself a regular fitness empire. A chain of gyms, books, magazines… He’s done cameos on numerous movies and shows, and is one of the most recognizable faces of the fitness culture as it exploded onto the scene in the eighties. Only Jane Fonda is probably more famous than Randy Hancock.”

“And does your client have enemies, Mr. Garter?”

“Oh, sure. What celebrity hasn’t? Jealous competitors, disgruntled customers, the inevitable nutjobs. You name it, Randy’s got it.”

“Anyone in particular you can think of who could be behind this recent campaign of threats?”

The man shifted on the leather couch, making it squeak a little and causing him to blush.“Um, what form did these threats come in? I mean, did he get letters with the words cut out of newspapers, like in the old days?”

“He received a video that contained the threat,” said Odelia, who didn’t want to go into detail.

“A video, huh?” The man licked his lips again, and once more his eyes shot to those liquor bottles safely tucked away in the glass liquor cabinet. “I don’t understand why he didn’t tell me. I mean, he just disappeared. Doesn’t pick up his phone, left his house—even his housekeeper doesn’t know where he is.”

“In the email he said he was going off the grid for a while. At least until the person threatening him is caught.”

“Has he gone to the cops?”

“No, he prefers not to involve the police.”

“Weird,” muttered the guy. “Usually Randy loves to go the cops. A couple of months ago a pigeon shat on his Ferrari and he immediately called the cops, claiming the pigeon probably belonged to one of his neighbors. So he filed an official complaint against person or persons unknown and against the offending pigeon in particular.”

“A shitting pigeon is a different kettle of fish than a death threat,” she pointed out.

“Yeah. Yeah, I guess you’re right. Well, anyway, if he gets in touch with you again, please tell him to call me, will you? I’ve been worried sick.”

“You have a close relationship with Randy?”

“Oh, sure. I consider Randy more a friend than a client. If you’ve been in the trenches together for as long as we have, and came up together, it creates a bond, Miss Poole. Which is why I’m a little disappointed he hasn’t been in touch.” He shrugged. “This death threat business must have really spooked him.” Then he swallowed. “Unless…” He gave her a keen look—his shifty little eyes studying her closely. “Unless Randy thinks I’m the one behind the whole thing. That’s it, isn’t it? He thinks I’m the one threatening him.”

“Are you?” she asked.

“Are you kidding me? I just told you Randy is my friend. I would never… Besides, what’s the upshot? What…” He narrowed his eyes at her, looking more like a rat now than ever. “This is all about money, isn’t it? These people sending this video, they want money.”

Odelia smiled.“I’m afraid I’m not at liberty to discuss—”

“Look, if it’s money they want, they’re barking up the wrong tree. Randy is broke. Flat broke. So they’re targeting the wrong guy.”

Odelia stared at the man.“Flat broke? Randy Hancock, the fitness millionaire?”

Mr. Garter laughed.“Millionaire! That’s a good one, Miss Poole. Once upon a time, maybe. In the nineties. Since then he’s squandered his entire fortune. All of it. Gone!”

“But… how?”

The fitness guru’s manager tapped his nose. “Drugs. Randy has snorted more nose candy than anyone I know. And that’s saying something, as I know a lot of people.”

“You can’t be serious.”

“Oh, I am. Dead serious. He’s been in and out of rehab countless times—not that the general public knows anything about this, of course. We carefully kept his addiction problems a secret. It wouldn’t do for the man known to the general public as the propounder of the fitness revolution to be a coke addict. Lately he’s gotten his disease under control, more or less. But that doesn’t change the fact that he’s completely broke.”

“But his videos—his fitness clubs…”