of a stripped-down prey. He probably hadn't been able to sleep much either in the last few days. "Would you like some sugar?" she continued, handing him a steaming cup.
"No, thank you." Mason wet his lips. The coffee was bad, but the day hadn't been any better, so he was content. "What do you remember about that day?"
"What I told the other cops, dozens and dozens of times. They kept me a whole night in that little room full of mirrors. Journalists came to me, too. They must have filled our bay with this story. Don't you read the papers?"
"The press is dead."
"Well, like I said, there wasn't much action that day. The lady came home around thirteen. That was the last time I saw her."
"How did she look?"
"I don't know, I just caught a glimpse of her. But I think I'm not wrong in saying that she's been more taciturn than usual over the last few days. Maybe she had some thoughts. I didn't mind, after all its normal when the end of the week is approaching and the salary is what it is, right?!"
"She didn't say goodbye?"
"She didn't stop that day. But she usually looked out at the guardhouse to ask me if I needed anything. Do you understand me? She was the one who worried about me! She was a good girl."
"Were you on good terms with Samuel?"
"Ever since they came to live here two years ago, they used to come to me for help with some repairs or errands. I have no complaints about Mr. Perkins. A hard worker, for sure."
"Did Elizabeth ever tell you anything personal? Something that, to the wrong ears, could have gotten her into trouble?"
"Elizabeth? I don't think anyone would ever hold it against her."
"And yet she's dead. How were things with her husband?"
"Working a lot, Samuel often came home late and most of the time their schedules didn't coincide. But they loved each other, I can assure you."
"How can you be sure?"
"I was married for more than forty years. I know certain looks and certain attentions."
The man's eyes ran, for a moment, to a photograph on the old sideboard in the living room. Mason got the impression of a small altar. It was the image of a smiling woman in a flowery dress.
"Can you tell me anything about Elizabeth's family?"
"Very little. For all I know, that girl could have been alone in the world. Maybe she wasn't even from New York."
"How do you know that? Something he said to her? The way he talked.? Any information could be useful to me."
At those words, the man recoiled, and an expression of embarrassment was painted on his face.
"No, mister, it was just an idea."
"I need facts, I have no use for your deductions! Stick to what you've seen," he blurted out, then the sight of the frail old man encouraged him to calm down. "What time did Mr. Perkins return that day?"
"Just before dawn. But I'm not quite sure. My son was on duty."
"Can I talk to him?"
"Not right now, I'm sorry. He's out of town this weekend. He'll be back in a couple of days. In any case, they questioned him as well. His statement was taken by Detective Matthews, I think his name is. Maybe you can talk to him."
"Perfect. Let's go back to that day, if you don't mind. Did anything else happen? Did you see Samuel Perkins leave?"
"Yes, but he was in a hurry."
"Maybe someone was waiting for him?"
"Perhaps he had overslept and was on his way to a grooming."
"Did you ever see him come back?"
"No, not me, Mr. Stone."
"Was there any unusual movement before Elizabeth was found?"
"Unusual... I don't think so, no."
"Anything 'usual' instead?"
"Around 4.00 P.M had a man come up, but it wasn't the first time."
"His name?"
"I don't remember. The police have the register."
"How often did you visit the Perkins'?"
"A couple of times a month, maybe more. It depended on Mr. Perkins."
"Were they in business together?"
"I beg your pardon? No, absolutely not."
"Try to explain yourself, then."
"I don't like to pry into other people's affairs."
"And who does." followed a moment of silence in which Mason didn't take his eyes off him.
"If Samuel Perkins left for work, or the bar, or wherever he was headed, there was a chance this gentleman would show up in the lobby no more than ten minutes later. Sometimes with flowers, sometimes with a package from a bakery, sometimes with a bottle."
"A suitor."
«Perhaps. But whether it was reciprocated I can't tell you."
"Did you hear Elizabeth complain about it? Generally, how long did she stay?"
"There were never any scenes. Sometimes she stayed for a few minutes, sometimes an hour. What is certain is that he never left with what he had brought."
"Could you describe him to me?"
"A distinguished, tidy fellow. A decent man."
"A man who can afford certain gifts."
"The suit was that of a well-paid man."
"Has there been anyone else after him?"
"Yes, a few deliveries, the couple on the third floor who called because their brat had clogged the sink, I brought the widower McArthur's groceries, the notary, the fuel for the boiler..."
"A notary?"
"Yeah."
"Who did he go to?"
"To the Perkins'."
"The Perkins', and you didn't think to mention that before?"
"I don't see why: I myself, a few days before...I gave the lady a package of documents. Registered mail. Very urgent."
"And you can't tell me what was in it, I suppose?"
"Sorry, I never open tenants' mail."
"And you couldn't read that many papers against the light, I understand. I bet you couldn't even tell me which firm it was."
"Certainly
