'I noticed that myself,' I said, setting my glass down on the table. 'She could have had a tidy-up before she left, of course.'
'That is possible, but unlikely. You are here to close up the apartment?'
'Yes. Chalmers told me to get rid of all her things.'
Carlotti studied his immaculate finger-nails, then he looked directly at me.
'I am sorry to disturb your arrangements, but I must ask you to leave everything for the moment as it is. I intend to seal up the apartment until after the inquest.'
I had to challenge this, although I was pretty sure now what was going on in his mind.
'What's the idea, Lieutenant?'
'Let us say it is normal routine,' Carlotti said mildly. 'It is possible there may be an investigation after the inquest.'
'But I understood from Chalmers that the coroner had agreed to record a verdict of accidental death.'
Carlotti smiled.
'I believe that was his intention, based on the present evidence, but as the inquest is not until Monday, it is possible further evidence may come to light that will alter the situation.'
'Chalmers won't be pleased.'
'That is unfortunate.'
It was obvious now that he was no longer in awe of Chalmers.
'You have spoken to your chief?' I said. 'I believe Chalmers has also had a word with him.'
Carlotti tapped ash from his cigarette into his hand and then dusted the ash on to the carpet.
'My chief agrees with me. It is still possible that la signorina's death was an accident but the missing films, this American who was seen in Sorrento, the fact that this apartment has been stripped of all personal papers, forces us to conclude there are grounds for an investigation.' He puffed lung-scorching smoke towards me. 'There is another point that puzzles me. I hear from la signorina's bank manager that she was made an allowance of sixty dollars a week. When she arrived in Rome she had with her a small trunk and a suitcase. You have probably seen the contents of the closets and drawers in the other room. I am wondering where the money came from to buy all these things.'
It was pretty obvious that he had already begun to dig into Helen's background, and I remembered June's look of fear when she begged me not to do this thing.
'I can see you have some problems on your mind,' I said as casually as I could.
'Perhaps we could go over to your apartment now and collect the camera,' Carlotti said, getting to his feet. 'Then I need not bother you again.'
'Okay.' I stood up. 'Come with us, Gina. We'll have dinner after I've given the camera to the Lieutenant.'
'Perhaps you would be kind enough to let me have the key to this apartment?' Carlotri said. 'I will return it to you within a few days.'
I gave him the key, which he handed to Anoni. We moved out into the corridor. Anoni didn't come with us. He remained in the apartment.
As the three of us descended in the elevator, Carlotti said, 'That car number you were inquiring about. It had nothing to do with la signorina?'
'I told you: this guy nearly clipped me. He didn't stop. I thought I had got his number correct, but apparently I hadn't.'
I felt his eyes on my face. We didn't speak further until we got into my car, then he said, 'Can you give me the names of any of la signorina's friends?'
'I'm sorry, I can't. I think I told you already: I scarcely knew her.'
'But you have talked to her?'
The mildness of his tone put me on my guard.
'Of course, but she didn't tell me anything about her life in Rome. After all, she was my boss's daughter, and it didn't cross my mind to question her.'
'Did you take her out to dinner at the Trevi restaurant almost four weeks ago?'
I felt as if someone had given me a punch under the heart. Just how much did he know? Someone must have seen us. I knew I didn't dare lie to him.
'I believe I did, come to think of it, I happened to run onto her, and as I was going to dinner, I asked her along.'
There was a pause, then he said, 'I see.'
I swung the car into the street where I lived and pulled up outside my private entrance.
There was a pretty tense atmosphere in the car. My hear was bumping so heavily against my side that I was scared he would hear it.
'And that was the only time you took her out?'
My mind raced. We had gone to two movies; we had had at least two or three dinners together.
To gain time, I said, 'What was that?'
I opened the car door and got out. He followed me on to the sidewalk.
Patiently, and without much hope in his voice, he repeated the question.
'As far as I can remember.' I leaned into the car. 'I won't be a moment,' I said to Gina. 'Wait for me, then we'll have dinner together.'
Carlotti followed me up the spiral staircase. He was humming under his breath, and I could feel his eyes examining the back of my head.
I walked down the passage that led directly to my front door. I was half-way down the
passage when I saw the front door was standing ajar. I came to an abrupt stop.
'Hello … that's funny,' I said.
'You shut it when you left?' Carlotti said, moving in front of me.
'Of course.'
We reached the door together.
'Oh, damn! Looks like burglars,' I said, and pointed to the smashed lock on the front door. I made a move into the hall, but Carlotti pulled me back.
'Please ... let me go first,' he said curtly, and, moving silently, he stepped into the hall, crossed h with two quick strides and threw open the sitting-room door. I was right on his heels.
All the lights were on. We stood in the doorway and stared around the room that looked as if it had been struck by a hurricane.
Everything was in disorder. Cupboards stood open, a couple of chairs were overturned, all the drawers in the
