“Where have you been?” she asked. “I’ve missed you so much, and Mrs. Cool has been just frantic. You know, she depends on you a lot. I think she’d be lost without you.”
I said, “How about it, Marian? Have they showed you any photographs yet that you can identify?”
“No. They’ve been trying to find out who her friends were. Mr. Ellis, the deputy district attorney, says that he thinks he’ll break the case wide open within another twenty-four hours.”
“That’s nice. Just where was this man when you saw him, Marian? In the hall, coming towards you?”
“No, no, not in the hall. He was just coming out of the apartment. He was pulling the door shut behind him.”
“You mean some apartment down at that end of the hall?”
“No, I mean apartment 309, the one where the body was found. There can’t be any doubt about it. I’ve gone over and over the thing in my mind.”
“Have you,” I asked, “given the district attorney’s office a written statement yet?”
“They’re preparing one. I’m to sign it late this afternoon.”
I said, “Come over here, Marian. I want to talk with you.” I patted the arm of my chair, and she came over and sat down. I slipped an arm around her waist and held her hand. “Want to do something for me?” I asked.