“Another way he was different,” she said. “Very neat and clean, always smelled fresh. And no toys. I don’t talk about sex toys, I mean fast car, big watches, big TV, big stereo. Stevie likes the toys.”

“Dale didn’t own any of that.”

“Dyale had nyothing. Futon for sleeping, jeans and sweaters in the closet, nyo real food in the ’frigerator, just juice and water, a backpack, a locker.”

“A locker?”

“A green locker. From the army.”

“Dale told you he was a veteran?”

“Cyaptain, five years.”

“Where’d he serve?”

“Germany. He fixed tanks.”

“Mechanical.”

“Good with his hands,” she said. “One time he fixed my styove, the pilot light. Also, the toilet. Twice, the toilet.”

“We’re talking about your apartment on West Thirty-fifth.”

She flicked a red nail against her goblet. “Ah-lex, I was very, very lonely in the big house, Stevie was working all the time with the little nurses. Roland had a nyew building, I was doing the play, why go back to Long Island every night?”

“You got yourself an apartment, then you got Dale one.”

“I like to help, too.” Smile. “I’m talking to you.”

“I appreciate it. So—”

“How long are you going to be in the city, Ah-lex?”

“Leaving tomorrow.”

She clucked her tongue. “You come back a lot?”

“From time to time.”

“It’s a good city,” she said. “Always excitement.”

“Where was Dale living before he moved into Roland’s building?”

“Hotel.”

“Do you remember a name?”

“Never knyew a name,” she said. “Dyale told me it wasn’t nice. I said, Guess what, I have a solution for you. I talk to Roland, Dyale moves in next to me.”

“What else did he tell you about himself?”

“That’s it.”

“What about his family?”

“He said he didn’t have a family.”

“Why not?”

“The parents died. That’s why he moved to the city.”

“From California.”

“California?” she said. “Washington, D.C.”

“That’s where he told you he was from?”

“He talked about the capital, all the politicians lying all the time. Maybe he was a politician, too, eh?”

“Before moving here, he lived in San Francisco.”

“He never talked about California.”

“Did he mention any sisters or brothers?”

“He said he was an only child.” Smile. “Another tale?”

I nodded.

“Dyale, Dyale, Dyale,” said Sonia Glusevitch. “See what I mean about trusting?”

“What else did he tell you?”

“I just said nothing else, Ah-lex. You didn’t have cheese, it’s good.”

I bit off a corner of the cube. Rubbery and stiff around the edges. “There’s nothing else you can tell me about Dale?”

“Mostly, I talked and Dyale listened. He was a good friend when I needed a good friend. And now maybe he killed someone? Who?”

“Could be several people.”

She flinched. “I was alone with him so many times. He was always nyice.”

“Helpful,” I said.

“So helpful. The most helpful man I ever met.”