She left to go to “the girl’s room,” returned moments later with her jewelry removed, less makeup, hair pinned up.

Looking plainer but younger. “You didn’t move,” she said, remaining on her feet. “Not an inch.”

“Worried I’d steal the silver?”

She laughed. “You are leaving tomorrow? Morning or night?”

“Early-morning flight.”

Eye flicker. “Have a good trip, Ah-lex.”

Extending her hand.

I said, “If you don’t mind, just a few more questions.”

She sighed and sat. “Now you want to talk about the Safrans, right? Roland said you think Dyale killed them.”

“Would that surprise you?”

“Those two,” she said. “Who knows about people like that?”

“People like what?”

“Always like this.” She made a sour face. “Sloppy, messy, like they don’t wash. Dyale said they were like roaches.”

“Pests,” I said.

“Dirtying Roland’s property, not being fair to Roland. The way they treat the dog.”

“They were cruel to their dog?”

“Dyale said they never walked it, the dog made mess inside.”

“Dale was inside the Safrans’ apartment.”

Her mouth slackened but her eyes got tight. “This is the fyirst time I think about that.”

“Dale and the Safrans didn’t get along,” I said. “No reason for him to be there.”

“Whatever,” she said. “Roland nyever asked Dyale to help him, nyever.”

“Roland wanted to make sure you told me that.”

“Roland is not some gangster. In Belarus he was a hospital clerk, helped old people get medicine.”

“The night the Safrans disappeared, they went to a play downtown. Was Dark Nose Holiday still running?”

“Running.” She giggled. “More like limping. We had four days.”

“Did the Safrans attend?”

Slow nod.

I said, “Dale invited them.”

“I say why, he say why not be nyice?”

“Did they enjoy the show?”

“Don’t know.”

“Did you see Dale with them after the show?”

“Don’t know,” she insisted. “I was taking off my makeup. It takes time.”

“Dale had already left.”

“Yes.”

“Ever see the Safrans again?”

Long silence. Head shake. “My God. Dyale.”

“Was Dale in any other productions after that?”

“Nyo.”

“How’d he spend his time?”

“Mostly I was in Long Island. I use the apartment for when I don’t want to drive back.”

“Did Dale have a job?”

“He said he was going to look for one but not now, he had money. From the parents, just a little — that was a lie, too?”

“He inherited more than a little,” I said. “Once he left Roland’s building, there’s no record of him working anywhere. What kind of work did he say he’d look for?”

“He didn’t — ah, I think of something else. He said he was going to travel.”

“Where?”