‘It appears Mr. Gault may have met the victim in the museum versus the two of them having met prior to that,’ she began.

‘It’s interesting you would say that,’ I said. ‘We were just at the museum.’

‘According to one of the security guards, a woman fitting the victim’s description was seen loitering in the rotunda area. At some point she was observed talking with a man who bought two tickets for the exhibits. In fact, they were observed by several museum employees because of their odd appearance.’

‘What is your theory as to why she was inside the museum?’ I asked.

‘It was the impression of those who remember her that she was a homeless person. My guess is she went in to get warm.’

‘Don’t they run street people out?’ said Marino.

‘If they can.’ She paused. ‘Certainly if they’re causing a disturbance.’

‘Which she wasn’t, I assume,’ I said.

Commander Penn reached for her coffee. ‘Apparently she was quiet and unobtrusive. She seemed to be interested in the dinosaur bones, walking round and around them.’

‘Did she speak to anyone?’ I asked.

‘She did ask where the ladies’ room was.’

‘That would suggest to me she’d never been there before,’ I said. ‘Did she have an accent?’

‘If she did, no one remembers.’

‘Then it is unlikely she is foreign,’ I said.

‘Any description on her clothing?’ Marino asked.

‘A coat - maybe brown or black, short. An Atlanta Braves baseball cap, maybe navy or black. Possibly she was wearing jeans and boots. That’s as much as anyone seems to remember.’

We were silent, lost in thought.

I cleared my throat. ‘Then what?’ I said.

‘Then she was spotted talking with a man, and the description of his clothing is interesting. He’s remembered as having worn a rather dramatic overcoat. It was black, cut like a long trench coat - the sort you associate with what the Gestapo wore during World War Two. Museum personnel also believe he had on boots.’

I thought of the unusual footwear impressions at the scene, and of the black leather coat mentioned by Eugenio at Scaletta.

The two of them were spotted in several other areas of the museum, and they did go into the shark exhibit,’ Commander Penn went on. ‘In fact, the man bought a number of books in the gift shop.’

‘You know what kind of books?’ Marino asked.

‘Books on sharks, including one containing graphic photographs of people who have been attacked by sharks.’

‘Did he pay cash for the books?’ I asked.

‘I’m afraid so.’

‘Then he leaves the museum and gets a summons in the subway station,’ Marino said.

She nodded. ‘I’m sure you’re interested in the identification he produced.’

‘Yo, lay it on.’

‘The name on his driver’s license was Frank Benelli, Italian male thirty-three years old from Verona.’

‘Verona?’ I asked. ‘That’s interesting, my ancestors are from there.’