“Everything about her tenancy.”

“She’s the only tenant I’ve had. My wife and I bought the place three years ago intending to combine the two units. By the time we got estimates, Janice’s work took her overseas. Her firm’s consulting to several of the large European opera houses, including La Scala in Milan, which is where she’s been for most of this year. Then some trades paid off and I bought a condo in Malibu and we figured we’d make that our main home and keep this for rental income.”

He gave a tree-trunk thigh a light slap. Same sonic response as the teak door. “Cutting to the chase, we decided to keep the units separate, converted A to what you see here because it’s larger and the light’s better, put B up for rent. Tara answered the ad, showed up, liked it, didn’t quibble over the rent, and returned the following day with enough cash for six months plus damage deposit. That was more than a year and a half ago. She did the same thing every six months. Twice.”

“How much is the rent?”

“Eighteen hundred a month,” said Haldeman. “She never worked so obviously I wondered, but gift horse and all that. Later, it became clear some old guy was footing the bill because he’d drop in two, three times a week, mostly after dark. Sometimes they’d go out together, sometimes they’d stay in. All night.”

Shrugging. “The walls aren’t that thin, but sound can get through. Maybe she was faking, but he seemed to be doing all right for his age.”

Milo showed him Markham Suss’s picture.

“That’s Daddy Warbucks, all right.”

“You ever talk to him?”

“Hello, good-bye. He was always pleasant, not a trace of embarrassment. Just the opposite, actually. I’d see him leaving and if he noticed me, he’d wink.”

“Proud of himself.”

“Maybe at that age that’s the only score you need to keep. For me, right now, it’s how much money I make.”

“What made you figure he was paying Tara’s bills?”

“All that cash?” said Haldeman. “Plus she never worked but was always decked out in fine duds.”

“Couture,” said Milo.

“I don’t know from couture but she always looked put together. She was into jewelry, too. Old-fashioned stuff, not what you’d think a girl her age would go for. Obviously she was dressing for him.”

“What kind of jewelry?”

“Again, I’m no expert but I did see her put on some serious-looking diamonds. I remember thinking if she ever runs into financial difficulties, I can always hock one of those.”

“But she did and you didn’t.”