“I shouldn’t have to tell you what a problem burglary is in this city,” Van Fleet said. Inside the door, he tapped a code into a keypad. “I’ve got a very decent alarm system, too.”

Stone watched him.

Van Fleet led them into a large, open space. A kitchen had been built in a corner at the far end and a bedroom in the other corner. These rooms were separated from the rest of the loft by a framework of lumber that had not yet had plasterboard applied to it. “I’m doing most of the work on the place myself,” Van Fleet said.

Light flooded the loft from three sides; the other abutted another building.

“Nice place, Herb,” Dino said admiringly.

“You may call me Mr. Van Fleet,” Van Fleet said, almost sweetly. He turned to Stone. “You may call me Herbert, if you wish.”

“Thank you, Herbert,” Stone said. “I feel for you, doing your own remodeling. I’m doing the same, myself.” He said this while walking the length of the highly polished oak floor, the expanse of which was broken only by an occasional Oriental rug. A sofa, two chairs, a lamp, and a television set had been placed on one rug, an island of a living room surrounded by hardwood. The two detectives went methodically through the place, but there was hardly anywhere to hide anything. Van Fleet’s desk rested against one wall. Stone opened the drawers and found nothing he wouldn’t have seen in his own desk drawers: bills, stationery, office supplies.

“Let’s see the rest of the building,” Stone said to Van Fleet. His warrant did not cover the whole building, but he hoped the man wouldn’t notice.

Van Fleet didn’t. He went to a kitchen drawer and retrieved a large key ring, which jangled as he led them to the elevator. They walked through the building a floor at a time. Van Fleet may not have had the money to complete his development project, but he had cleaned out the building; it was as empty as any place Stone had ever seen.

“Anything else?” Stone said to Dino.

Dino shook his head.

“Can we offer you a lift uptown, Herbert?”

“Thank you, no,” Van Fleet replied. “As long as I’m here, I’ll have my lunch and get a cab later. Sorry I couldn’t be more helpful,” he said sweetly.

“You’ve been very helpful, Herbert,” Stone said, “and we appreciate your cooperation.”

“Have you found out anything else about Sasha?” Van Fleet asked.

“I’m afraid we can’t discuss an investigation in progress,” Stone said.

“The papers said you’re making no progress at all,” Van Fleet said, walking them to the front door.

“Don’t believe everything you read in the papers,” Dino said, as Van Fleet closed the door behind them.

Back in the car, Stone sighed. “Clean as a hound’s tooth,” he said.

“Yeah,” Dino agreed, disconsolately.