When Curran came back Leland told him to get Robbie Loughran and go through the building for tenants who knew anything about Leikman and his habits. Leland and Schoenstein went downstairs to question the landlady. Because of the configuration of the first floor hall, her small quarters were under Leikman’s room only in certain areas. Mrs. McFee was an old lady who followed the radio programs and she was very certain of her times. The noise had started around six o’clock and had stopped between seven-fifteen and seven-thirty, when she had been listening to Smilin’ Jack Smith. It had begun again at eleven o’clock, when she had heard voices, but the walls and floors were too thick for her to have made out any conversation. She had heard some other sounds, like things being pushed around, and then, at one o’clock exactly, while she had been waiting for the remote broadcast from the Travelers Hotel because they had Les Brown and that lovely Doris Day singing “Sentimental Journey,” she had heard the door slam in that funny way. She knew nothing about Mr. Leikman except that he was a quiet, well-mannered boy who paid his rent on time. He was studying to be a clothes designer. He had been living in the building fourteen months.

Automatically Leland asked her to get all the rent receipts for that period, thinking that Leikman might have met and befriended someone who had since moved out. While Schoenstein made that list, Dan Curran brought in a young girl wearing a housecoat and slippers. Her dark hair was up in curlers. Curran introduced her as Carol Linjak.

“What’s this about Teddy?”

“Soon enough, Miss Linjak. We’d like you to help us with a few things first—”

“At this hour? You people go around waking people up just to casually ask questions? I insist on knowing why you’re doing this.”

“Your friend Teddy was murdered,” Leland said.

“I don’t believe you.”

“Take our word for it. You may be able to help us find his murderer if you cooperate.”

She stared a moment, deciding. “All right,” she said brusquely. “What do you want to know?”

“When was the last time you saw him?”

“Tuesday evening in the hall. I was coming home from a date and Teddy came out of his apartment. We bumped into each other. It was about eleven o’clock.”

“Can you tell us how you’re sure of this?”

“My date was with me. I went out with Teddy, too. I had to introduce them, and it was difficult—strained. For me, anyway. Do you want my date’s name?”

“Yes, I think so.”