It was empty except for a screwed-up ball of paper. I smoothed this out and found it to be the duplicate of a return ticket from Rome to New York, dated four months ago and made out in Carlo Manchini's name.
I stood looking at the ticket for several seconds, my mind busy.
Here was proof that Carlo had been in New York before Helen had left for Rome. Did it mean anything? Had they met in New York?
I slipped the paper in my wallet, then returned the bag to the drawer.
Although I spent another half-hour in the apartment, I found nothing else to interest me, nor did I find my note to Helen.
I was glad to get out into the rain and the fresh air once more.
Sarti was very uneasy when I joined him.
"I was getting nervous," he said. "You stayed there too long."
I had too much on my mind to bother about his nerves. I told him I'd be at the Press Club at ten the following morning and left him.
When I got back to my apartment I sent the following cable to Jack Martin, Western Telegram's New York crime reporter:
Supply all dope you can find on Carlo Manchini: dark, blunt-featured, broad, tall with white zigzag scar on chin. Will telephone Sunday. Urgent. Dawson.
Martin was an expert at his job. If there was an angle to Carlo's visit to New York, he would know it.
PART TEN
I
At ten the following morning, I entered the Press Club and asked the steward if there was anyone waiting for me.
The steward said there was a gentleman in the coffee bar. From the tone of his voice he indicated that he was using the word "gentleman" as a matter of courtesy.
I found Sarti sitting in a corner, twiddling his hat and staring blankly at the opposite wall.
I took him over to a more comfortable chair and sat him down. He was clutching a leather portfolio which he rested on his fat knees. The garlic on his breath was enough to strip the barnacles off a ship's keel.
"Well? What have you got?" I said.
"Following your instructions, signor," he said, undoing the straps on his case, "I have set ten of my best men to work on la Signorina Chalmers's background. I am still waiting for their reports, but in the meantime I have been able to gain a considerable amount of information from another source." He scratched the tip of his ear, wriggling uncomfortably in his chair, then went on, "It is always possible that in making such a searching investigation unpleasant facts may come to light. I suggest that to prepare you for what is in my report, I should give you a brief resume of what I have discovered."
From what I had already found out about Helen's background, I wasn't surprised that he and his men had made similar discoveries.
"Go ahead," I said. "I know more or less what you are going to tell me. I warned you this was a confidential business. La signorina was the daughter of a very powerful man, and we've got to be careful."
"I am aware of that, signor." Sarti looked even more miserable. "You must realize Lieutenant Carlotti is also working along the same lines as we, and it will not be long before he will have the same information as I have here." He tapped his portfolio. "To be more exact, he will have the information in three days' time."
I stared at him. "How do you know that?"
"Perhaps you know that la signorina was a drug addict?" Sarti said. "Her father made her a very small allowance. She needed considerable sums of money to buy drugs. I regret to tell you, signor, that to raise the money she blackmailed a number of men with whom she had been intimate."
I suddenly wondered if he had found out that I had been a prospective victim of hers.
"I had more or less gathered that," I said. "You didn't answer my question. How do you know Carlotti ... ?"
"If you will excuse me, signor," Sarti broke in. "I will come to that in a moment. In this folder I have a list of names and addresses of the men from whom la signorina obtained money. I will leave the list for you to study." He gave me a long, slow stare that brought me out into a sudden sweat. I was sure now that my name was on the list.
"How did you get hold of this information?" I asked, bringing out my packet of cigarettes and offering it to him.
"No, thank you. I don't care for American cigarettes," Sarti said, bowing. "If I may be allowed …" He fished out the usual Italian cigarette and lit it. "I obtained the list from il Signor Veroni, a private detective who once worked for the police. He only undertakes special cases and is very expensive. I have been able to help him from time to time with my much larger organization. Knowing you wanted information urgently, I approached him. He immediately produced all this information I have here from his files."
"How did he get it?" I asked, leaning forward and staring at Sarti.
"He had been instructed to watch la signorina on her arrival in Rome. He and two of his men, taking it in turns, never let her out of their sight during the time she was in Rome."
That really shook me.
"Did they follow her to Sorrento?" I asked.
"No. They had no instructions to do that. Veroni was told only to watch her while she was in Rome."
"Who instructed him to watch her?"
Sarti smiled sadly.
"That I am unable to tell you, signor. You will understand that what I have already told you is strictly confidential. It is only because Veroni is my very good friend, and also because I gave him my sacred word that I would not pass on the information, that he agreed to help me."
"As you've broken your sacred word already," I said impatiently, "what's to stop you telling me who instructed him?"
Sarti lifted his shoulders.
"Nothing, signor, except that he didn't tell me." I sat back.
"You said Carlotti would have this information in three days time. How do you know this?"
"Veroni is giving the information to the Lieutenant. It was I who persuaded him not to do so until this period has elapsed."
"But why should he give Carlotti this information?"
"Because he suspects la signorina was murdered," Sarti said mournfully, "and he feels that it is his duty to give the Lieutenant the information. It is only when investigators help the police that the police in their turn will help them."
"Why have you told him to hold up the information for three days?"
He moved uncomfortably.
"If you will kindly read through the report I have prepared, you will see the reason, signor. You are my client. There may be things you wish to do. Let us say I have gained a little time for you."
I tried to meet his eyes, but I didn't make it. I stubbed out my cigarette and lit another. I was feeling pretty bad.