The Corpse That Never Was by Brett Halliday

thought and could add something to your description this morning.”
    “Indeed I have given it further thought. Yes, indeed. My gracious, it’s the first time anything like this has ever occurred in a building under my management. On the other hand, I’m afraid there’s not much I can add to the description I gave your lieutenant last night. Just sort of medium.” He spread out both his plump palms in exasperation. “I did remember noticing that he signed the rental agreement with his left hand. The lieutenant said that might be very important.”
    “And it probably is,” Shayne told him. “You see, our handwriting expert says the suicide notes were written by a left-handed man. He had a dark mustache, I believe, and wore tinted glasses.”
    “Lightly tinted. Blue. So light the color was scarcely noticeable.”
    “And he just dropped in cold, looking for an apartment? No one referred him to you?”
    “In answer to an advertisement. He was very easily pleased and appeared satisfied with the price, remarking that he would not be occupying the apartment a great deal and would require no maid service. I do recall that he particularly required a telephone and was delighted that our transient apartments have telephones served by a switchboard.”
    Shayne nodded thoughtfully. This was the first time he had known the building had its own telephones. Lucy, of course, had her own private line, but that was on a year’s lease…
    He said, “I understand he gave you a home address in Jacksonville?”
    “Yes. I gave it to the lieutenant. He explained that his home office was there, but that he was trying to build up this territory and would be in Miami possibly two or three days each week.”
    “The Jacksonville address was a phony,” Shayne told him. “Non-existent.”
    “Dear me. Then do you suppose…?”
    “Right now,” said Shayne evenly, “it looks as though he used your building simply as a trysting place. We don’t even know if Lambert was his name. You didn’t ask for references, I suppose?”
    “N-no. Not in the case of a month-to-month rental. He paid the first month in advance, you see.”
    “In cash, I understand?” Shayne made his voice hard and raised ragged, red eyebrows in disapproval. “Didn’t you think that was quite unusual? Don’t most tenants pay by check?”
    “They do, of course,” the manager agreed stiffly. “On the other hand, he said something about not wanting to ask me to take an out-of-town check since he desired immediate occupancy.”
    “That was less than a month ago?”
    “Three weeks ago yesterday. I checked the date this morning. I’m sorry I can’t help you more, but I must reiterate that I saw the man only that one time. He had his own key to the front door and we have a self-service elevator. We try not to intrude on our tenants’ privacy so long as they give us no reason for doing so.”
    “This company he worked for? He said he was a salesman?”
    “Yes. That is, I believe it was definitely implied. He mentioned his territory being enlarged recently to include Miami.”
    “Did he mention the name of the company? What sort of product he handled?”
    “I don’t… believe… I, I’m just not sure. It may have been mentioned casually, but I simply don’t recollect.”
    “Could it have been something to do with photography? Photographic supplies?”
    Barstow blinked rapidly and then pressed fingertips to his eyes in an attitude of deep thought. His face brightened when he removed them. “I do believe that was it. I do, indeed. Is that important?”
    “It may be. Now, I understand he signed some sort of rental agreement? I’d like to take that with me, Mr. Barstow.”
    “It’s a very simple form. Miss Mayhew will get it for you. Ah… I understand the police put a padlock on the door after it was broken in last night. Do you know when they will be through… when his possessions will be removed? I understand it will require a thorough cleaning before