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“Have you been in there? Do you know if there’s anything missing?”
Gerard shook his head. “Not yet. I was on my way in when I heard you on the stairs and decided to wait for you.”
Patterson turned to Danielle. Gerard noticed he had trouble looking at her face rather than at her chest.
“Miss Copperfield? Did you see anyone going in or coming out of the flat?”
Danielle shook her head. “I ran upstairs and looked out the window, but there was no one around. I tried to call Gerard, but his phone was off, so I called the police.”
“You did the right thing, ma’am.”
“Thanks.” She batted her eyelashes, then glanced at the slim gold watch on her wrist. “Listen, Officer, I really have to go. Do you need me for anything else?”
D.I. Patterson glanced at his colleague, then shook his head. “No, you’re free to go. If we need more information, Dr. Leon can provide it.”
The officers watched Danielle rush down the stairs, then turned their attention to him and Linda once more.
“You’re Dr. Leon’s girlfriend?”
“Yes. My name is Linda Coriola.”
The younger officer took notes, while Patterson studied Linda and Gerard. Moments later, he looked beyond them into the flat.
“Alright, let’s have a look, shall we?”
Patterson approached the door and bent to study it.
“It looks like the burglar picked the lock. Surprisingly neat job. I wonder why he or they weren’t as neat inside?” he mused aloud. “Doesn’t jibe… Let’s go inside. I assume you have insurance on your valuable items, doctor?”
“I don’t have many valuables, but yes, I have insurance.”
“What do you do, sir?”
“I’m a physician and researcher at the HOPE Clinic.”
Gerard followed the officers into the apartment, with Linda trailing behind him, trying not to step on anything. The sight of his possessions tossed around like this infuriated him. The idea of someone touching his stuff, pawing through his clothes and personal items made him sick. He didn’t have many possessions, but these were his, damn it! A man’s property should be safe in his own home. If he got his hands on the ones responsible, he just might kill them—kids or not.
The policemen continued asking routine questions and taking notes, while Gerard made an inventory of his things. Since the place looked as if it had been hit by a tornado, it was hard to say what was missing. An hour later he’d done the best he could.
“From what I can see, my tablet, my watch, and my old cellphone were taken. It wasn’t working, but I don’t suppose they bothered to check,” he said dryly. “I’m assuming since the TV was too large to carry, that’s why they didn’t touch it.” He indicated the large plasma screen affixed to the wall. It was probably the most expensive item in the flat.
“It looks as if the perpetrator focused on small electronics, things that can be easily carried and sold,” Officer Kane observed, still taking notes. “Can you give me the makes and models of the missing items, doctor? We’ll check the pawn shops to see if anyone tries to sell something matching their description.”
Gerard gave him the details.
“Do you own any other electronic devices?” Patterson asked. “A computer, laptop, iPod, camera, or other such gadget?”
Gerard shook his head. “Only my laptop, but that’s at the clinic. I usually take it back and forth, but I wasn’t coming right home tonight so I left it there. I tend to keep it with me most of the time.”
“I see,” Patterson said. “Other than the items you mentioned, did you have anything else of value here? Cash, jewelry, antiques, paintings, anything like that?”
“No.”
The older cop continued to look around the flat, his deep frown suggesting there was something on his mind.
“This burglar made a hell of a mess. Maybe it was because he was angry he didn’t find anything bankable. What makes no sense is the way he took the time to dig through every dresser, empty each drawer, strip off the sheets on the bed, as if he was searching for something specific.”
Gerard’s stomach clenched. “Like what?”
