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“That's helpful,” James said. “We’ll need to look into anyone who might have had contact with Vittoria recently, even if they weren’t directly involved with the event.”

He paused for a moment, then added, “Let’s switch gears a little. Tell me — who do you suspect?”

Alessandro's face tightened as he leaned forward slightly. "I already told Officer Rossi," he said, his voice low. "But I think it's the housekeeper's niece and her husband. They were the last ones to see Vittoria alive, and their behavior seemed off when they came back. They were nervous, too eager to finish their task. I know they were just helping out, but something about them... it didn't sit right with me. You should talk to those two."

James nodded, his expression thoughtful. “Thank you, Mr. Mancini. We’ll look into that. And do you know why Leonardo is in the house? And do you know him before?”

Alessandro answered without hesitation, “I’d never heard of him before he was found dead — and I have no idea why he was in my house.”

“Thank you, Mr. Mancini. We’ll be in touch if we need anything else.” James stood up, giving Alessandro a polite but curt nod before turning toward the door. Alice followed closely behind as they made their way out of the house, the weight of the case settling heavier on their shoulders.

As they stepped outside, James glanced over at Marco. “Why was Leonardo in the same room as Vittoria? How did he get in? And did the housekeepers see him when they came around 6 a.m.?”

Marco rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “That’s the puzzle. There were no signs of forced entry anywhere—doors and windows all locked from the inside. The housekeepers said they didn’t notice anyone unusual, no visitors or deliveries. Leonardo must have had a way in that didn’t raise suspicion.”

James frowned. “So either he was invited in by Vittoria, or he had the key and entered after 6 am.”

Alice chimed in quietly, “Or maybe he was already in before the housekeepers arrived.”

Marco shook his head. “That’s not possible. The staff at the hotel where he was staying said they saw him leaving around 6 a.m. — and it’s about ten minutes from here. So the earliest he could’ve arrived would be 6:10."