Clara pops in and out of this room a couple times, but most of the time it makes no difference; there's nothing you can do when she's gone that you couldn't do when she was here.
Hint 2
The only thing she won't let you touch when she's here is her briefcase, and she usually takes it with her when she goes. And why do we care anyway?
Hint 3
Near the end of the game, after you find Jessalyn --