'Mr. Spencer?'
'The tall, thin man who was fust here. 9 *
'Oh, yes. Yes, we had a seat for him. 3 '
'On the nine o'clock flight?' she said, pulling the figure out of the air.
'Not nine/* the clerk said. 'Ten. Twenty-two hundred hours. That's the direct flight to New York.'
'Oh.' She gave him her best smile. 'Well, thank you very much/*
She turned away, the excitement churning in her now as she digested the information. When she came to the telephone booth she did not hesitate. She had promised not to follow Spencer and she was keeping that promise, but she was much too pleased with herself to give her information over the telephone. It would take no more than ten minutes to get to Cordovez's apartment, and this was a message she wanted to deliver in person. She wanted to see Jeffs face when she told him; she wanted to know just what he intended to do.
She went through the door to the street and turned uphill, walking quickly, oblivious of her surroundings. She had taken perhaps five steps when something hard and round pressed suddenly against her side. Before she could react she heard the voice in her ear.
'If you want to stay alive keep walking, sister!'
Shock kept her moving in that first instant when her spine stiffened and her throat closed. She could not think, she could not even breathe; she only knew that somehow she kept moving as the voice went on.
'Don't open your mouth and don't look round. Just walk nice and easy!'
She moved like an automaton, propelled by fear now and waiting for the next command.
'See that yellow cab across the street? That's where we're going. You're doing fine. Stay with it. When we get in the cab sit still. Let me do the talking and you'll be O. HL'
ONE MINUTE PAST EIGHT
The horrible pressure in her side stayed with her as they crossed the street against the traffic. The taxi driver saw them coming and reached back to open the door. Not until she slid over on the seat did she actually identify the man who threatened her.
19
JEFF LANE had taken the telephone call at five minutes after four and by four fifteen he had started to sweat. He had his jacket off, his shirt was unbuttoned at the throat, and when he ran his fingers through his hair they came away damp.
**Why doesn't she call?' he demanded, turning on Cor-dovez, who sat by the window.
The detective shrugged and his voice was placating. 'It is only ten minutes, my friend. It is no good to worry so soon! 9
Jeff resumed his pacing and the minutes dragged by on leaden feet Every now and then he would repeat his question, his tone more savage as the seeds of panic began to sprout inside him. By four thirty even Cordovez's smooth face began to show concern and now, his mind made up, Jeff could stand it no longer. He buttoned his shirt and reached for his jacket.
'Come on,' he said.
'But where?**
'How the hell do I know? Something must have happened to her. We can try the airline office, can't we? We can check on Spencer.'
ONE MINUTE PAST EIGHT
'She promised she would not try to follow him.'
'So maybe she broke her promise.'
'Wait.' Cordovez put up his hand. 'There may have been some misunderstanding. Let me try the hotel first.'
He dialed and spoke briefly. After another half-minute he spoke again and then covered the mouthpiece with his palm.
'She is not in her room. I am having her paged.' Still another minute dragged by and finally he muttered something else and hung up. 'She is not there.'
He studied Jeff a moment, understanding his frame of mind but thinking of more practical matters.
'Let me go look,' he said. 'I do not think it is wise-'
'Nuts/ 3 Jeff said. Tm not worried about SegurnaL We've got enough now to get me clear if they pick me up. It's Karen I'm worried about, don't you understand?'
'Of course. That is what I meant. I think someone should stay in case she telephones or comes here herself ?
The logic of such reasoning steadied Jeff when he recognized the wisdom of the words. Someone should stay here, at least for a while, and Cordovez, a native of the city, could do the outside work more efficiently. It was hard to face the prospect of waiting alone, but in the end Jeff gave in.
'All right,' ^he said. 'Try the ticket office first Then go to Spencer's place. If you don't find anything try his office. After that come back here and pick me up. If Karen hasn't shown by then she won't be coming, here at all'
'It is best that way.' Cordovez stepped to the door. 'I know the waiting will be difficult for you, but it must be done. I will be back as soon as possible. Have faith, my friend.'
It was five thirty when Julio Cordovez returned, and
one look at his somber face told Jeff the news was bad. 'What happened?' he said.
'She was not at the ticket office, so I went to Spencer's apartment and let myself in. It was empty.'
'Did you find anything to give you the idea she might have been there?'
'Nothing.' Cordovez turned away, his disappointment showing in his voice. 'I went to the offices of the Bulletin. They told me Spencer had been in this afternoon but they could not say when he would return. They thought perhaps around seven. But one thing I learned,' he said grimly.
'What?'
'At the airline office I made other inquiries. Spencer has a seat on the ten o'clock light to New York.'
Jeff thought it over, eyes narrowing and the tension still warping his mouth. The discovery suggested many possibilities but at the moment did little to allay his fears for the girl
'O. K.,' he said. 'We can stop that if we have to, but that's damn near five hours from now. Where is she?' he asked hoarsely. 'She didn't fust disappear. She's got to be some place.'
He hesitated, making another effort to get his thoughts in order.
'She must have found out something,' he said. 'She must have run across some evidence that hooks up with murder. Somebody found it out and grabbed her. It's got to be that way. If it's not Spencer then it's got to be Fiske, or Diana Grayson, or Luis Miranda. They're the only ones involved.'
He took a breath and this time when he reached for his coat he put it on. He was no longer worried about Segurnal. The only important thing was Karen Holmes and he was sick of inaction, sick of having people do things for him while he did nothing for himself.
ONE MINUTE PAST EIGHT
'Let's go, Julio/* he said. 'And don't give me any argument. If she's being held at Grayson's or Miranda's we'll damn soon know it.'
He opened the door and started down the hall, Cordovez at his heels. When they got into the sedan he thought of something else and mentioned it.
'What about Carl Webb?'
Cordovez considered the suggestion., but when he replied he did not sound convinced.
'It is a possibility.'
'That's all we can hope for/' Jeff said, Tf he got his hands on that dough and Karen happened to find out about it— 3 '
He did not have to complete the thought and Cordovez interrupted. 'It will be a simple matter to check his room and it will not take long.'
They drove in silence after that and when they approached the Tucan, Cordovez parked some distance from the entrance. 'I will have a look/' he said. 'Please stay here.'
Jeff did not argue this time, but lit a cigarette and watched the little man hurry away. He watched until Cordovez disappeared through the front entrance and then sat that way, fighting his anxiety and keeping his
