One eye on Spencer's back, she moved quickly through the glass doors and slipped into the telephone booth. She closed the door, feeling secure now as she opened her bag and looked for Julio Cordovez's telephone number. She no longer had to watch Spencer. Whatever happened at the counter she could find out later. All she had to do was wait until she saw him leave the office.
Her voice trembled a little with excitement when Cor-dovez answered and she identified herself and asked for Jeff.
"Jeff," she said a moment later and then the excitement got die best of her and she started to babble. "I think I might have something. It's Spencer. He's in a downtown airline office. I think he's making a reservation and—"
"Karen!"
The quick and forceful sound of his voice stopped her and told her she'd been letting her emotions run away from her. She heard him ask where she was. She told him.
"And what's this about Spencer?"
"I followed him here. I saw him come out of the newspaper office and he had this envelope under his arm and I-I followed him"
"Why? What were you doing there in the first place?"
The question stumped her for a second because it was so hard to answer. Why had she gone there? Could she
explain an impulse or justify by logical means an Intuitive compulsion she herself did not understand? The answer was no, and suddenly she was annoyed with his questions and impatient with his attitude.
"What difference does it make?" she cried. "He has an envelope, too, a large one. It might even have the money in it."
"All right," Jeff said. "All right. Slow down. You followed Spencer. He's at the ticket counter. Now where are you?"
"In a phone booth near the door. I'm going to wait right here until he leaves and then I'm going to the counter and find out if he actually has made a reservation/ 3
She hesitated and when there was no reply she said: "Jeff!"
"I'm thinking," he said. "Maybe you've got something. Just be sure he's gone before you go to the counter. And don't try to follow him 9 do you hear?"
"All right."
"Let him go. Don't fool with him. Promise?"
"I promise."
"Good girl. After you've checked at the counter call me back and we'll figure out what to do next. O. K.?"
She broke the connection but kept the telephone to her ear in case anyone should look through the door and wonder what she was doing. She put on her dark glasses and turned her head so that she could get an oblique, corner-of-the-eye look at the entrance. She sat that way, with the stuffiness increasing and the perspiration prickling on her body, until Spencer cut across her line of vision. She counted five very slowly before she replaced the instrument and opened the door; then she hurried to the counter, waiting until she could get the same clerk who had talked to Spencer.
"Did Mr. Spencer get his reservation?" she asked.
"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.