The bed was in disorder. The sheet and blanket lay on the floor.
We went into the bathroom and the spare bedroom: the apartment was empty: both Paula and Anona had vanished.
I rushed to the telephone and got though to the office. Trixy said Paula hadn’t called. She said a man who wouldn’t give his name had telephoned twice. I told her to give him Paula’s number if he phoned again and hung up.
Kerman gave me a cigarette with a hand that shook slightly. I lit it without being conscious of what I was doing and sat on the bed.
“We’d better get out to the Dream Ship,” Kerman said in a tight, hard voice. “And get out there quick.”
I shook my head.
“Take it easy,” I said.
“What the hell!” Kerman exploded, and started for the door. “They’ve got Paula. Okay, we go out there and talk to them. Come on!”
“Take it easy,” I said, not moving. “Sit down and don’t be obvious.”
Kerman came up to me.