Mason laughed sarcastically and waved his hand in the general direction of the gambling room. “The way you’re organized,” he said, “you couldn’t make anything hot for anybody.”
The woman at Mason’s side leaned closer. “Why don’t you boys get along?” she asked.
“I’m willing to get along,” Mason said, “but I want the low-down.”
“All right, you’ve got it.”
“Were you here when Cullens was here?” Mason inquired, turning toward her.
“No.”
“Who was?”
“I don’t know. Was anyone else here, Billy?” she asked the man behind the desk.
His grin was triumphant. “No one.” he said, “just Cullens on that side of the desk and me on this.”
Mason got to his feet. “Okay,” he said casually, “if that’s the way you feel about it. Remember that you were the last person to see Cullens alive. If Cullens tried to get hard with you and make a squawk which would get you in trouble, there’s some chance you might have followed him and bumped him off.”