“Uh huh.”
“I understood he was refusing to divulge the name of the woman...”
“Oh, sure,” Drake interrupted. “Some of that kid gallantry stuff, but Opal Sunley didn’t make any secret of it. She told the police right at the start. Young Gentrie didn’t rate the use of the family automobile, not for her, anyway. They were using streetcars. He took her to a movie, bought her a chocolate sundae afterwards, did a little mild necking in the park, and took her home about eleven-thirty. They said good night on the stairs for half an hour, and young Gentrie left about midnight. Evidently, he went right home and upstairs to bed.”
“He must have moved pretty fast if he left her home at midnight and was in bed at quarter past,” Mason said. “How far from Hocksley’s place does she live?”
“About twelve blocks. You can walk it in fifteen minutes if you’re young — and have just spent half an hour saying good night to your best girl.”
Mason said to the girl in the doorway, “Show them in. I have an idea something is weighing on that young man’s mind.”
Chapter 6
Mrs. Gentrie entered Mason’s private office with Junior trailing along behind her, very much as though he were being led.
Mrs. Gentrie’s attitude was one of parental indignation.
“Mr. Mason,” she said, “you’ll have to help us. It’s about Junior.”