“You’re making a search for Leeds?”
“Yes. We’re checking on the airplanes — particularly those that went north.”
Mason said, “I want to talk with Serle.”
“Fat chance you’ll stand,” Drake said gloomily. “They’ve nailed him for conducting a lottery and selling lottery tickets. The police were looking for him at the very moment he was having dinner with Milicant.”
“What was the idea of the conference with Milicant? Do you know, Paul?”
“Apparently in regard to raising bail. After he left Milicant’s apartment, he told friends that he’d arranged to get cash bail and was going to surrender, that he could beat the rap hands down.”
“Then what happened?” Mason asked, interested.
“He hung around a pool room for two or three hours, then put through a call to Conway.”
“What time was that call?” Mason interrupted to ask.
“That’s just it,” Drake said. “We can’t get the exact time. I’ve had men working on it, and so have the police.”