Chapter 10
It was drizzling when Mason entered the Seattle Hotel. “You have a J. E. Smith here?” he asked.
The clerk verified the registration, and said, “Yes. Three-nineteen. Shall I give him a ring?”
Mason said slowly, “No, I’ll call him after I’ve freshened up a bit. I had to leave in a hurry. Any place around here where I can get some clean clothes?”
“The middle of the next block,” the clerk said. “They’ll be open for an hour yet. Tomorrow’s Sunday. Everything will be closed.”
Mason nodded. “I want two rooms,” he said, “one for myself, one for Mrs. George L. Manchester of New York. I’ll pay for both rooms in advance. Give me the key to the room you select for Mrs. Manchester. I’ll look it over, see if it’s okay, and leave the key at the desk when I come down.”
Mason took a billfold from his pocket and slid a twenty-dollar bill across the desk to the clerk, then signed his name and that of Mrs. George Manchester on the registration card the clerk handed him.
The bellboy took Mason to his room. The Manchester room was three doors away and on the other side of the corridor. When the bellboy had left, Mason took the stairs to the third floor and knocked on the door of 319.
Emily Milicant’s voice asked sharply, “Who is it?”
“Express package,” Mason said gruffly.