“His wife with him?” Mason asked, casually.
“A woman was with him. I didn’t know he was married.”
Mason said, “I gather it’s his wife. The automobile salesman thought it was. You don’t know where I could reach him?”
“No, I don’t.”
“You don’t think he went to Los Angeles?”
“I don’t know where he went. He didn’t say how long he was going to be gone. He comes and goes, and we don’t ask any questions.”
“When did he leave?”
“Yesterday afternoon about three o’clock.
Mason said, “Oh, well, the deal will wait for a couple of days. If he doesn’t show up then I’ll have to do something else. Thanks a lot.”
Back in the car, Drake said, “You won’t get anywhere trying to ride that bird’s back trail, Perry. He’s been through the mill.”