He thought for a moment. “Now that you pose the question, yes, I am uneasy about Lucy.”
“Did a Mr. Dorn ever call you?”
“Dorn? No.”
That troubled Vicki. She also wondered what really lay behind Lucy’s change of jobs. She remarked as much to Mr. Hall.
“Yes, I feel there is more to know about Lucy’s job situation than we do know,” he said. He reflected. “Maybe Gravy could tell you something more.”
Vicki smiled. “I beg your pardon, but did you say someone’s name is Gravy?”
The minister smiled back at her. “Graves. Knowlton Graves. He and his wife are young people, friends of Lucy’s. She’s the one who dubbed him Gravy. He’s a painter, and he’s been doing Lucy’s portrait. I think that because of work on the portrait the Graveses had been seeing Lucy oftener than anyone else had, just before she left.”
“Do you think Mr. and Mrs. Graves would be willing to talk to me about Lucy?” Vicki asked.
“We’ll see.” Mr. Hall picked up the telephone and dialed a number. He talked to Knowlton Graves, paving the way for Vicki. “Yes, I think Miss Barr can come over right away.” Vicki nodded. “What?... Yes, I’ll tell her. Thanks very much,” and the minister hung up. He turned to Vicki.
“Gravy wants me to tell you, with due apologies, that he has a heavy work schedule. If you’re willing to go over to Telegraph Hill for just a short visit, he’d be very glad to see you.”