“No, I don’t know what became of Smith, if he ain’t here,” the landlady answered. She called to the man on the cot. “Jake, seen anyone in here during the last hour?”
He shook his head, staring curiously at the intruders.
To Jerry the woman said: “You’ll have to come back later if you want to see Smith. Maybe after ten o’clock.”
Jerry scribbled his name and telephone number on a sheet of notebook paper.
“If he does show up, will you telephone me?” he requested.
“Oh, sure,” the woman replied, her careless tone making it clear she would never put herself to so much trouble.
Jerry gave her a five dollar bill. “This should make it worth your while,” he said. “You’ll earn another five if we find the man.”
“I’ll call you the minute he comes in,” the woman promised with more enthusiasm.
Penny drew a deep breath as she and Jerry left the building, stepping out into the cool, sweet air of the street.
“I still doubt we’re trailing the right man,” remarked Jerry. “Why would Hamilton Rhett hole in at a place like this?”