Mason heard the sound of a chair being scraped along the floor, then complete silence from the other side of the door.

Mason could hear the sound of her voice, coming faintly over the line.

Then Mason heard the sound of shuffling motion, and a bolt clicked back.

At that moment Mason heard the sound of rapid steps in the corridor.

Mason took down the receiver and heard Paul Drake's voice.

Mason picked up his telephone and heard a feminine voice say, "Hollywood three, one, five hundred."

Mason heard the sound of a siren as a car rounded the corner with screaming tires.

Mason heard the words but didn't believe them.

Harry had repeated his question, not certain whether Mason had heard.

Mason, his face granite-hard with concentration, paid no attention to Drake's words and might not have heard him.