18:30
The circumstances were strikingly similar in every case except that the four who disappeared were urbanites , while the murdered ones were all members of small and comparatively isolated communities . Not one of the eight had been over thirty-five ; each had been well-liked ; none was wealthy , yet all were in comfortable circumstances from vocations that depended upon good will . A further similarity built up in Alcorn 's subconscious , but died unconsidered because at that moment the quarterstaff bout on the screen ended and a brazen-voiced announcer gave the time . It was 18:30 . Dr. Hagen was to call him at his apartment at 19:00 . Alcorn , mulling over the cryptic half-knowledge gained from the clippings , wondered what the little psychiatrist might make of it . Hagen was capable in his field ; even with so little to work on , he might possibly come up with the right answer .