rs.inthebestfamelies-第10章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　noon；　doesn't　he？〃　〃Yes；　but…〃
　　〃Tell　him　not　to　bother　to　phone　about　this。　Mr。　Wolfe　is　not　available；　and　I'm　reserved　for　clients；　as　the　ad　says。　Watch　your　foot；　here　es　the　door。〃
　　I　shut　it　and　put　the　chain　bolt　on。　As　I　went　back　down　the　hall　Fritz　emerged　from　the　kitchen　and　demanded；　〃Who　was　that？〃
　　I　eyed　him。　〃You　know　damn　well；〃　I　said；　〃that　when　Mr。　Wolfe　was　here　you　would　never　have　dreamed　of　asking　who　was　that；　either　of　him　or　of　me。　Don't　dream　of　it　now；　anyway　not　when　I'm　in　the　humor　I'm　in　at　present。〃
　　〃I　only　wanted…〃
　　〃Skip　it。　I　advise　you　to　steer　clear　of　me　until　I've　had　a　chance　to　think。〃
　　I　went　to　the　office　and　this　dme　took　my　own　chair。　At　least　I　had　got　some　instructions　from　Wolfe；　though　his　method　of　sending　them　was　certainly　roundabout。　The　ad　meant；　of　course；　that　I　wasn't　to　try　to　cover　his　absence；　on　the　contrary。　More　important；　it　told　me　to　lay　off　of　the　Rackham　thing。　I　was　to　handle　inquiries　from　clients　on　unfinished　matters；　but　only　from　clients；　and　since　Mrs。　Rackham；　being　dead；　couldn't　inquire；　that　settled　that。　Another　thing…apparently　I　still　had　my　job；　unlike　Fritz　and　Theodore。　But　I　couldn't　sign　checks；　I　couldn't…suddenly　I　remembered　something。
　　The　fact　that　I　hadn't　thought　of　it　before　indicates　the　state　I　was　in。　I　have　told；　in　my　account　of　another　case　of　Wolfe's　how；　in　anticipation　of　the　possibility　that　some　day　a　collision　with　Arnold　Zeck　would　drive　him　into　a　foxhole；　he　had　instructed　me　to　put　fifty　thousand　dollars　in　cash　in　a　safe　deposit　box　over　in　Jersey；　and　how　I　obeyed　instructions。　The　idea　was　to　have　a　source　of　supply　for　the　foxhole；　but　anyway；　there　it　was；　fifty　grand；　in　the　box　rented　by　me　under　the　name　I　had　selected　for　the　purpose。　I　was　sitting　thinking　how　upset　I　must　have　been　not　to　have　thought　of　that　before　when　the　phone　rang　and　I　reached　for　it。
　　〃Nero　Wolfe's　office；　Archie　Goodwin　speaking。〃
　　I　thought　it　proper　to　use　that；　the　familiar　routine；　since　according　to　Wolfe's　ad　he　wouldn't　retire　until　the　next　day。
　　〃Archie？〃　A　voice　I　knew　sounded　surprised。　〃Is　that　you；　Archie？〃
　　〃Right。　Hello；　Marko。　So　early　on　Sunday？〃
　　〃But　I　thought　you　were　away！　I　was　going　to　give　Fritz　a　message　for　you。
　　From　Nero。〃
　　Marko　Vukcic；　owner　and　operator　of　Rusterman's　Restaurant；　the　only　place　where　Wolfe　really　liked　to　eat　except　at　home；　was　the　only　man　in　New　York　who　called　Wolfe　by　his　first　name。　I　told　him　I　would　be　glad　to　take　a　message　for　myself。
　　〃Not　from　Nero　actually；〃　he　said。　〃From　me。　I　must　see　you　as　soon　as　possible。　Could　you　e　here？〃
　　I　said　I　could。　There　was　no　need　to　ask　where；　since　the　only　place　he　could　ever　be　found　was　the　restaurant　premises；　either　on　one　of　the　two　floors　for　the　public；　in　the　kitchen；　or　up　in　his　private　quarters。
　　I　told　Fritz　I　was　going　out　and　would　be　back　when　he　saw　me。
　　As　I　drove　crosstown　and　up　to　54th　Street；　I　was　around　eighty　per　cent　sure　that　within　a　few　minutes　I　would　be　talking　with　Wolfe。　For　him　it　would　be　hard　to　beat　that　for　a　foxhole…the　place　that　cooked　and　served　the　best　food　in　America；　with　the　living　quarters　of　his　best　and　oldest　friend　above　it。　Even　after　I　had　entered　at　the　side　door；　as　arranged；　ascended　the　two　flights　of　stairs；　seen　the　look　on　Marko's　face　as　he　weled　me；　felt　the　tight　clasp　of　his　fingers　as　he　took　my　hands　in　his；　and　heard　his　murmured　〃My　friend；　my　poor　young　friend！〃…even　then　I　thought　he　was　only　preparing　dramatically　to　lead　me　to　Wolfe　in　an　inner　room。
　　But　he　wasn't。　All　he　led　me　to　was　a　chair　by　a　window。　He　took　another　one；　facing　me；　and　sat　with　his　palms　on　his　knees；　his　head　cocked　a　little　to　one　side　as　usual。
　　〃My　friend　Archie；〃　he　said　sympathetically。　〃It　is　my　part　to　tell　you　exactly　certain　things。　But　before　I　do　that　I　wish　to　tell　you　a　thing　of　my　own。　I　wish　to　remind　you　that　I　have　known　Nero　a　much　longer　time　than　you　have。　We　knew　each　other　as　boys　in　another　country…much　younger　than　you　were　that　day　many　years　ago　when　you　first　saw　him　and　went　to　work　for　him。　He　is　my　old　and　dear　friend；　and　I　am　his。　So　it　was　natural　that　he　should　e　to　me　last　night。〃
　　〃Sure；〃　I　agreed。　〃Why　not？〃
　　〃You　must　feel　no　pique。　No　courroux。〃
　　〃Okay。　I'll　fight　it　down。　What　time　did　he　e？〃
　　〃At　two　o'clock　in　the　night。　He　was　here　an　hour；　and　then　left。　That　I　am　to　tell　you；　and　these　things。　Do　you　want　to　write　them　down？〃
　　〃I　can　remember　them　if　you　can。　Shoot。〃
　　Marko　nodded。　〃I　know　of　your　great　memory。　Nero　has　often　spoken　of　it。〃　He　shut　his　eyes　and　in　a　moment　opened　them　again。　〃There　are　these　five　things。　First；　the　plants。　He　telephoned　Mr。　Hewitt　last　night；　and　tomorrow　Mr。　Hewitt　will　arrange　for　the　plants　to　be　moved　to　his　place；　and　also　for　Theodore　to　go　there　to　work。　Second…〃
　　〃Am　I　to　list　the　plants？　Do　the　records　go　too？〃
　　〃I　don't　know。　I　can　say　only　what　I　was　told　to　say。　That's　all　about　the　plants。　Perhaps　Mr。　Hewitt　can　tell　you。　Second；　that　is　Fritz。　He　will　work　here；　and　I　will　pay　him　well。　I　will　see　him　today　and　arrange　the　details。　Of　course　he　is　unhappy？〃
　　〃He　thinks　Mr。　Wolfe　will　starve　to　death。〃
　　〃But　naturally。　If　not　that；　something　else。　I　have　always　thought　it　a　folly　for　him　to　be　a　detective。　Third…I　am　third。　I　have　a　power　of　attorney。　Do　you　want　to　see　it？〃
　　〃No；　thanks；　I'll　take　your　word　for　it。〃
　　〃It　is　in　there　locked　up。　Nero　said　it　is　legal；　and　he　knows。　I　can　sign　checks　for　you。　I　can　sign　anything。　I　can　do　anything　he　could　do。〃
　　〃Within　certain　limits。　You　can't…〃　I　waved　a　hand。　〃Forget　it。　Fourth？〃
　　〃Fourth　is　the　house。　I　am　to　offer　the　house　and　its　contents　for　sale。　On　that　I　have　confidential　instructions。〃
　　I　goggled　at　him。　〃Sell　the　house　and　contents？〃
　　〃Yes。　I　have　private　instructions　regarding　price　and　terms。〃
　　〃I　don't　believe　it。〃
　　His　shoulders　went　up　and　down。　〃I　told　Nero　you　would　think　I　was　lying。〃
　　〃I　don't　think　you're　lying。　I　just　don't　believe　it。　Also　the　bed　and　other　articles　in　my　room　are　my　property。　Must　I　move　them　out　today　or　can　I　wait　until　tomorrow？〃
　　Marko　made　a　noise　that　I　think　was　meant　for　sympathy。　〃My　poor　young　friend；〃　he　said　apologetically；　〃there　is　no　hurry　at　all。　Selling　a　house　is　not　like　selling　a　lamb　chop。　You　will；　I　suppose；　continue　to　live　there　for　the　present。〃
　　〃Did　he　say　I　should？〃
　　〃No；　But　why　shouldn't　you？　That　is　my　own　thought；　and　it　brings　us　to　the　fifth　and　last　thing：　the　instructions　Nero　gave　me　for　you。〃
　　〃Oh；　he　did。　That　was　thoughtful。　Such　as？〃
　　〃You　are　to　act　in　the　light　of　experience　as　guided　by　intelligence。〃
　　He　stopped。　I　nodded。　〃That's　a　cinch；　I　always　do。　And　specifically？〃
　　〃That's　all。　Those　are　your　instructions。〃　Marko　upturned　his　palMs。〃That's　all　about　everything。〃
　　〃You　call　that　instructions；　do　you？〃
　　〃I　don't。　He　did。〃　He　leaned　to　me。　〃I　told　him；　Archie；　that　his　conduct　was　inexcusable。　He　was　standing　ready　to　leave；　after　telling　me　those　five　things　and　no　more。　Having　no　reply；　he　turned　and　went：　Beyond　that　I　know　nothing；　but　nothing；〃
　　〃Where　he　went？　Where　he　is？　No　word　for　me　at　all？〃
　　〃Nothing。　Only　what　I　have　told　you。〃
　　〃Hell；　he's　gone　batty；　like　lots　of　geniuses；〃　I　declared；　and　got　up　to　go。
　　
　　7
　　I　DROVE　around　for　two　solid　hours；　mostly　in　the　park。　Now　and　then；　for　a　change　of　scene；　I　left　the　park　for　a　patrol　of　the　avenues。
　　I　hadn't　been　able　to　start　thinking　in　the　house；　and　it　might　work　better　on　the　move。　Moreover；　I　didn't　want　any　more　just　then　of　Fritz　or　Theodore；　or　in　fact　of　anybody　but　me。　So；　in　the　light　of　experience　and　guided　by　intelligence；　I　drove　around。　Somewhere　along　the　way　I　saw　clearly　what　my　trouble　was：　I　was　pletely　out　of　errands　for　the　first　time　in　years。　How　could　I　decide　what　to　do　when　I　had　nothing　to　do？　I　now　believe　that　the　reason　I　never　drove　farther　north　than　noth　Street；　nor　farther　south　than　i4th　Street　during　those　two　hours；　was　that　I　thought　Wolfe　was　probably　somewhere　within　those　limits　and　I　didn't　want　to　leave　them。
　　When　I　did　leave　them　it　wasn't　voluntary。　Rolling　down　Second　Avenue　in　the　Seventies；　I　had　stopped　for　a　red　light　abreast　of　a　police　car　on　my　left。　Just　as　the　light　was　changing；　the　cop　on　my　side　stuck　his　head　out　and　called；　〃Pull　over　to　the　curb。〃
　　Flattered　at　the　attention　as　any　motorist　would　be；　not；　I　obeyed。　The　police　car　came　alongside；　and　the　cop　got　out　and　invented　another　new　phrase。　〃Let　me　see　your　license。〃
　　I　got　it　out　and　handed　it　to　him；　and　he　took　a　look。
　　〃Yeah；　I　thought　I　recognized　you。〃　He　handed　the　license　back；　walked　around　the　front　of　my　car　to　the　other　side；　got　in　beside　me；　and　suggested；　〃Let's　go　to　the　Nineteenth　Precinct。　Sixty…seventh　east　of　Lexington。〃
　　〃That's　one　idea；〃　I　admitted。　〃Or　what's　wrong　with　the　Brooklyn　Botanical　Garden；　especially　on　Easter？　I'll　toss　you　for　it。〃
　　He　was　unmoved。　〃e　on；　Goodwin；　e　on。　I　know　you're　a　card；　I've　heard　all　about　you。　Let's　go。〃
　　〃Give　me　one　reason；　good　or　bad。　If　you　don't　mind？〃
　　〃I　don't　know　the　reason。　All　I　know　is　the　word　that　came　an　hour　ago；　to　pick　you　up　and　take　you　in。　Maybe　you　shouldn't　have　left　the　infant　on　the　church　steps　on　Easter　Day。〃
　　〃Of　course　not；〃　I　agreed。　〃We'll　go　get　it。〃
　　I　eased　away　from　the　curb　into　traffic；　with　the　police　car　trailing　behind。
　　Our　destination；　the　Nineteenth　Precinct　Station；　was　not　new　to　me。　That　was　where　I　had　once　spent　most　of　a　night；　conversing　with　Lieutenant　Rowcliff；　the　Con　Noonan　of　the　New　York　Police　Department。
　　After　escorting　me　in　to　the　desk　and　telling　the　sergeant　about　it；　my　captor　had　a　point　to　make。　His　name　was　not　John　F。　O'Brien；　it　was　John　R。　O'Brien。　He　explained　to　the　sergeant　that　he　had　to　insist　on　it　because　last　year　one　of　his　heroic　acts　had　been　credited　to　John　F。；　and　once　was　enough；　and　he　damn　well　wanted　credit　for　spotting　a　wanted　man　on　the　street。　That　attended　to；　he　bade　me　a　pleasant　goodby　and　left。　Meanwhile　the　sergeant　was　making　a　phone　call。　When　he　hung　up　he　looked　at　me　with　a　more　active　interest。
　　〃Westchester　wants　you；〃　he　announced。　〃Leaving　the　scene　of　a　crime　and　leaving　jurisdiction。　Want　to　drag　it　out？〃
　　〃It　might　be　fun；　but　I　doubt　it。　What　happens　if　I　don't？〃
　　〃There's　a　Westchester　man　downtown。　He's　on　his　way　up　here　to　take　you。〃
　　I　shook　my　head。　〃I'll　fight　like　a　cornered　rat。　I　know　fourteen　lawyers　all　told。　Ten　to　one　he　has　no　papers。　This　is　one　of　those　brotherly　acts　which　I　do　not　like。　You're　on　a　spot。　Sergeant。〃
　　〃Don't　scare　me　to　death。　If　he　has　no　papers　I'll　send　you　downtown　and　let　them　handle　it。〃
　　〃Yeah；〃　I　admitted；　〃that　would　let　you　out。　But　we　can　make　it　simpler　for　both　of　us　if　you　care　to。　Get　the　Westchester　DA　on　the　phone　and　let　me　talk　to　him。　I'll　even　pay　for　the　call。〃
　　At　first　he　didn't　like　the　idea　and　then　he　did。　I　think　what　changed　his　mind　was　the　chance　of　picking　up　a　piece