rs.inthebestfamelies-第14章

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；　Fritz　1：35　PM
　　
　　I　was　pleased　to　observe　that　he　stuck　to　routine　to　the　end；　putting　the　time　down。　Also　it　was　nice　of　him　to　end　his　note　to　me　the　same　as　Wolfe　had　ended　his。　Nevertheless；　it　was　a　discouraging　wele　home　after　a　night　in　the　hoosegow。　And　there　had　been　a　period　of　more　than　five　hours　when　any　phone　calls　that　might　have　e　would　not　have　been　answered；　something　that　had　never　happened　before　in　all　the　years　I　had　worked　and　lived　there。　Unless　Theodore　。　。　。
　　I　beat　it　to　the　stairs　and　up　the　three　flights；　and　entered　the　plant　rooMs。One　step　inside　the　first　room；　the　warm　one；　I　stopped　and　surveyed。　It　was　more　of　a　shock；　somehow；　than　it　had　been　a　year　ago　when　it　had　been　used　as　a　target　for　tommy　guns　from　across　the　street。　Then　they　had　at　least　left　a　mess；　now　there　was　nothing　but　the　benches　and　stands。　It　really　got　me　for　a　minute。　I　moved　on　through：　medium　room；　cool　room；　potting　room；　spray　chamber；　Theodore's　room…all　empty。　Hewitt　must　have　sent　an　army　to　dean　all　that　out　in　one　day；　I　thought；　heading　back　downstairs。
　　In　the　kitchen　was　another　longer　note　from　Fritz；　reporting　phone　calls　that　had　e　before　he　left　and　various　minor　matters。　I　opened　the　refrigerator　and　poked　around；　and　settled　for　a　jar　of　home…made　pate；　a　hunk　of　Italian　bread；　Vermont　cheese；　and　milk。　As　I　sat　working　at　it　with　an　evening　paper　propped　up　before　me；　I　kept　listening　for　something…nothing　in　particular；　just　something。　That　had　never　been　a　noisy　house；　hut　I　had　never　known　it　anything　like　that　quiet。　Almost　no　cars　went　by；　and　the　few　that　did　must　have　been　coasting　in　neutral。
　　My　meal　finished　and　things　put　away；　I　wandered　into　the　dining　room；　office；　front　room；　down　to　the　basement　to　Fritz's　room；　up　one　flight　to　Wolfe's　room；　up　another　to　my　room。　As　I　undressed　for　my　post…jail　bath；　I　thought　that　the　hell　of　it　wasn't　how　I　felt；　but　that　I　didn't　know　how　to　feel。　If　I　had　actually　seen　the　last　of　Nero　Wolfe；　it　was　a　damn　sad　day　for　me；　there　were　no　two　ways　about　that；　and　if　I　got　a　lump　in　my　throat　and　somebody　walked　in　I　would　just　as　soon　show　him　the　lump　as　not。
　　But　what　if　it　was　Wolfe　himself　who　walked　in？　That　was　the　trouble。
　　Damned　if　I　was　going　to　work　up　a　fancy　lump　and　then　have　him　suddenly　appear　and　start　crabbing　about　something。
　　After　I　had　bathed　and　shaved　and　got　into　clean　pajamas；　and　answered　a　couple　of　phone　calls　from　journalists；　and　moseyed　down　to　the　office　and　fooled　around　a　while；　someone　did　walk　in。　When　I　heard　the　front　door　open　I　made　for　the　hall　as　if　I　had　been　expecting　another　package　of　sausage；　and　there　was　Fritz。　He　turned　from　closing　the　door；　saw　me；　and　beamed。
　　〃Ah！　Archie！　You　escaped？〃
　　〃I'm　out　on　bail。〃　He　seemed　to　want　to　shake　hands；　and　I　was　willing。
　　〃Thanks　for　your　note。　How's　the　new　job？〃
　　〃Terrible。　I'm　played　up。　Mr。　Wolfe？〃
　　〃I　know　nothing　about　Mr。　Wolfe。　I　ate　half　a　jar　of　pate。〃
　　He　stopped　beaming。　〃Mr。　Vukcic　is　going　to　sell　this　house。〃
　　〃He's　going　to　offer　it　for　sale；　which　is　not　the　same　thing。〃
　　〃Perhaps　not。〃　He　sighed。　〃I'm　tired。　Mr。　Vukcic　said　there　is　no　reason　why　I　should　not　sleep　here　but　I　should　ask　you。　It　would　be　good　for　me…I　am　so　used　to　that　room　。　。　。〃
　　〃Certainly。　I'm　used　to　mine　too。　I'm　going　to　sleep　here　until　further　notice。〃
　　〃Good。〃　He　started　for　the　kitchen；　stopped；　and　turned。　〃Are　you　going　to　look　for　him？〃
　　〃No！〃　Hearing　myself　shout；　it　seemed　a　relief　and　I　did　it　again。　〃I　am　not！〃　I　went　to　the　stairs　and　started　up。　〃Good　night。〃
　　〃Good　night；　Archie。〃
　　I　was　on　the　first　landing　when　his　voice　came。　〃I'll　get　your　breakfast！　I　don't　have　to　leave　until　ten！〃
　　〃Swell！〃　I　called　back。　〃We'll　never　miss　him！〃
　　The　next　day；　Tuesday；　I　had　no　time　to　raise　a　lump。　There　were　dozens　of　phone　calls；　from　newspapers；　former　clients；　friends；　and　miscellaneous。
　　One　was　from　Calvin　Leeds；　asking　me　to　go　up　there　to　see　him；　and　I　told　him　I　had　had　enough　of　Westchester　for　a　while。　When　he　insisted；　I　agreed　to　receive　him　at　the　office　at　two　o'clock。　I　took　advantage　of　another　call；　from　Lon　Cohen　at　the　Gazette；　to　ask　about　my　recent　cellmate；　Max　Christy。　Lon　asked　why　I　wanted　to　know。　Lon　is　a　good　guy；　but　no　newspaperman　on　earth　can　answer　the　simplest　question　without　asking　you　one　first；　and　more　if　possible。
　　〃Just　curious；〃　I　told　him。　〃I　met　him　in　jail　over　the　weekend；　and　thought　he　was　charming。　I　don't　want　a　biography；　just　a　line　or　two。〃
　　〃For　quotation？〃
　　〃No。〃
　　〃Right。　He's　paratively　new　to　this　section；　but　he's　a　fast　mover。　Not　really　big　yet。　As　far　as　I　know；　the　only　thing　he's　close　to　right　in　town　is　a　string　of　rooms　for　transients。　He　seems　to　be　specializing　on　little　weekend　roundups　in　the　suburbs。〃
　　〃Just　games；　or　women；　or　what？〃
　　〃Anything　men　risk　money　for。　Or　pay　it　for。　I　have　heard　that　he　is　seen　around　sometimes　with　Brownie　Costigan。　How　curious　are　you？　Is　it　worth　a　steak？　Or　is　it　worth　a　phone　number　or　address　where　I　can　reach　Nero　Wolfe？〃
　　By　that　time　I　had　abandoned　the　idea　of　selling　anyone；　even　Lon　Cohen；　the　idea　that　I　ever　told　the　truth；　so　I　thanked　him　and　hung　up。
　　A　couple　of　checks　in　the　morning　mail；　one　from　a　man　who　was　paying　in　installments　for　having　a　blackmailer　removed　from　his　throat；　were　no　problem；　since　there　was　a　rubber　stamp　for　endorsing　them；　but　in　order　to　pay　three　bills　that　came　in　I　had　to　make　a　trip　to　54th　Street　to　see　if　the　formalities　about　Marko's　power　of　attorney　had　been　attended　to。　They　had；　by　Parker；　and　I　was　glad　to　see　that　Marko　signed　the　checks　on　my　say…so；　without　looking　at　the　bills。　If　he　had　started　auditing　on　me　I　swear　to　God　I　would　have　moved　out　and　got　a　hotel　room。
　　There　were　other　chores；　such　as　phoning　Hewitt's　place　on　Long　Island　to　ask　if　the　plants　and　Theodore　had　arrived　safely；　making　arrangements　with　a　phone…answering　service；　handling　a　report　from　Fred　Durkin　on　a　poison…letter　job　that　was　the　main　item　of　unfinished　business；　and　so　on；　but　I　managed　to　have　them　all　under　control　when　two　o'clock　came　and　brought　Calvin　Leeds。
　　When　I　went　to　let　him　in　and　took　him　to　the　office；　there　was　a　problem。
　　Should　I　sit　at　my　desk　or　at　Wolfe's？　On　the　one　hand；　I　was　not　Wolfe　and　had　no　intention　of　trying　to　be。　On　the　other　hand；　when　a　pinch…hitter　is　called　on　he　stands　at　the　plate　to　bat；　not　off　to　one　side。　Also　it　would　be　interesting　to　see；　from　Wolfe's　position；　what　the　light　was　like　on　the　face　of　a　man　sitting　in　the　red　leather　chair。　So　again；　this　time　intentionally；　I　sat　behind　Wolfe's　desk。
　　〃I　came　here　to　get　an　explanation；〃　Leeds　said；　〃and　I'm　going　to　get　it。〃
　　He　looked　as　if　he　could　stand　a　dose　of　something…if　not　an　explanation；　then　maybe　castor　oil。　The　hide　of　his　face　still　looked　tough　and　weathered；　or　rather　as　if　it　had　been　but　someone　had　soaked　it　in　something　to　make　it　stretch　and　get　saggy。　His　eyes　looked　determined；　but　not　clear　and　alert　as　before。　No　one　would　have　guessed　that　he　had　just　inherited　half　a　million　bucks；　and　not　from　a　dearly　beloved　wife　or　sister　but　merely　a　cousin。
　　Something　like　a　million　times　I　had　seen　Wolfe；　faced　with　a　belligerent　statement　from　a　caller；　lean　back　and　close　his　eyes。　I　thought　I　might　as　well　try　it；　and　did　so。　But　the　springs　which　let　the　chair's　back　slant　to　the　rear　were　carefully　adjusted　to　the　pressure　of　Wolfe's　poundage；　not　mine；　and　I　had　to　keep　pushing　to　maintain　the　damn　thing　in　the　leaning　position。
　　〃A　man　who　es　forty　miles　for　an　explanation；〃　I　said；　with　my　eyes　closed；　〃is　entitled　to　one。　What　needs　explaining？〃
　　〃Nero　Wolfe's　behavior　does；〃
　　〃That's　nothing　new。〃　It　was　too　much　of　a　strain　keeping　the　chair　back　in　a　leaning　position；　and　I　straightened　up。　〃It　often　has。　But　that's　not　my　department。〃
　　〃I　want　to　see　him。〃
　　〃So　do　I。〃
　　〃You're　a　liar；　Goodwin。〃
　　I　shook　my　head；　my　lips　tight。　〃You　know；〃　I　said；　〃I　have　probably　told　as　many　lies　as　any　man　my　age　except　psychos。　But　I　have　never　been　called　a　liar　as　frequently　as　in　the　past　twenty…four　hours；　and　I　have　never　stuck　so　close　to　the　truth。　To　hell　with　it。　Mr。　Wolfe　has　gone　south　to　train　with　the　Dodgers。　He　will　play　shortstop。〃
　　〃That　won't　help　any；〃　Leeds　said；　patient　but　determined；　〃that　kind　of　talk。　If　you　don't　like　being　called　a　liar；　neither　do　I；　and　the　difference　is　that　I'm　not。　The　District　Attorney　says　I'm　lying；　because　Nero　Wolfe　has　suddenly　disappeared；　and　he　disappeared　because　he　doesn't　dare　answer　questions　about　my　cousin　Sarah's　visit　to　him　here；　and　that　proves　that　your　report　of　that　visit　is　false；　and　since　my　report　is　the　same　as　yours　mine　is　false　too。　Now　that　sounds　logical；　but　there's　a　flaw　in　it。　The　flaw　is　their　assumption　that　his　disappearance　was　connected　with　my　cousin's　visit。　I　knew　it　couldn't　have　been；　because　there　was　nothing　about　our　talk　that　day　that　could　possibly　have　had　such　a　result。　I　have　told　them　that；　and　they　think　I'm　lying。　As　long　as　they　think　I'm　lying；　and　you　too；　they'll　have　their　minds　on　that　and　they　won't　find　out　who　killed　my　cousin　and　why…and　anyway；　I　don't　want　to　be　suspected　of　lying　when　I'm　not；　especially　not　in　connection　with　the　murder　of　my　cousin。〃
　　Leeds　paused　for　breath　and　went　on；　〃There's　only　one　way　out　that　I　can　see；　and　that's　for　you　to　tell　them　the　real　reason　for　Wolfe's　disappearance…or；　better　still；　he　ought　to　tell　them　himself。　I　want　you　to　put　this　up　to　him。　Even　if　his　own　safety　is　involved；　he　ought　to　manage　somehow。　If　it　was　something　about　some　client　that　made　him　disappear；　in　the　interest　of　some　client；　then　you　can　tell　him　from　me　that　I　saw　him　take　a　check　from　my　cousin　for　ten　thousand　dollars　and　it　seems　to　me　he's　under　obligation　to　her　as　much　as　any　other　client；　to　protect　her　interests；　and　it　surely　isn't　in　her　interest　to　have　suspicion　centered　in　the　wrong　place　about　who　killed　her…and　killed　her　dog　too。〃　His　jaw　quivered　a　little；　and　he　clamped　it　tight。
　　〃Do　you　mean；〃　I　inquired；　〃that　suspicion　is　centered　on　you？　How　e？〃
　　〃Not　on　me　as…as　a　murderer；　I　don't　suppose　so；　but　on　me　as　a　liar；　and　you　and　Wolfe。　Even　though　she　left　me　a　great　deal　of　money…I'm　not　thinking　about　being　arrested　for　murder。〃
　　〃Who　do　you　think　ought　to　be？〃
　　〃I　don't　know。〃　He　gestured。　〃You're　trying　to　change　the　subject。　It's　not　a　question　of　me　and　what　I　think；　it's　you　and　what　you're　going　to　do。　From　what　I've　heard　of　Wolfe；　I　doubt　if　it　would　help　for　you　to　tell　him　what　I've　said；　I've　got　to　see　him　and　tell　him　myself。　If　he　has　really　got　to　hide　from　somebody　or　something；　do　it　however　you　want　to。　Blindfold　me　and　put　me　face　down　in　your　car。　I've　got　to　see　him。　My　cousin　would　have　wanted　me　to；　and　he　took　her　money。〃
　　I　was　half　glad　there　for　a　moment　that　I　did　not　know　where　Wolfe　was。　I　had　no　admiration　for　Leed's　preference　in　pets；　since　I　would　put　a　woman　ahead　of　a　Doberman　pinscher　any　day；　and　there　was　room　for　impro