rs.inthebestfamelies-第17章

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ized　it。　It　was　sort　of　tired　and　hopeless。
　　〃You　don't　sound　like　you；〃　I　told　her。
　　〃I　suppose　not；〃　she　conceded。　〃It　seems　like　a　million　years　since　you　came　that　day　and　we　watched　you　being　a　detective。　You　never　found　out　who　poisoned　the　dog；　did　you？〃
　　〃No；　but　don't　hold　it　against　me。　I　wasn't　expected　to。　You　may　have　heard　that　that　was　just　a　blind。〃
　　〃Yes；　of　course。　I　don't　suppose　Nero　Wolfe　is　back？〃
　　〃Nope。〃
　　〃You're　running　his　office　for　him？〃
　　〃Well；　I　wouldn't　call　it　running。　I'm　here。〃
　　〃I　want　to　see　you。〃
　　〃Excuse　me　for　staring；　but　do　you　mean　on　business？〃
　　*Yes。〃　A　pause；　then　her　voice　got　more　energetic。　〃I　want　you　to　e　up　here　and　talk　with　us。　I　don't　want　to　go　on　like　this；　and　I'm　not　going　to。　When　people　look　at　me　I　can　see　it：　in　their　eyes…was　it　me　that　killed　my　mother…in…law？…or　in　some　of　them　I　can　see　it；　and　that　makes　me　think　it's　there　with　all　of　them。　It's　been　nearly　a　month　now；　and　all　the　police　are　doing…but　you　read　the　papers。　She　left　me　this　place　and　a　lot　of　money；　and　I　wish　I　could　hire　Nero　Wolfe。　You　must　know　where　he　is。〃
　　〃Sorry。　I　don't。〃
　　〃Then　I　want　to　hire　you。　You're　a　good　detective；　aren't　you？〃
　　〃Opinions　vary。　I　rate　myself　close　to　the　top；　but　you　have　to　discount　that　for　my　bias。〃
　　〃Could　you　e　up　here　today？　This　evening？〃
　　〃I　couldn't　make　it　today。〃　My　brain　was　having　some　exercise　for　the　first　time　in　weeks。　〃Look；　Mrs。　Frey；　I　wouldn't　be　in　a　hurry　about　this。　There's…〃
　　〃A　hurry？〃　She　sounded　bitter。　〃It's　been　nearly　a　month！〃
　　〃I　know；　and　that's　why　another　few　days　won't　matter。　There's　nothing　fresh　about　it；　to　get　stale。　Why　don't　you　do　this；　let　me　do　a　little　looking　around；　just　on　my　own；　and　then　you'll　hear　from　me。　After　that　you　can　decide　whether　you　want　to　hire　me　or　not。〃
　　〃I've　already　decided。〃
　　〃I　haven't。　I　don't　want　your　dough　if　there's　no　chance　of　earning　it。〃
　　Since　her　mind　had　been　made　up　before　she　called　me；　she　didn't　like　it　my　way　but　finally　settled　for　it。
　　I　discovered　when　I　hung　up　that　my　mind　was　made　up　too。　It　had　made　itself　up　while　I　was　talking　to　her。　I　couldn't　go　on　like　this　forever；　nothing　but　a　damn　caretaker　with　no　telling　from　day　to　day　how　long　it　might　last。　Nor　could　I；　while　drawing　pay　as　Wolfe's　assistant；　take　a　boat　for　Europe　or　run　for　Mayor　of　New　York　or　buy　an　island　and　build　up　a　harem；　or　any　of　the　other　things　on　my　deferred　list；　and　certainly；　while　taking　his　pay；　I　couldn't　personally　butt　into　a　case　that　he　had　run　away　from。
　　But　there　was　nothing　to　prevent　me　from　taking　advantage　of　the　gratitude　that　was　still　felt；　even　after　paying　the　fee；　by　certain　former　clients　of　ours；　and　I　took　up　the　phone　again　and　got　the　president　of　one　of　the　big　realty　outfits；　and　was　glad　to　leam　that　I　hadn't　overestimated　his　gratitude。　When　I　had　explained　my　problem　he　said　he　would　do　all　he　could　to　help；　starting　right　then。
　　So　I　spent　the　afternoon　looking　at　offices　in　the　midtown　section。　All　I　wanted　was　one　little　room　with　a　light　that　worked；　but　the　man　that　the　realty　president　sent　to　go　around　with　me　was　more　particular　than　I　was；　and　he　turned　his　nose　up　at　two　or　three　that　I　would　have　bought。　We　finally　got　to　one　on　Madison　Avenue；　tenth　floor；　in　the　forties；　which　he　admitted　might　do。　It　wouldn't　be　vacated　until　the　next　day；　but　that　didn't　matter　much　because　I　still　had　to　buy　furniture。　I　was　allowed　to　sign　for　it　on　a　month…to…month　basis。
　　The　next　couple　of　days　I　had　to　keep　myself　under　control。　I　had　never　been　aware　of　any　secret　longing　to　have　my　own　agency；　but　I　had　to　choke　off　an　impulse　to　drop　in　at　Macgruder's　Thursday　morning　and　blow　a　couple　of　thousand　of　my　own　jack　on　office　equipment。　Instead；　I　went　to　Second　Avenue　and　found　bargains。　Having　decided　not　to　take　anything　from　35th　Street；　I　made　up　a　shopping　list　of　about　forty　items；　from　ash　trays　to　a　Moorhead's　Directory；　and　shot　the　works。
　　Late　Saturday　afternoon；　with　a　package　under　my　arm；　I　emerged　from　the　elevator；　went　down　the　hall　to　the　door　of　1019；　and　backed　off　to　give　it　a　look。
　　ARCHIE　GOODWIN
　　Private　Detective
　　
　　Not　bad　at　all；　I　thought；　unlocking　the　door　and　entering。　I　had　considered　having　the　painter　put　beneath　it　〃By　Appointment　Only；〃　to　keep　the　crowd　down；　but　decided　to　save　the　extra　three　bucks。　I　put　my　package　on　the　desk；　unwrapped　it；　and　inspected　my　new　letterheads　and　envelopes。　The　type　of　my　name　was　a　little　too　bold；　maybe；　but　otherwise　it　was　pretty　neat。　I　uncovered　the　typewriter；　a　rebuilt　Underwood　that　had　set　me　back　62。75；　inserted　one　of　the　letterheads；　and　wrote：
　　Dear　Mrs。　Frey：
　　If　you　still　feel　as　you　did　when　you　phoned　me　on　Wednesday；　I　would　be　glad　to　call　on　you　to　discuss　the　situation；　with　the　understanding　that　I　shall　he　representing　no　one　but　myself。
　　My　new　business　address　and　phone　number　are　above。　Ring　me　or　write　if　you　wish　me　to　e。
　　Sincerely；　AG：hs
　　
　　I　read　it　over　and　signed　it。　It　looked　businesslike；　I　thought；　with　the　regulation　initialing　at　the　bottom；　the　〃hs〃　being　for　〃himself。〃　When　I　left；　after　putting　the　stationery　in　a　drawer　and　getting　things　in　order　for　the　rush　of　business　on　Monday　morning；　I　dropped　the　envelope　in　the　mail　chute。　I　was　doing　it　that　way；　instead　of　phoning　her；　for　three　rea　sons：　if　she　had　changed　her　mind　she　could　just　ignore　it；　I　had　a　date；　purely　personal；　for　the　weekend；　and　I　had　drawn　myself　a　salary　check；　the　last　one；　for　that　week。　On　my　way　home　I　made　a　detour　to　54th　Street；　to　tell　Marko　Vukcic　what　I　had　done；　because　I　thought　he　should　be　the　first　to　know。
　　He　made　it　not　only　plain　but　emphatic　that　he　disapproved。　I　told　him；　〃Experience　tells　me　that　pants　wear　out　quicker　sitting　down　than　moving　around。　Intelligence　tells　me　that　it's　better　to　wait　till　you　die　to　start　to　rot。　I　would　appreciate　it　if　you　will　convey　that　to　him　next　time　you　write　him　or　phone　him。〃
　　〃You　know　perfectly　good；　Archie；　that…〃
　　〃Not　perfectly　good。　Perfectly　well。〃
　　〃You　know　that　I　have　said　nothing；　but　nothing；　that　might　make　you　think　I　can　write　him　or　phone　him。〃
　　〃You　didn't　need　to。　I　know　it's　not　your　fault；　but　where　does　it　leave　me？　Let　me　know　any　time　you　get　a　buyer　for　the　house；　and　I'll　move　out。〃
　　I　left　him　still　wanting　to　argue。
　　I　was　not　kidding　myself　that　I　had　really　cut　loose；　since　I　hadn't　moved　my　bed　out；　but　the　way　I　figured　it　a　caretaker　who　is　drawing　no　pay　has　a　right　to　a　room；　and　besides；　Fritz　was　still　sleeping　there　and　we　were　splitting　on　the　groceries　for　breakfast；　and　I　didn't　want　to　insult　either　him　or　my　stomach　by　breaking　that　up。
　　I　shall　now　have　to　specify　when　I　say　office…or；　better；　I'll　say　office　when　I　mean　Wolfe's　office；　and　when　I　mean　my　Madison　Avenue　suite　I'll　say　1019。　Monday　morning；　arriving　at　1019　a　little　after　ten；　I　rang　the　phoneanswering　service　and　was　told　that　there　had　been　no　calls；　and　then　dug　into　the　morning　mail；　which　consisted　of　a　folder　from　a　window…cleaning　outfit。　After　giving　it　full　consideration；　I　typed　notes　on　my　new　stationery　to　some　personal　friends；　and　an　official　letter　to　the　City　of　New　York　giving　notice　of　my　change　of　address　as　a　licensed　detective。　I　was　sitting　trying　to　think　who　else　I　might　write　to　when　the　phone　rang…my　first　ining　call。
　　I　picked　it　up　and　told　the　transmitter　plainly；　〃Archie　Goodwin's　office。〃
　　〃May　I　speak　to　Mr。　Goodwin；　please？〃
　　〃I'll　see　if　he's　in。　Who　is　calling；　please？〃
　　〃Mrs。　Frey。〃
　　〃Yes；　he's　in。　This　is　me。　You　got　my　note？〃
　　'It　came　this　morning。　I　don't　know　what　you　mean　about　represenimg　no　one　but　yourself。〃
　　〃I　guess　I　didn't　make　it　very　clear。　I　only　meant　I　wouldn't　be　acting　as　Nero　Wolfe's　assistant。　I'm　just　myself　now。〃
　　〃Oh。　Well…naturally；　if　you　don't　even　know　where　he　is。　Can　you　e　this　evening？〃
　　〃To　Birchvale？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃What　time？〃
　　〃Say　eight…thirty。〃
　　〃I'll　be　there。〃
　　You　can't　beat　that；　I　thought　to　myself　as　I　hung　up；　for　the　first　ining　call　to　a　new　office…making　a　deal　with　a　client　who　has　just　inherited　a　country　estate　and　a　million　monetary　units。　Then；　fearing　that　if　it　kept　up　like　that　I　might　get　swamped；　I　closed　the　office　for　the　day　and　headed　for　Sulka's　to　buy　a　tie。
　　
　　11
　　ON　MY　previous　visit　to　Birchvale　I　had　got　the　impression　that　Annabel　Frey　had　her　head　on　right　side　up；　and　her　conduct　that　Monday　evening　strengthened　it。　For　one　thing；　she　had　had　sense　enough　not　to　gather　that　bunch　around　a　dining　table　but　invite　them　for　half…past　eight。　With　the　kind　of　attitudes　and　emotions　that　were　crisscrossing　among　those　six　people；　an　attempt　to　feed　them　at　the　same　trough　would　have　resulted　in　an　acidosis　epidemic。
　　In　her　first　phone　call；　Wednesday；　she　had　indicated　that　it　was　not　a　tete…a…tete　she　had　in　mind；　so　I　was　expecting　to　find　pany；　probably　the　widower　and　the　cousin；　but　to　my　surprise　it　was　a　full　house。　They　were　all　there　when　I　was　shown　into　the　big　living　room。　Annabel　Frey；　as　hostess　there　now；　came　to　meet　me　and　gave　me　her　hand。　The　other　five　gave　me　nothing　but　dirty　looks。　I　saw　right　off　that　my　popularity　index　was　way　down；　so　I　merely　stood；　gave　them　a　cool　collective　greeting；　and　lifted　a　brow　at　my　hostess。
　　〃It's　not　you；　Goodwin；〃　the　politician　Pierce　assured　me；　but　in　a　raspy　tone。　〃It's　simply　the　strain　of　this　unbearable　situation。　We　haven't　been　all　together　like　this　since　that　terrible　night。〃　He　glared　at　Annabel。　〃It　was　a　mistake　to　get　us　here。〃
　　〃Then　why　did　you　e？〃　Barry　Rackham　demanded；　really　nasty。　〃Because　you　were　afraid　not　to；　like　the　rest　of　us。　We　all　hated　to　e；　but　we　were　all　afraid　to　stay　away；　A　bunch　of　cowards…except　one；　of　course。
　　You　can't　blame　that　one　for　ing。〃
　　〃Nonsense；〃　said　Dana　Hammond；　the　banker。　The　look　he　was　giving　Rackham　was　just　the　opposite　of　the　kind　of　look　a　banker　is　supposed　to　give　a　millionaire。　〃It　has　nothing　to　do　with　cowardice。　Not　with　me。　By　circumstances　beyond　my　control　I　am　forced　into　an　association　that　is　hateful　to　me。〃
　　〃Have　they；〃　Lina　Darrow　asked　him　sweetly；　〃finished　with　the　audit　of　your　department？〃
　　〃They　haven't　finished　anything；〃　Calvin　Leeds　growled；　and　I　didn't　know　he　was　aiming　at　her　until　he　went　on。　〃Not　even　with　wondering　what　you　see　in　Barry　Rackham　all　of　a　sudden…if　it　is　sudden。〃
　　Rackham　was　out　of　his　chair；　moving　toward　Leeds；　snarling；　〃You　can　eat　that；　Cal；　or…〃
　　〃Oh；　stop　it！〃　Annabel　stepped　to　head　Rackham　off。　She　whirled；　taking　them　in。　〃My　God；　isn't　it　bad　enough　without　this？〃　She　appealed　to　me。　〃I　didn't　know　this　was　how　it　would　be！〃　To　Rackham；　〃Sit　down；　Barry！〃
　　Rackham　backed　up　and　sat。　Lina　Darrow；　who　had　been　standing；　went　and　stretched　out　on　a　couch；　detaching　herself。　The　others　stayed　put；　with　Annabel　and　me　on　our　feet。　I　have　had　plenty　of　contacts　with　groups　of　people；　all　kinds；　who　have　suddenly　had　a　murder　explode　among　them；　but　I　don't　think　I