rs.inthebestfamelies-第21章

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　in　it　too；　but　without　luck　no　man　can　keep　himself　alive；　let　alone　prevail　over　an　Arnold　Zeck。〃
　　〃So　then　Los　Angeles　was　too　hot　for　you。〃
　　〃It　was　not。　But　I　was　ready　to　return　east；　both　physically　and　psychologically；　and　knowing　that　inquiries　sent　to　Los　Angeles　would　get　a　sarisfactory　response。　I　arrived　on　July　twelfth。　You　remember　that　I　once　spoke　of　Arnold　Zeck；　calling　him　X；　to　the　Spelling　family？〃
　　〃I　do。〃
　　〃And　I　described　brieQy　the　echelons　of　crime。　First；　the　criminal　himself　…or　gang。　In　the　problem　of　disposal　of　the　loot；　or　of　protection　against　discovery　and　prosecution；　he　can　seldom　avoid　dealing　with　others。　He　will　need　a　fence；　a　lawyer；　witnesses　for　an　alibi；　a　channel　to　police　or　political　influence…no　matter　what；　he　nearly　always　needs　someone　or　something。　He　goes　to　one　he　knows；　or　knows　about；　one　named　A。　A；　finding　a　little　difficulty；　consults　B。　B　may　be　able　to　handle　it；　if　not；　he　takes　it　on　to　C。　C　is　usually　able　to　oblige；　but　when　he　isn't　he　municates　with　D。　Here　we　are　getting　close。　D　has　access　to　Arnold　Zeck；　not　only　for　the　purpose　described；　but　also　in　connection　with　one　or　more　of　the　enterprises　which　Zeck　controls。〃
　　Wolfe　tapped　his　chest　with　a　forefinger；　a　gesture　I　had　never　before　seen　him　use；　acquired　evidently　along　with　his　pleats　and　whiskers。　〃I　am　a　D；　Archie。〃
　　〃Congratulations。〃
　　〃Thank　you。　Having　earned　them；　I　accept　them。　Look　at　me。〃
　　〃Yeah；　I　am。　Wait　till　Fritz　sees　you。〃
　　〃If　he　ever　does；〃　Wolfe　said　grimly。　〃We　have　a　chance；　and　that's　all。　If　all　we　needed　were　evidence　of　Zeck's　plicity　in　felonies；　there　would　be　no　problem；　I　know　where　it　is　and　I　could　get　it。　But　his　defenses　are　everywhere；　making　him　next　to　invulnerable。　It　would　be　fatuous　to　suppose　that　he　could　ever　be　convicted；　and　even　if　he　were；　he　would　still　be　living；　so　that　wouldn't　help　any。　Now　that　I　am　mitted　against　him；　and　he　knows　it；　there　are　only　two　possible　outes…〃
　　〃How　does　he　know　it？〃
　　〃He　knows　me。　Knowing　me；　he　knows　that　I　intend　to　get　the　murderer　of　Mrs。　Rackham。　He　intends　to　prevent　me。　Neither…〃
　　〃Wait　a　minute。　Admitting　he　knows　that　about　Nero　Wolfe；　what　about　you　as　Roeder？　You　say　you're　a　D。　Then　you're　on　Zeck's　payroll。〃
　　〃Not　on　his　payroll。　I　have　been　placed　in　charge　of　the　operation　here　of　the　device　which　I　conceived　and　used　in　Los　Angeles。　My　handling　of　it　has　so　impressed　him　that　I　am　being　trusted　with　other　responsibilities。〃
　　〃And　Max　Christy　and　that　driver　downstairs…they're　Zeck　men？〃
　　〃Yes…at　a　distance。〃
　　〃Then　how　e　salting　Barry　Rackham？　Wasn't　it　Zeck　money　that　Rackham　was　getting？〃
　　Wolfe　sighed。　〃Archie；　if　we　had　more　dme　I　would　let　you　go　on　and　on。　I　could　shut　my　eyes　and　pretend　I'm　back　home。〃　He　shook　his　head　vigorously。　〃But　we　must　get　down　to　business。　I　said　that　driver　is　a　Zeck　man　at　a　distance；　but　that　is　mere　surmise。　Being　new　and　by　no　means　firmly　established　in　confidence；　I　am　certainly　being　watched；　and　that　driver　might　even　report　to　Zeck　himself。　That　was　why　I　prolonged　our　talk　in　the　car　before　suggesting　that　we　e　here。　We　shouldn't　be　more　than　an　hour；　so　you'd　better　let　me…〃
　　He　stopped　as　I　grasped　the　knob　and　pulled　the　door　open。　I　had　tiptoed　across　to　it　as　he　talked。　Seeing　an　empty　hall　in　both　directions；　I　dosed　the　door　and　went　back　to　my　chair。
　　〃I　was　only　asking；〃　I　protested；　〃why　the　play　on　Rackham？〃
　　〃How　long；〃　Wolfe　asked；　〃have　you　and　I　spent；　there　in　the　office；　discussing　some　simple　affair　such　as　the　forging　of　a　check？〃
　　〃Oh；　anywhere　from　four　minutes　to　tour　hours。〃
　　〃Then　what　should　we　take　for　this？　By　the　way；　you　will　resume　drawing　your　pay　check　this　week。　How　much　have　you　taken　from　the　safe　deposit　box　in　New　Jersey？〃
　　〃Nothing…　Not　a　cent。〃
　　〃You　should　have。　That　was　put　there　for　the　express　purpose　of　financing　this　eventuality　if　it　arose。　You　have　been　using　your　personal　savings？〃
　　〃Only　to　buy　these　little　items。〃　I　waved　a　hand。　〃Put　it　back　long　ago。　I've　been　taking　it　easy；　so　my　ine　from　detective　work　has　only　been　a　little　more　than　double　what　you　were　paying　me。〃
　　〃I　don't　believe　it。〃
　　〃I　didn't　expect　you　to；　so　I'll　have　an　audit…〃　I　stopped。　〃What　the　hell'　My　vacation！〃
　　Wolfe　grunted。　〃If　we　get　Zeck　you　may　have　a　month。　If　he　gets　me…〃
　　He　grunted　again。　〃He　will；　confound　it；　if　we　don't　get　to　work。　You　asked　about　Rackham；　yes；　the　source　of　his　ine；　which　his　wife　asked　us　to　discover；　was　Zeck。　He　met　him　through　Calvin　Leeds。〃
　　I　raised　the　brows。　〃Leeds？〃
　　〃Don't　jump　to　conclusions。　Leeds　sold　dogs　to　Zeck；　two　of　them；　to　protect　his　house；　and　spent　a　week　there；　training　them　for　their　job。　Zeck　does　not　miss　an　opportunity。　He　used　Rackham　in　one　of　his　less　offensive　activities；　gambling　arrangements　for　people　with　too　much　money。　Then　when　Rackham　inherited　more　than　half　of　his　wife's　wealth　a　new　situation　developed；　it　was　already　developing　when　I　arrived　six　weeks　ago。　I　managed　to　get　informed　about　it。　Of　course　I　had　to　be　extremely　careful；　new　as　I　was；　but　on　the　other　hand　my　being　a　newer　was　an　advantage。　In　preparing　a　list　of　prospects　for　the　device　I　had　conceived；　a　man　in　Rackham's　position　was　an　eminently　suitable　candidate；　and　naturally　I　had　to　know　all　about　him。　That　placed　me　favorably　for　starting；　with　the　greatest　caution；　certain　speculations　and　suspicions；　and　I　got　it　to　the　point　where　it　seemed　desirable　to　put　him　under　surveillance。　Luckily　I　didn't　have　to　introduce　your　name；　your　enlistment　had　previously　been　considered；　on　a　suggestion　by　Max　Christy。　I　was　ready　for　you　anyhow…I　had　gone　as　far　as　I　could　without　you…and　that　made　it　easier。　I　wouldn't　have　dared　to　risk　naming　you　myself；　and　was　planning　accordingly；　but　it's　vastly　better　this　way。〃
　　〃Am　I　to　proceed？　Get　Saul　and　Orrie　and　Fred？　Tail　Rackham？〃
　　Wolfe　looked　at　his　wrist。　His　charade　was　certainly　teaching　him　new　tricks。　In　all　my　years　with　him　he　had　never　sported　a　watch；　and　here　he　was　glancing　at　his　wrist　as　if　born　to　it。　The　way　that　wrist　had　been；　normal；　it　would　have　required　a　custom…made　strap。
　　〃I　told　that　man　an　hour　or　more；〃　he　said；　〃but　we　shouldn't　be　that　long。　A　minim　of　cause　for　suspicion　and　I'm　through。　Nothing　is　too　fantastic　for　them；　they　could　even　learn　if　we've　been　using　the　phone。　Confound　it；　I　must　have　hours　with　you。〃
　　〃Ditch　him　and　we'll　meet　somewhere。〃　〃Impossible。　No　place　would　be　safe…except　one。　There　is　only　one　circumstance　under　which　any　man　is　granted　the　right　to　an　extended　period　of　undisturbed　privacy；　either　by　deliberation　or　on　impulse。　We　need　a　woman。　You　know　all　kinds。〃
　　〃Not　all　kinds；〃　I　objected；　〃I　do　draw　the　line。　What　kind　do　we　need？〃
　　〃Fairly　young；　attractive；　a　little　wanton　in　appearance；　utterly　devoted　to　you　and　utterly　trustworthy；　and　not　a　fool。〃
　　〃My　God；　if　I　knew　where　to　find　one　like　that　I'd　have　been　married　long　ago。　Also　I　would　be　bragging…〃
　　〃Archie；〃　he　snapped。　〃If　after　all　your　promiscuous　philandering　you　can't　produce　a　woman　to　those　specifications；　I've　misjudged　you。　It's　risky　to　trust　anyone　at　all；　but　any　other　way　would　be　still　riskier。〃
　　I　had　my　lips　puckered。　〃Ruth　Brady？〃
　　〃No。　She's　an　operative；　and　known。　Out　of　the　question。〃
　　〃There's　one　who　might　take　this　as　a　substitute　for　a　trip　to　Norway；　which　is　now　out。　I　could　ask　her。〃
　　〃What's　her　name？〃
　　〃You　know。　Lily　Rowan。〃
　　He　made　a　face。　〃She　is　rich；　intemperate；　and　notorious。〃
　　〃Nuts。　She　is　well…heeled　and　playful。　You　remember　the　time　she　helped　out　with　an　upstate　murderer。　I　have　no　further　suggestions。　Do　I　phone　her？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃And　tell　her　what？〃
　　He　explained　in　some　detail。　When　he　had　answered　my　three　or　four　questions；　and　filed　my　objection　by　asking　if　I　had　something　better　to　offer；　I　pulled　the　phone　to　me　and　dialed　a　number。　No　answer。　I　tried　the　Troubadour　Room　of　the　Churchill；　she　wasn't　there。　Next　in　order　of　priority　was　the　Flamingo　Club。　That　found　her。　Asked　my　name；　I　said　to　tell　her　it　was　Escamillo；　though　she　hadn't　called　me　that　for　quite　a　while。
　　After　a　wait　her　voice　came。　〃Archie？　Really？〃
　　〃I　prefer　Escamillo；〃　I　said　firmly。　〃It's　a　question　of　security。　How　high　are　you？〃
　　〃e　and　find　out；　I'm　tired　of　the　people　I'm　with；　anyhow。　Listen；　I'll　wander　out　and　meet　you　in　front　and　we'll　go…〃
　　〃We　will　not。　I'm　working；　and　I'm　on　a　spot；　and　I　need　help。　You're　Just　the　type　for　it；　and　I　pay　a　dollar　an　hour　if　you　give　satisfaction。　I'm　offering　you　a　brand　new　thrill。　You　have　never　earned　a　nickel　in　your　life；　and　here's　your　chance。　What　mood　are　you　in？〃
　　〃I'm　bored　as　the　devil；　but　all　I　need　is　six　dances　with　you　and…〃
　　〃Not　tonight；　my　colleen　donn。　Damn　it；　I'm　working。　Will　you　help？〃
　　〃When？〃
　　〃NOW。〃
　　〃Is　it　any　fun？〃
　　〃So…so。　Nothing　to　brag　of。〃
　　〃Are　you　ing　here　for　me？〃
　　〃No。　I'm　going…you　must　get　this　straight。　Now　listen。〃
　　〃That's　exactly　what　I　had　in　mind。　I　was　just　telling　myself；　Lily；　my　precious；　if　he　starts　talking　you　must　listen；　because　he　is　very　shy　and　sensitive　and　therefore…did　you　say　something？〃
　　〃I　said　shut　up。　I'm　at　my　office。　A　roan　is　here　with　me。　We'll　leave　as　soon　as　I　hang　up。　I'll　go　alone　to　your　place　and　wait　for　you　outside　your　door。　The　man…〃
　　*'You　won't　have　to　wait。　I　can　make　it…〃
　　〃Shut　up；　please。　Your　first　hour　has　started；　so　this　is　on　my　time。　The　man　with　me　has　a　car　with　a　driver　parked　down　in　front。　He　will　be　driven　to　the　Flamingo　Club　and　stop　at　the　curb；　and　you　will　be　waiting　there　in　front；　and　when　he　opens　the　door　you　will　climb　in；　not　waiting　for　him　to　get　out　like　a　gentleman；　because　he　won't。　You　will　not　speak　to　the　driver；　who；　when　you're　inside；　will　proceed　to　your　address；　where　you　and　the　man　will　find　me　waiting　at　your　door。〃
　　〃Unless　I　get　in　the　wrong　car；　and…〃
　　〃I'm　telling　you。　It's　a　dark　gray　forty…eight　Chewy　two…door　sedan。　New　York　license　OA　six；　seven；　one；　one；　three。　Got　that？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃I'll　make　it　a　dollar　ten　an　hour。　The　man　will　call　you　Lily；　and　you　will　call　him　Pete。　Joining　him　in　the　car　and　riding　up　to　your　place；　you　need　not　go　to　extremes；　but　it　is　important　for　the　driver　to　get　the　idea　that　you　are　mighty　glad　to　see　Pete　and　that　you　are　looking　forward　with　pleasure　to　the　next　several　hours　with　him。　But…〃
　　〃Is　it　a　reunion　after　a　long　absence？〃
　　〃I'll　make　it　a　dollar　twenty　an　hour。　I　was　about　to　say；　you　can　leave　it　vague　whether　you　last　saw　Pete　a　week　ago　or　two　months　ago。　You're　just　glad　to　be　with　him　because　you're　so　fond　of　him；　but　don't　get　thinking　you're　Paulette　Goddard　and　ham　it。　Do　it　right。　Pretend　it's　roe。　Which　brings　me　to　the　crux。　It's　going　to　be　an　ordeal　for　you。　Wait　till　you　see　Pete。〃
　　〃What's　the　matter　with　him？〃
　　〃Everything。　He's　old　enough　to　be　your　father　and　then　some。　He　has　whiskers；　turning　gray。　His　face　is　pleated。　You　will　have　to　fight　down　the　feeling　that　you're　having　a　nightmare；　and…〃