rs.inthebestfamelies-第22章

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　　〃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…〃
　　〃Archie！　It's　Nero　Wolfe！〃
　　Goddam　a　woman　anyhow。　There　was　absolutely　no　sense　or　reason　for　it。　My　brain　buzzed。　〃Sure；〃　I　said　admiringly。　〃You　do　it　with　mirrors。　If　it　was　him；　the　way　I　feel　about　him；　the　first　thing　I　would　do　would　be　to　get　him　a　date　with　you；　huh？　Okay；　then　don't　call　him　Pete；　call　him　Nero。〃
　　〃Then　who　is　it？〃
　　〃It's　a　man　named　Pete　Roeder；　and　I've　got　to　have　a　long　talk　with　him　that　won't　get　in　the　papers。〃
　　〃We　could　take　him　to　Norway。〃
　　〃Maybe。　We　have　to　discuss　Norway。　Give　me　a　ring　later　in　the　week　and　tell　me　how　you　feel　about　this　proposition。〃
　　〃I'll　be　out　on　the　sidewalk　in　ten　minutes；　less　than　that；　waiting　for　my　Pete。〃
　　〃No　public　announcement。〃
　　〃Certainly　not。〃
　　〃I'm　very　pleased　with　your　work　so　far。　We'll　have　to　get　you　a　social　security　number。　I'll　be　waiting　anxiously　at　your　door。〃
　　I　hung　up　and　told　Wolfe；　〃All　set。〃
　　Out　of　his　chair；　he　grunted。　〃You　overdid　it　a　little；　perhaps？　Nightmare；　for　instance？〃
　　〃Yes；　sir；〃　I　agreed。　〃I　get　too　enthusiastic。〃
　　I　glared　at　him；　and　he　glared　back。
　　
　　14
　　SINCE　I　do　not　intend　to　use　up　paper　reporting　the　five…hour　conference　I　had　with　Wolfe　that　night　in　Lily　Rowan's　living　room；　I　could　just　as　well　go　on　to　Wednesday　morning；　except　for　one　thing。　I　have　got　to　tell　about　their　arrival　at　the　door　of　Lily's　penthouse　apartment　on　East　63rd　Street。
　　Wolfe　didn't　speak　and　wouldn't　look　at　me。　Lily　shook　hands　with　me；　a　form　of　greeting　we　hadn't　used　for　I　don't　know　how　long；　then　unlocked　the　door；　and　we　entered。　When　her　wrap　and　Wolfe's　hat　had　been　disposed　of　and　we　passed　to　the　living　room；　she　tossed　her　firecracker。
　　〃Archie；〃　she　said；　〃I　knew　darned　well　that　something　would　happen　some　day　to　make　up　for　all　the　time　I've　wasted　on　you；　I　just　felt　it　would。〃
　　I　nodded。　〃Certainly。　You'll　show　a　profit　on　the　night　even　if　you　feed　us　sandwiches；　especially　since　Pete　is　a　light　eater。　He's　on　a　diet。〃
　　〃Oh；〃　she　said；　〃I　didn't　mean　money；　and　you　can　go　the　limit　on　sandwiches。　I　meant　the　distinction　you've　brought　me。　I'm　the　only　woman　in　America　who　has　necked　with　Nero　Wolfe。　Nightmare；　my　eye。　He　has　a　flair。〃
　　Wolfe；　who　had　seated　himself；　cocked　his　head　to　frown　at　her…a　firstrate　performance。
　　I　smiled　at　her。　〃I　told　Pete　what　you　said　on　the　phone；　and　he　was　flattered。　Okay；　woman　of　distinction。〃
　　She　shook　her　head。　〃Turn　loose；　my　brave　fellow。　I've　got　hold　of　it。〃
　　She　moved　to　Wolfe；　looking　down　at　him。　〃Don't　be　upset；　Pete。　I　wouldn't　have　known　you　from　Adam；　no　one　would；　that　wasn't　it。　It's　my　hero　here。　Archie's　an　awful　prude。　He　has　been　up　against　some　tough　ones；　lots　of　them；　and　not　once　has　he　ever　called　on　me　to　help。　Never！　A　proud　prude。　Suddenly　he　calls　me　away　from　revelry…I　might　have　been　reveling　for　all　he　knew…to　get　into　a　car　and　be　intimate　with　a　stranger。　There's　only　one　person　on　earth　he　would　do　that　for：　you。　So　if　I　was　pretty　ardent　in　the　car；　I　knew　what　I　was　doing。　And　don't　worry　about　me…whatever　you're　up　to；　my　lips　are　sealed。　Anyway；　to　me　you　will　always　be　Pete。　The　only　woman　in　America　who　has　necked　with　Nero　Wolfe…my　God；　I'll　treasure　it　forever。　Now　I'll　go　make　some　sandwiches。　What　kind　of　a　diet　are　you　on？〃
　　Wolfe　said　through　his　teeth；　〃I　care　for　nothing。〃
　　〃That　can't　be。　A　peach？　Grapes？　A　leaf　of　lettuce？〃
　　〃No！〃
　　〃A　glass　of　water？〃
　　〃Yes！〃
　　She　left　the　room；　leering　at　me　as　she　went　by。　In　a　moment　the　sound　of　her　movements　in　the　kitchen　came　faintly。
　　I　told　Wolfe　offensively；　〃It　was　you　who　said　we　needed　a　woman。〃
　　〃It　was　you　who　selected　her。〃
　　〃You　okayed　her。〃
　　〃It's　done；〃　he　said　bitterly。　〃So　are　we。　She'll　blab；　of　course。〃
　　〃There's　one　hope；〃　I　suggested。　〃Marry　her。　She　wouldn't　betray　her　own　husband。　And　apparently　in　that　one　short　ride　uptown　with　her…〃
　　I　stopped　abruptly。　The　face　as　a　whole　was　no　longer　his；　but　the　eyes　alone　were　enough　to　tell　me　when　I　had　gone　far　enough。
　　〃I'll　tell　you　what　I'll　do；〃　I　offered。　〃I　know　her　quite　well。　Two　things　that　could　conceivably　happen：　first；　you　might　go　to　Zeck　tomorrow　and　tell　him　who　you　are；　and　second。　Lily　might　spill　it　either　thoughtfully　or　thoughtlessly。　I'll　bet　you　ten　bucks　the　first　happens　as　soon　as　the　second。〃
　　He　growled。　〃She's　a　woman。〃
　　〃All　right；　bet　me。〃
　　The　bet　didn't　get　made。　Not　that　Wolfe　came　to　my　point　of　view　about　Lily　Rowan；　but　what　could　the　poor　son　of　a　gun　do？　He　couldn't　even　take　to　the　bushes　again　and　start　all　over。　From　that　point　on；　though；　up　to　the　end；　the　strain　was　ten　rimes　worse　for　him　than　for　me。　It　cramped　his　style　some　all　that　night；　after　Lily　had　gone　off　to　bed　and　we　talked　in　the　living　room　until　long　after　dawn。　At　six　o'clock　he　went。　Probably　it　would　then　have　been　safe　for　me　to　go　too；　since　if　they　were　enough　interested　in　him　to　have　posted　a　sentry　outside　the　building　he　would　almost　certainly　leave　when　Roeder　did；　but　probabilities　weren't　good　enough　now；　not　after　the　picture　Wolfe　had　given　me　and　the　program　he　had　drawn　up；　so　I　took　a　good　two…hour　nap　before　leaving　for　35th　Street　and　a　bath　and　breakfast。
　　At　ten　o'clock　I　was　at　1019；　starting　at　the　phone　to　get　hold　of　Saul　and　Orrie　and　Fred。
　　I　did　not　like　it　at　all。　The　way　Wolfe　was　getting　set　to　play　it；　it　looked　to　me　as　if　we　had　one　chance　in　a　thousand；　and　while　that　may　be　good　enough　to　go　ahead　on　when　what　you're　after　is　to　nail　a　guy　on　a　charge；　and　if　you　muff　it　the　worst　you　get　is　a　new　start　under　a　handicap；　it's　a　little　different　when　a　muff　means　curtains。　I　had　of　course　told　Wolfe　all　I　knew；　including　Inspector　Cramer's　visit　and　advice；　but　that　only　made　him　stubborner。　With　Zeck　on　Rackham's　tail；　through　me；　it　seemed　likely　that　the　murderer　of　Mrs。　Rackham　might　get　his　proper　voltage　with　Zeck's　blessing；　and　since　that　was　all　that　Wolfe　was　mitted　to；　why　not　settle　for　it？　For　now　anyway；　and　then　take　a　good　breath。　As　for　mitments；　I　had　one　of　my　own。　I　had　promised　myself　to　see　Norway　before　I　died。
　　So　I　didn't　like　it；　and　I　either　had　to　lump　it　or　bow　out。　I　tossed　a　coin：　heads　I　stick；　tails　I　quit。　It　landed　tails；　but　I　had　to　veto　it　because　I　had　already　talked　to　Orrie　Gather　and　he　was　ing　at　noon；　and　I　had　left　messages　for　Fred　Durkin　and　Saul　Panzer。　I　tossed　again；　tails　again。　I　tossed　once　more　and　it　was　heads；　which　settled　it。　I　had　to　stick。
　　The　tailing　of　Barry　Rackham　was　a　classic；　especially　after　the　first　week。
　　It　was　a　shame　to　waste　the　talents　of　Saul　Panzer　on　what　was　actually　a　burlesque；　but　it　was　good　to　have　him　around　anyhow。　I　briefed　them　all　together　at　1019；　Wednesday　evening；　with　Saul　perched　on　a　corner　of　the　desk　because　there　were　only　three　chairs。　Saul　was　undersized；　inconspicuous　all　but　his　nose；　and　the　best　all…round　man　alive。　Fred　Durkin　was　big　and　clumsy；　with　a　big　red　face；　with　no　Doberman　pinscher　in　him　but　plenty　of　bulldog。　Orrie　Gather　was　slender　and　muscular　and　handsome；　just　the　man　to　mingle　with　the　guests　at　a　swell　dinner　party　when　circumstances　called　for　it。　After　I　had　explained　the　job；　with　details　as　required；　I　supplied　a　little　background。
　　〃As　far　as　you　know；〃　I　told　them；　〃I'm　only　doing　this　for　practice。　Your　only　contact　is　me。　There　is　no　client。〃
　　〃Jesus；〃　Fred　remarked；　〃a　hundred　bucks　a　day　and　more　with　expenses？　I　guess　you　ought　to　pay　in　advance。〃
　　〃Take　it　up　with　the　NLRB；〃　I　said　stiffly。　〃As　an　employer；　I　do　not　invite　familiarities　from　the　help。〃
　　〃Of　course；〃　Orrie　stated　with　an　understanding　smile；　〃it's　just　a　coincidence　that　this　Rackham　was　with　you　once　at　the　scene　of　a　murder。　When　you　got　tossed　in　the　coop。〃
　　〃That's　irrelevant。　Let　us　stick　to　the　point；　gentlemen。　I　want　to　make　it　clear　that　I　do　not　actually　care　a　damn　where　Rackham　goes　or　what　he　does　or　who　he　sees。　You　are　to　hang　on　and　report　in　full；　since　that's　the　proper　way　to　handle　a　dry　run；　but　I　don't　want　anyone　to　get　hurt。　If　he　turns　on　you　and　starts　throwing　rocks；　dodge　and　run。　If　you　lose　him；　as　of　course　you　will；　don't　bark　your　shins　trying　to　hurdle。〃
　　〃You　ought　to　have　workmen's　pensation　insurance；〃　Fred　advised。
　　〃Then　we　could　be　serious　about　it。〃
　　〃Do　you　mean；〃　Saul　Panzer　asked；　〃that　the　purpose　is　to　get　on　his　nerves？〃
　　〃No。　Play　it　straight。　I　only　mean　it's　not　life　and　death…until　further　notice。〃　I　pushed　my　chair　back　and　got　up。　〃And　now　I　wish　to　prove　that　being　an　employer　hasn't　changed　me　any。　You　may　continue　to　call　me　Archie。　You　may　e　with　me　to　Thirty…fifth　Street；　where　we　will　find　a　poker　deck；　and　Fritz　will　make　five；　and　when　we　have　finished　I'll　lend　you　carfare　home。〃
　　For　the　record；　I　lost　twelve　dollars。　Saul　was　the　big　winner。　One　hand；　I　had　three　nines　and…but　I'd　better　get　on。
　　Rackham　was　living　at　the　Churchill；　in　an　air…conditioned　suite　in　the　tower。　During　the　first　week　we　piled　quite　a　biography　of　him。　He　never　stuck　his　nose　outside　before　one　o'clock；　and　once　not　until　four。
　　His　ports　of　call　included　two　banks；　a　law　office；　nine　bars；　two　clubs；　a　barber　shop；　seven　other　shops　and　stores；　three　restaurants；　three　theaters；　two　night　spots；　and　miscellaneous。　He　usually　ate　lunch　with　a　man　or　men；　and　dinner　with　a　woman。　Not　the　same　woman；　three　different　ones　during　the　week。　As　described　by　my　operatives；　they　were　a　credit　to　their　sex；　to　the　American　way　of　life；　and　to　the　International　Ladie's　Garment　Worker's　Union。
　　I　took　on　a　little　of　it　myself；　but　mostly　I　left　it　to　the　help。　Not　that　I　loafed。　There　were　quite　a　few　hours　with　Lily　Rowan；　off　and　on；　both　as　a　substitute　for　the　trip　to　Norway；　indefinitely　postponed；　and　as　a　check　on　the　soundness　of　the　estimate　of　her　I　had　given　Wolfe。　She　caused　me　no　qualms。　Once　when　we　were　dancing　she　sighed　for　Pete；　and　once　at　her　apartment　she　said　she　would　love　to　help　some　more　with　my　work；　but　when　I　tactfully　made　it　plain　that　the　detective　business　was　not　on　our　agenda　she　took　it　nicely　and　let　it　lay。
　　There　were　other　things；　including　the　reports　on　Rackham　to　be　typed。
　　Late　every　afternoon　Max　Christy　called　at　my　office　to　get　the　report　of　the　day　before；　and　he　would　sit　and　read　it　and　ask　questions。　When　he　got　critical；　I　would　explain　patiently　that　I　couldn't　very　well　post　a　man　at　the　door　of　Rackham's　suite　to　take　pictures　of　all　the　ers　and　goers；　and　that　we　were　scoring　better　than　eighty　per　cent　on　all　his　hours　outside；　which　was　exceptional　for　New　York　tailing。
　　I　had　the　advantage；　of　course；　of　having　had　the　situation　described　to　me　by　their　Pete　Roeder。　They　were　worried　a　little　about　Westchester；　but　more　about　the　city。　Shortly　after　he　had　bee　a　millionaire　by　way　of　a　steak　knife；　whoever　had　used　it；　Rackham　had　got　word　to　Zeck　that　he　was　no　longer