rs.inthebestfamelies-第23章

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nger　available　for　contacts。　Brownie　Costigan　had　got　to　Rackham；　thinking　to　put　the　bee　on　him；　and　had　been　tossed　out　on　his　ear。　The　stink　being　raised　in　Washington　on　gambling　and　rackets；　and　the　resulting　enthusiasm　in　the　office　of　the　New　York　County　District　Attorney；　had　started　an　epidemic　of　jitters；　and　it　was　quite　possible　that　if　one　of　my　typed　reports　had　told　of　a　visit　by　Rackham　to　the　DA's　office；　or　of　one　by　an　assistant　DA　to　Rackham's　suite；　Rackham　would　have　had　a　bad　accident；　like　getting　run　over　or　falling　into　the　river　with　lead　in　him。　That　was　why　Wolfe　had　given　me　careful　and　explicit　instructions　about　what　I　should　report　and　what　I　shouldn't。
　　I　had　no　sight　or　sound　of　Wolfe。　He　was　to　let　me　know　if　and　when　there　was　something　stirring；　and　I　had　been　told　how　to　reach　him　if　I　had　to。
　　Meanwhile　I　had　my　schedule；　and　on　the　ninth　day；　a　Friday；　the　first　of　September；　it　called　for　a　move。　Things　looked　right　for　it。　Saul；　on　instructions；　had　let　himself　get　spotted　once；　and　Orrie　twice；　and　Fred；　without　instructions；　at　least　three　times。　I　too　had　cooperated　by　letting　myself　be　seen　at　the　entrance　of　the　Crooked　Circle　one　night　as　Rackham　emerged　with　panions。　So　Friday　at　five　o'clock；　when　Saul　phoned　that　the　subject　had　entered　the　Romance　Bar　on　49th　Street；　I　went　for　a　walk；　found　Saul　window…shopping；　told　him　to　go　home　to　his　wife　and　children；　moseyed　along　to　the　Romance　Bar　entrance；　and　went　on　in。
　　Business　was　rushing；　with　as　many　as　five　at　a　table　the　size　of　a　dishpan。
　　Making　no　survey；　I　found　a　place　at　the　long　bar　where　two　customers　were　carelessly　leaving　enough　room　for　a　guy　to　get　an　elbow　through；　and　took　the　opening。　After　a　while　the　bartender　admitted　I　was　there　and　let　me　buy　a　highball。　I　took　a　casual　look　around；　saw　Rackham　at　a　table　with　a　pair　of　males；　turned　my　back　that　way；　and　got　his　range　in　the　mirror。
　　I　did　not　really　expect　a　bite　at　the　very　first　try；　I　thought　it　might　take　two　or　three　exposures。　But　evidently　he　was　ripe。　I　was　in　the　middle　of　my　second　highball　when　my　mirror　view　showed　me　the　trio　getting　up　and　squeezing　through　the　mob　to　the　clear。　I　dropped　my　chin　and　looked　at　my　thumb。　They　went　on　by；　toward　the　door；　and　I　turned　to　watch　their　manly　backs。　As　soon　as　they　were　out　I　followed；　and；　on　the　sidewalk；　immediately　turned　right；　thinking　to　reconnoiter　from　the　shop　entrance　next　door。　But　I　was　still　two　paces　from　it　when　there　was　a　voice　at　my　elbow。
　　〃Here　I　am；　Goodwin。〃
　　I　turned　to　face　him；　looking　mildly　startled。　〃Oh；　hello。〃
　　〃What's　the　idea？〃　he　demanded。
　　〃Which　one？〃　I　asked　politely。　〃There's　so　many　around。〃
　　〃There　are　indeed。　You　and　three　others　that　I　know　of。　Who　wants　to　know　so　much　about　me？〃
　　〃Search　me。〃　I　was　sympathetic。　〃Why；　are　you　being　harassed？〃
　　Color　had　started　to　show　in　his　face；　and　the　muscles　of　his　jaw　were　called　upon。　His　right　shoulder　twitched。
　　〃Not　here　on　the　street；〃　I　suggested。　〃A　crowd　will　collect；　especially　after　I　react。　See　that　man　turning　to　look？　You're　standing　like　Jack　Dempsey。〃
　　He　relaxed　a　little。　〃I　think　I　know；〃　he　said。
　　〃Good　for　you。　Then　I'm　not　needed。〃
　　〃I　want　to　have　a　talk　with　you。〃
　　〃Go　ahead。〃
　　〃Not　here。　At　my　place…the　Churchill。〃
　　〃I　think　I　have　a　free　hour　next　Tuesday。〃
　　〃Now。　We'll　go　there　now。〃
　　I　shrugged。　〃Not　together。　You　lead　the　way；　and　I'll　tag　along。〃
　　He　turned　and　marched。　I　gave　him　twenty　paces　and　then　followed。　It　takes　the　strain　off　of　tailing　a　man　to　have　a　date　with　him；　and　since　we　had　only　a　few　blocks　to　go　it　would　have　been　merely　a　pleasant　little　stroll　if　he　hadn't　been　in　such　a　hurry。　I　had　to　use　my　full　stride　to　keep　my　distance。　As　we　neared　the　Churchill　I　closed　in　a　little；　and　when　he　entered　an　elevator　I　was　there　ready　for　the　next　one。
　　He　had　a　er　suite　at　the　setback；　which　gave　him　a　terrace　and　also　a　soundbreak　for　the　street　noises。　It　was　cool　and　quiet　in　his　big　sitting　room；　with　light　blue　summer　rugs　and　pretty　pictures　and　light　blue　slipcovers　on　the　furniture。　While　he　adjusted　Venetian　blinds　I　glanced　around；　and　when　he　was　through　I　told　him；　〃Very　nice。　A　good　place　for　a　heartto…heart　talk。〃
　　〃What　will　you　have　to　drink？〃
　　〃Nothing；　thanks。　I　had　my　share　at　the　bar；　and　anyway　I　don't　drink　with　people　I'm　tailing。〃
　　I　was　in　a　fortable　chair；　and　he　pulled　a　smaller　one　around　to　face　me。　〃You've　got　your　own　office　now；〃　he　stated。
　　I　nodded。　〃Doing　pretty　well。　Of　course；　summer's　the　slack　season。　After　Labor　Day　they'll　start　ing　back　and　bringing　their　troubles　along。〃
　　〃You　didn't　take　on　that　job　for　Mrs。　Frey。〃
　　〃How　could　I？〃　I　upturned　a　palm。　〃No　one　would　speak　to　me。〃
　　〃You　can't　blame　them。〃　He　got　out　a　cigarette　and　lit　it；　and　his　hands　were　almost　steady　but　not　quite。　〃Look；　Goodwin。　There　on　the　street　I　nearly　lost　my　head　for　a　second。　You're　merely　doing　what　you're　paid　for。〃
　　〃Right；〃　I　said　approvingly。　〃People　resent　detectives　more　than　they　do　doctors　or　plumbers；　I　don't　see　why。　We're　all　trying　to　make　it　a　better　world。〃
　　〃Certainly。　Who　are　you　working　for？〃
　　〃Me。〃
　　〃Who　pays　you　to　work　for　you？〃
　　I　shook　my　head。　〃Better　start　over。　Show　a　gun　or　a　steak　knife　or　something。　Even　if　I'm　not　hard　to　persuade；　I　must　keep　up　appearances。〃
　　He　licked　his　lips。　Apparently　that　was　his　substitute　for　counting　ten；　but　if　so　it　didn't　work；　for　he　sprang　up；　towering　over　me；　making　fists。
　　I　moved　nothing　but　my　head；　jerking　it　back　to　focus　on　his　face。
　　〃It's　a　bad　angle；〃　I　assured　him。　〃If　you　swing　from　up　there　I'll　duck　and　hit　your　knees；　and　you'll　lose　your　balance。〃
　　He　held　it　a　second；　then　his　fists　became　hands；　and　he　stooped　to　use　one　of　them　to　recover　the　cigarette　he　had　dropped　on　the　rug。　He　sat　down；　took　a　drag；　inhaled；　and　let　it　out。
　　〃You　talk　too　much；　Goodwin。〃
　　〃No；〃　I　disagreed；　〃not　too　much；　but　too　rrankly；　maybe。　Perhaps　I　shouldn't　have　mentioned　a　steak　knife；　but　I　was　irritated。　I　might　name　my　client　if　you　stuck　needles　under　my　nails　or　showed　me　a　dollar　bill；　but　your　being　so　damn　casual　annoyed　me。〃
　　〃I　didn't　kill　my　wife。〃
　　I　smiled　at　him。　〃That's　a　straightforward　categorical　statement；　and　I　appreciate　it　very　much。　What　else　didn't　you　do？〃
　　He　ignored　it。　〃I　know　Annabel　Prey　thinks　I　did；　and　she　would　spend　all　the　money　my　wife　left　her…well；　say　half　of　it…to　prove　it。　I　don't　mind　your　taking　her　money；　that's　your　business；　but　I　hate　to　see　her　waste　it；　and　I　don't　like　having　someone　always　behind　me。　There　ought　to　be　some　way　I　can　satisfy　you　and　her　that　I　didn't　do　it。　Can't　you　figure　one　out？　If　it's　arranged　so　you　won't　lose　anything　by　it？〃
　　〃No；〃　I　said　flatly。
　　〃Why　not？　I　said　satisfy　you。〃
　　〃Because　I'm　getting　irritated　again。　You　don't　care　a　damn　what　Mrs。Frey　thinks。　What's　eating　you　is　that　you　don't　know　who　is　curious　enough　about　you　to　spend　money　on　it；　and　you're　trying　to　catch　a　fish　without　bait；　which　is　unsportsmanlike。　I'll　bet　you　a　finif　you　can't　worm　it　out　of　me。〃
　　He　sat　regarding　me　half　a　minute；　then　got　up　and　crossed　to　a　portable　bar　over　by　the　wall　and　began　assembling　a　drink。　He　called　to　me；　〃Sure　you　won't　have　one？〃
　　I　declined　with　thanks。　Soon　he　returned　with　a　tall　one；　sat；　took　a　couple　of　swallows；　put　the　glass　down；　burped；　and　spoke。　〃A　thousand　dollars　for　the　name。〃
　　〃Just　the　name；　cold？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃It's　a　sale。〃　I　extended　a　hand。　〃Gimme。〃
　　〃I　like　to　get　what　I　pay　for；　Goodwin。〃
　　〃Absolutely。　Guaranteed　against　defects。〃
　　He　arose　and　left　the　room　through　a　door　toward　the　far　end。　I　decided　I　was　thirsty　and　went　to　the　bar　for　a　glass　of　soda　and　ice；　and　was　back　in　my　chair　when　he　re…entered　and　came　to　me。　I　took　his　offering　and　counted　it　by　flipping　the　edges：　ten　crackly　new　hundreds。
　　He　picked　up　his　glass；　drank；　and　eyed　me。　〃Well？〃
　　〃Arnold　Zeck；〃　I　said。
　　He　made　a　little　squeaking　noise；　went　stiff　for　a　short　count；　and　hurled　the　tall　glass　against　the　wall；　where　it　smacked　into　the　middle　of　the　glass　of　a　picture；　which　improved　the　effect　both　for　the　ear　and　for　the　eye。
　　
　　15
　　I　ADMIT　I　was　on　my　feet　when　it　hit。　He　was　so　slapdash　that　there　was　no　certainty　about　his　target；　and　a　well…thrown　heavy　glass　can　make　a　bruise。
　　〃Now　look　what　you've　done；〃　I　said　reproachfully；　and　sat　down　again。
　　He　glared　at　me　a　second；　then　went　to　the　bar；　and　with　slow　precise　movements　of　his　hands　mixed　another　long　one。　I　was　pleased　to　note　that　the　proportion　of　whisky　was　the　same　as　before。　He　returned　to　his　chair　and　put　the　glass　down　without　drinking。
　　〃I　thought　so；　by　God；〃　he　said。
　　I　merely　nodded。
　　〃Who　hired　you？　Zeck　himself？〃
　　〃Not　in　the　contract；〃　I　objected　firmly。　〃You　bought　the　name；　and　you've　got　it。〃
　　〃I'm　in　the　market　for　more。　I'll　take　it　all。〃
　　I　frowned　at　him。　〃Now　I　guess　I'll　have　to　do　some　talking。　You　fortable？〃　〃No。〃
　　〃Listen　anyway。　I'm　taking　Zeck's　money　and　I'm　crossing　him。　How　do　you　know　I　won't　cross　you？〃
　　〃I　don't。　But　I'll　top　him。〃
　　〃That's　the　point　exactly；　you　don't。　Who　is　Zeck　and　who　are　you？　You　know　the　answer　to　that。　You　were　taking　his　money　too；　up　to　five　months　ago；　and　you　know　for　what。　When　your　wife　hired　Nero　Wolfe　to　take　the　lid　off　of　you　for　a　look；　you　yapped　to　Zeck　and　he　took　aim　at　Wolfe；　and　when　your　wife　got　it　with　that　steak　knife　Wolfe　took　a　powder；　and　for　all　I　know　he　is　now　in　Egypt；　where　he　owns　a　house；　talking　it　over　with　the　Sphinx。　It　was　Zeck　and　you；　between　you；　that　broke　up　our　happy　home　on　Thirty…fifth　Street；　and　you　can　have　three　guesses　how　I　feel　about　it。　I　may　like　it　fine　this　way；　with　my　own　office　and　my　time　my　own。　I　may　figure　to　work　close　to　Zeck　and　get　in　the　big　dough；　which　would　mean　I'm　poison　to　you；　or　I　may　be　loving　a　chance　to　stick　one　between　Zeck's　ribs　and　incidentally　get　a　nice　helping　from　your　pile；　or　I　may　even　be　kidding　both　of　you　along　with　the　loony　idea　of　trying　to　earn　the　ten　grand　your　wife　paid　Nero　Wolfe。　Zeck　can　guess　and　you　can　guess。　Do　I　make　myself　clear？〃
　　〃I　don't　know。　Are　you　just　warning　me　not　to　trust　you？　Is　that　it？〃
　　〃Well；　yes。〃
　　〃Then　save　your　breath。　I've　never　trusted　anybody　since　I　started　shaving。　As　for　a　nice　helping　from　my　pile；　that　depends。　How　do　you　earn　it？〃
　　I　shrugged。　〃Maybe　I　don't　want　it。　Guess。　I　got　the　impression　that　I　have　something　you　want。〃
　　〃I　think　you　have。　Who　hired　you　and　what　were　you　told　to　do？〃
　　〃I　told　you；　Zeck。〃
　　〃Zeck　himself？〃
　　〃I　would　be　risking　my　neck　and　you　know　it。　Five　grand　now；　and　beyond　that　we　can　decide　as　we　go　along。〃
　　It　was　a　mistake；　though　not　fatal。　He　was　surprised。　I　should　have　made　it　ten。　He　said；　〃I　haven't　got　that　much　here。〃
　　〃Nut。　Send　downstairs　for　it。〃
　　He　hesitated　a　moment；　regarding　me；　then　got　up　and　went　to　a　phone　on　a　side　table。　It　occurred　to　me　that　it　would　be　of　no　advantage　for　a　clerk　or　a