rs.inthebestfamelies-第25章

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ls　for　immediate　action。〃
　　Since　this　was　just　the　opposite；　a　foreseen　bination　of　circumstances　which　called　for　getting　a　good　night's　sleep；　I　didn't　dial　the　number。　I　did　get　the　good　night's　sleep。
　　Saturday　morning　at　1019　I　had　to　pitch　another　ball；　but　not　to　the　same　batter。　The　typing　of　Friday's　reports　required　only　the　customary　summarizing　of　facts　as　far　as　Saul　and　Fred　and　Orrie　were　concerned；　but　my　own　share　took　time　and　thought。　I　had　to　account　for　the　full　time　I　had　spent　in　Rackham's　suite；　since　there　was　a　double　risk　in　it：　the　chance　that　I　was　being　checked　and　had　been　seen　entering　and　leaving；　and　the　chance　that　Rackham　had　himself　split　a　seam。　So　it　was　quite　a　literary　effort　and　I　spent　three　hours　on　it。　That　afternoon；　when　Max　Christy　called　to　get　the　report　as　usual；　and　sat　to　look　it　over；　I　had　papers　on　my　desk　which　kept　me　so　busy　that　I　wasn't　even　aware　if　he　sent　me　a　glance　when　he　got　to　the　middle　of　the　second　page；　where　my　personal　contribution　began。　I　looked　up　only　when　he　finally　spoke。
　　〃So　you　had　a　talk　with　him；　huh？〃
　　I　nodded。　〃Have　you　read　it？〃
　　〃Yes。〃　Christy　was　scowling　at　me。
　　〃He　seemed　so　anxious　that　I　thought　it　would　be　a　shame　not　to　oblige　him。　It's　my　tender　heart。〃
　　〃You　took　his　money。〃
　　〃Certainly。　He　was　wild　to　spend　it。〃
　　〃You　told　him　you're　working　for　Mrs。　Frey。　What　if　he　takes　a　notion　to　ask　her？〃
　　〃He　won't。　If　he　does；　who　will　know　who　to　believe　or　what？　I　warned　him　about　me。　By　the　way；　have　I　ever　warned　you？〃
　　〃Why　did　you　play　him？〃
　　〃It's　all　there　in　the　report。　He　knew　he　had　a　tail；　how　could　he　help　it；　already　on　guard；　after　eight　days　of　it？　I　thought　I　might　as　well　chat　with　him　and　see　what　was　on　his　mind。　He　could　have　said　something　interesting；　and　maybe　he　did；　I　don't　know；　because　I　don't　know　what　you　and　your　friends　would　call　interesting。　Anyway；　there　it　is。　As　for　his　money；　he　practically　stuffed　it　in　my　ear；　and　if　I　had　refused　to　take　it　he　would　have　lost　all　respect　for　me。〃
　　Christy　put　the　report　in　his　pocket；　got　up；　rested　his　fingertips　on　the　desk；　and　leaned　over　at　me。　〃Goodwin；〃　he　asked；　〃do　you　know　who　you're　dealing　with？〃　〃Oh；　for　God's　sake/'　I　said　impatiently。　〃Have　I　impressed　you　as　the　son　of　boob　who　would　jump　off　a　building　just　to　hear　his　spine　crack？　Yes；　brother；　I　know　who　I'm　dealing　with；　and　I　expect　to　live　to　ninety　at　least。〃
　　He　straightened　up。　〃Your　chief　trouble；〃　he　said；　not　offensively；　〃is　that　you　think　you've　got　a　sense　of　humor。　It　confuses　people；　and　you　ought　to　get　over　it。　Things　strike　you　as　funny。　You　thought　it　would　be　funny　to　have　a　talk　with　Rackham；　and　it　may　be　all　right　this　time；　but　some　day　something　that　you　think　is　funny　will　blow　your　goddam　head　right　off　your　shoulders。〃
　　Only　after　he　had　gone　did　it　occur　to　me　that　that　wouldn't　prove　it　wasn't　funny。
　　I　had　a　date　that　Saturday　evening　with　Lily　Rowan；　but　decided　to　call　it　off。　Evidently　I　wasn't　tactful　enough　about　it；　for　she　took　on。　I　calmed　her　down　by　promising　to　drown　myself　as　soon　as　the　present　crisis　was　past；　went　home　and　got　my　dinner　out　of　the　refrigerator；　and　settled　down　in　the　office　for　another　evening　of　not　reading　magazines。　A　little　after　nine　the　minutes　were　beginning　to　get　too　damn　long　entirely　when　the　phone　rang。　It　was　Lily。
　　〃All　right；〃　she　said　briskly；　〃e　on　up　here。〃
　　〃I　told　you…〃
　　〃I　know；　but　now　I'm　telling　you。　I'm　going　to　have　pany　around　eleven；　and　as　I　understand　it　you're　supposed　to　get　here　first。　Get　started。〃
　　〃Phooey。　I'm　flattered　that　you　bothered　to　try　it；　but…〃
　　〃I　wouldn't　have　dreamed　of　trying　it。　The　pany　just　phoned；　and　I'm　following　instructions。　My　God；　are　you　conceited！〃
　　〃I'll　be　there　in　twenty　minutes。〃
　　It　took　twenty…two；　to　her　door。　She　was　vindictive　enough　to　insist　that　there　were　three　television　programs　she　wouldn't　miss　for　anything；　which　was　just　as　well；　considering　my　disposition。　I　suppose　I　might　have　adjusted　to　it　in　time；　say　ten　years；　but　I　was　so　used　to　having　Wolfe　right　at　hand　any　minute　of　the　day　or　night　when　difficulties　were　being　met　that　this　business　of　having　to　sit　it　out　until　word　came；　and　then　rushing　up　to　a　friend's　penthouse　and　waiting　another　hour　and　a　half；　was　too　much　of　a　strain。
　　He　finally　arrived。　I　must　admit　that　when　the　bell　rang　Lily；　having　promised　to　behave　like　a　lady；　did　so。　She　insisted　on　opening　the　door　for　him；　but　having　got　him　into　the　living　room；　she　excused　herself　and　left　us。
　　He　sat。　I　stood　and　looked　at　him。　Eleven　days　had　passed　since　our　reunion；　and　I　hadn't　properly　remembered　how　grotesque　he　was。　Except　for　the　eyes；　he　was　no　one　I　had　ever　seen　or　cared　to　see。
　　〃What's　the　matter？〃　I　asked　peevishly。　〃You　look　as　if　you　hadn't　slept　for　a　week。〃
　　〃I'm　a　little　tired；　that's　all；〃　he　growled。　〃I　have　too　much　to　watch；　and　I'm　starving　to　death。　So　far　as　I　know　everything　at　my　end　is　satisfactory。　What　about　Miss　Rowan？〃
　　〃She's　all　right。　As　you　may　remember；　every　week　or　so　I　used　to　send　her　a　couple　of　orchids　of　a　kind　that　couldn't　be　bought。　I　have　told　her　that　the　custom　may　be　resumed　some　day　provided　we　get　this　difficulty　ironed　out；　and　that　it　depends　on　her。　Women　like　to　have　things　depend　on　them。〃
　　He　grunted。　〃I　don't　like　to　have　things　depend　on　them。〃　He　sighed。
　　〃It　can't　be　helped。　I　can　only　stay　an　hour。　Bring　me　some　of　Miss　Rowan's　perfume。〃
　　I　went　and　tapped　on　a　door；　got　no　answer；　opened　it　and　crossed　a　room　to　another　door；　tapped　again；　was　told　to　enter；　and　did　so。　Lily　was　on　a　divan　with　a　book。　I　told　her　what　I　wanted。
　　〃Take　the　Houri　de　Perse；〃　she　advised。　〃Pete　likes　it。　I　had　it　on　that　night。〃
　　I　got　it　from　the　dressing　table；　returned　to　the　living　room；　aimed　it　at　him　from　the　proper　distance；　and　squeezed　the　bulb。　He　shut　his　eyes　and　tightened　his　lips　to　a　thin　line。
　　〃Now　the　other　side；〃　I　said　gently。　〃What's　worth　doing…〃
　　But　he　opened　his　eyes；　and　their　expression　was　enough。　I　put　the　sprayer　on　a　table　and　went　to　a　chair。
　　He　looked　at　his　wristwatch。　〃I　read　the　report　of　your　talk　with　Rackham。　How　did　it　go？〃
　　〃Fine。　You　might　have　thought　he　had　rehearsed　it　with　us。〃
　　〃Tell　me　about　it。〃
　　I　obeyed。　It　felt　good；　giving　him　a　munique　again；　and　since　it　needed　no　apologies　I　enjoyed　it。　What　I　always　tried　for　was　to　present　it　so　that　few　or　no　questions　were　required；　and　though　I　was　a　little　out　of　practice　I　did　well　enough。
　　When　I　was　through　he　muttered；　〃Satisfactory。　Confound　this　smell。〃
　　〃It'll　go　away　in　time。　Sixty　dollars　an　ounce。〃
　　〃Speaking　of　dollars；　you　didn't　deposit　what　you　took　from　Rackham？〃
　　〃No。　It's　in　the　safe。〃
　　〃Leave　it　there　for　the　present。　It's　Mrs。　Rackham's　money；　and　we　may　decide　we've　earned　it。　Heaven　knows　no　imaginable　sum　could　repay　me　for　these　months。　I　was　thinking…〃
　　He　cut　it　off；　tilted　his　head　a　little；　and　regarded　me　with　eyes　narrowed　to　slits。
　　〃Well？〃　I　said　aggressively。　〃More　bright　ideas？〃
　　〃I　was　thinking；　Archie。　August　is　gone。　The　risk　would　be　negligible。　Get　Mr。　Haskins　on　the　phone　tomorrow　and　tell　him　to　start　a　dozen　chicks　on　blaeberries。　Uh…two　dozen。　You　can　tell　him　they　are　for　gifts　to　your　friends。〃
　　〃No；　sir。〃
　　〃Yes。　Tomorrow。〃
　　〃I　say　no。　He　would　know　damn　well　who　they　were　for。　My　God；　is　your　stomach　more　important　than　your　neck？　Not　to　mention　mine。　You　can't　help　it　if　you　were　bom　greedy；　but　you　can　try　to　control…〃
　　〃Archie。〃　His　voice　was　thin　and　cold　with　fury。　〃Nearly　five　months　now。　Look　at　me。〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃　He　had　me。　〃You're　right。　I　beg　your　pardon。　But　I　am　not　going　to　phone　Haskins。　You　just　had　a　moment　of　weakness。　Let's　change　the　subject。　Does　Rackham's　biting　on　the　first　try　change　the　schedule　any？〃
　　〃You　could　tell　Mr。　Haskins…〃
　　〃No。〃
　　He　gave　up。　After　sitting　a　while　with　his　eyes　closed；　he　sighed　so　deep　it　made　him　shudder；　and　then　came　back　to　black　reality。　Only　a　quarter　of　his　hour　was　left；　and　we　used　it　to　review　the　situation　and　program。
　　The　strategy　was　unchanged。　At　midnight　he　arose。
　　〃Please　thank　Miss　Rowan　for　me？〃
　　〃Sure。　She　thinks　you　ought　to　call　her　Lily。〃
　　〃You　shouldn't　leave　on　my　heels。〃
　　〃I　won't。　She's　sore　and　wants　to　have　a　scene。〃
　　I　went　ahead　to　open　the　door　for　him。　As　I　did　so　he　asked；　〃What　is　this　stuff　called？〃
　　〃Houri　de　Perse。〃
　　〃Great　heavens；〃　he　muttered；　and　went。
　　
　　16
　　HAVING　my　own　office　was　giving　me　a　new　slant　on　some　of　the　advantages　of　the　setup　I　had　long　enjoyed　at　Wolfe's　place。　With　a　tailing　job　on；　Sunday　was　like　any　other　day；　and　I　had　to　be　at　1019　at　the　usual　hour；　both　to　type　the　report　and　to　take　calls　from　the　man　on　the　job　in　case　he　needed　advice　or　help。　It　was　no　longer　just　burlesque；　at　least　not　for　me。　Even　though　Rackham　knew　we　were　on　him；　those　were　three　good　men；　particularly　Saul；　and　I　stood　a　fair　chance　of　being　informed　if　he　strayed　anywhere　out　of　bounds　to　keep　an　appointment。　To　some　extent　the　tail　now　served　a　purpose：　to　warn　me　if　the　subject　and　the　client　made　a　contact；　which　was　somewhat　bassackwards　but　convenient　for　me。
　　After　a　leisurely　Sunday　dinner　at　Rusterman's　Restaurant；　where　I　couldn't　make　up　my　mind　whether　Marko　Vukcic　knew　that　I　had　my　old　job　back；　I　returned　to　1019　to　find　Max　Christy　waiting　at　the　door。　He　seemed　a　little　upset。　I　glanced　at　my　wrist　and　told　him　he　was　early。
　　〃This　one…man　business　is　no　good；〃　he　plained。　〃You　ought　to　have　someone　here。　I　tried　to　get　you　on　the　phone　nearly　two　hours　ago。〃
　　Unlocking　the　door　and　entering；　I　explained　that　I　had　dawdled　over　tournedos　a　la　Bearnaise；　which　I　thought　would　impress　him。　He　didn't　seem　to　hear　me。　When　I　unlocked　a　desk　drawer　to　get　the　report；　and　handed　it　to　him；　he　stuffed　it　in　his　pocket　without　glancing　at　it。
　　I　raised　the　brows。　〃Don't　you　want　to　read　it？〃
　　〃I'll　read　it　in　the　car。　You're　ing　along。〃
　　〃Yeah？　Where　to？〃
　　〃Pete　Roeder　wants　to　see　you。〃
　　〃Well；　here　I　am。　As　you　say；　this　is　a　one…man　business。　I've　got　to　stick　here；　damn　it。〃
　　Christy　was　glaring　at　me　under　his　brow　thickets。　〃Listen；　Goodwin；　I'm　supposed　to　have　you　somewhere　at　four　o'clock；　and　it's　five　to　three　now。　I　waited　for　you　nearly　half　an　hour。　Let's　go。　You　can　argue　on　the　way。〃
　　I　had　done　my　arguing；　double…quick；　while　he　was　speaking。　To　balk　was　out　of　the　question。　To　stall　and　try　to　get　an　idea　what　the　program　really　was　would　have　been　sappy。　I　got　my　keys　out　again；　unlocked　the　bottom　drawer；　took　off　my　jacket；　got　out　the　shoulder　holster；　slipped　it　on；　and　twisted　my　torso　to　reach　for　the　buckle。
　　〃What's　that　for；　woodchucks？〃　Christy　asked。
　　〃Just　force　of　habit。　Once　I　forgot　to　wear　it　and　a　guy　in　an　elevator　stepped　on　my　toe。　I　had　to　cut　his　throat。　If　we're　in　a　hurry；　e　on。〃
　　We　went。　Down　at　the　curb；　as　I　had　noticed　on　my　way　in；　force　of　habit　again；　was　a　dark　blue　Olds　sedan；　a　fifty；　with　a　cheerful…