rs.inthebestfamelies-第29章

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　　Silence。
　　〃Did　you　hear　me？〃
　　〃Yes。　Good　luck；　Goodwin。〃
　　The　connection　went。
　　
　　18
　　I　HAD　once　sat　and　cooled　my　heels　for　three　hours　on　one　of　the　wooden　benches　in　the　big　anteroom　of　the　DA's　office　in　the　White　Plains　courthouse；　but　this　time　I　didn't　sit　at　all。　I　didn't　even　give　my　name。　I　entered　and　was　crossing　to　the　table　in　the　fenced…off　er　when　a　man　with　a　limp　intercepted　me　and　said；　〃e　with　me；　Mr。　Goodwin。〃
　　He　took　me　down　a　long　corridor；　past　rows　of　doors　on　either　side；　and　into　a　room　that　I　was　acquainted　with。　I　had　been　entertained　there　for　an　hour　or　so　the　evening　of　Sunday；　April　ninth。　No　one　was　in　it。　It　had　two　big　windows　for　the　morning　sun；　and　I　sat　and　watched　the　dust　dance。　I　was　blowing　at　it；　seeing　what　patterns　I　could　make；　when　the　door　opened　and　Cleveland　Archer；　the　DA　himself；　appeared；　followed　by　Ben　Dykes。　I　have　never　glanced　at　faces　with　a　deeper　interest。　If　they　had　looked　pleased　and　cocky　it　would　probably　have　meant　that　they　had　cracked　the　case；　and　in　that　event　all　our　nifty　plans　for　taking　care　of　Arnold　Zeck　were　up　the　flue　and　God　help　us。
　　I　was　so　glad　to　see　that　they　were　far　from　cocky　that　I　had　to　see　to　it　that　my　face　didn't　beam。　I　responded　to　their　curt　greeting　in　kind；　and　when　they　arranged　the　seating　with　me　across　a　table　from　them　I　said　grumpily　as　I　sat；　〃I　hope　this　is　going　to　get　somebody　something。　I　had　a　full　day　ahead；　and　now　look　at　it。〃
　　Dykes　grunted；　not　with　sympathy　and　not　with　enmity；　just　a　grunt。
　　Archer　opened　a　folder　he　had　brought；　selected　from　its　contents　some　sheets　of　paper　stapled　in　a　er；　glanced　at　the　top　sheet；　and　gave　me　his　eyes；　which　had　swollen　lids。
　　〃This　is　that　statement　you　made；　Goodwin。〃
　　〃About　what？　Oh；　the　Rackham　case？〃
　　〃For　God's　sake；〃　Dykes　said　gloomily；　〃forget　to　try　to　be　cute　just　once。　I've　been　up　all　night。〃
　　〃It　was　so　long　ago；〃　I　said　apologetically；　〃and　I've　been　pretty　busy。〃
　　Archer　slid　the　statement　across　the　table　to　me。　〃I　think　you　had　better　read　it　over。　I　want　to　ask　some　questions　about　it。〃
　　I　couldn't　have　asked　for　a　better　chance　to　get　my　mind　arranged；　but　I　didn't　see　that　that　would　help　matters　any；　since　I　hadn't　the　vaguest　notion　from　which　direction　the　blow　was　ing。
　　〃May　I　save　it　for　later？〃　I　inquired。　〃If　you　get　me　up　a　tree　and　I　need　time　out　for　study；　I　can　pretend　I　want　to　check　with　what　I　said　here。〃　I　tapped　the　statement　with　a　forefinger。
　　〃I　would　prefer　that　you　read　it。〃
　　〃I　don't　need　to；　really。　I　know　what　I　said　and　what　I　signed。〃　I　slid　it　back　to　him。　〃Yest　me　on　any　part　of　it。〃
　　Archer　closed　the　folder　and　rested　his　clasped　hands　on　it。　〃I'm　not　as　interested　in　what　is　in　that　statement　as　I　am　in　what　isn't　in　it。　I　think　you　ought　to　read　it　because　I　want　to　ask　you　what　you　left　out…of　the　happenings　of　that　day；　Saturday；　April　eighth。〃
　　〃I　can　answer　that　without　reading　it。　I　left　nothing　out　that　was　connected　with　Mrs。　Rackham。〃
　　〃I　want　you　to　read　what　you　said　and　signed　and　then　repeat　that　statement。〃
　　〃I　don't　need　to　read　it。　I　left　out　nothing。〃
　　Archer　and　Dykes　exchanged　looks；　and　then　Dykes　spoke。　〃Look；　Goodwin；　we're　not　trying　to　sneak　up　on　you。　We've　got　something；　that's　all。　Someone　has　loosened　up。　It　looks　like　this　is　the　day　for　it。〃
　　〃Not　for　me。〃　I　was　firm。　〃I　loosened　up　long　ago。〃
　　Archer　told　Dykes；　〃Bring　her　in。〃　Dykes　arose　and　left　the　room。　Archer　took　the　statement　and　returned　it　to　the　folder　and　pushed　the　folder　to　one　side；　then　pressed　the　heels　of　his　palms　to　his　eyes　and　took　a　couple　of　deep　breaths。　The　door　opened　and　Dykes　escorted　Una　Darrow　in。　He　pulled　a　chair　up　to　the　end　of　the　table　for　her；　to　my　left　and　Archer's　right；　so　that　the　window　was　at　her　back。　She　looked　as　if　she　might　have　spent　the　night　in　jail；　with　red　eyes　and　a　general　air　of　being　pooped；　but　judging　from　the　damp　she　had　on　her　jaw；　she　was　darned　determined　about　something。　I　got　a　glance　from　her　but　nothing　more；　not　even　a　nod；　as　she　took　the　chair　Dykes　pulled　up。
　　〃Miss　Darrow；〃　Archer　told　her；　gently　but　firmly；　〃you　understand　that　there　is　probably　no　chance　of　getting　your　story　corroborated　except　through　Mr。　Goodwin。　You　haven't　been　brought　in　here　to　face　him　for　the　purpose　of　disconcerting　or　discrediting　him；　but　merely　so　he　can　be　informed　first…hand。〃　Archer　turned　to　me。　〃Miss　Darrow　came　to　us　last　evening　or　her　own　accord。　No　pressure　of　any　kind　has　been　used　with　her。　Is　that　correct；　Miss　Darrow？　I　wish　you　would　confirm　that　to　Mr。　Goodwin。〃
　　〃Yes。〃　She　lifted　her　eyes　to　me；　and　though　they　had　obviously　had　a　hard　night；　I　still　insist　they　were　fine。　She　went　on；　〃I　came　voluntarily。　I　came　because…the　way　Barry　Rackham　treated　me。　He　refused　to　marry　me。　He　treated　me　very　badly。　Finally…yesterday　it　was　too　much。〃
　　Archer　and　Dykes　were　both　gazing　at　her　fixedly。　Archer　prodded　her。
　　〃Go　on；　please。　Miss　Darrow。　Tell　him　the　main　facts。〃
　　She　was　trying　the　clamp　on　her　jaw　to　make　sure　it　was　working　right。
　　Satisfied；　she　released　it。　〃Barry　and　I　had　been　friendly；　a　little；　before　Mrs。Rackham's　death。　Nothing　but　just　a　little　friendly。　That's　all　it　meant　to　me；　or　I　thought　it　was；　and　I　thought　it　was　the　same　with　him。　That's　how　it　was　when　we　went　to　the　country　for　the　Easter　weekend。　She　had　told　me　we　wouldn't　do　any　work　there；　answer　any　mail　or　anything；　but　Saturday　at　noon　she　sent　for　me　to　e　to　her　room。　She　was　crying　and　was　so　distressed　she　could　hardly　talk。〃
　　Lina　paused。　She　was　keeping　her　eyes　straight　at　mine。　〃I　can　rattle　this　off　now；　Mr。　Goodwin。　I've　already　told　it　now。〃
　　〃That　always　makes　it　easier；〃　I　agreed。　〃Go　right　ahead。〃
　　She　did。　〃Mrs。　Rackham　said　she　had　to　talk　about　it　with　someone；　and　she　wanted　to　with　her　daughter…in…law；　Mrs。　Frey；　but　she　just　couldn't；　so　there　was　only　me。　She　said　she　had　gone　to　see　Nero　Wolfe　the　day　before；　to　ask　him　to　find　out　where　her　husband　was　getting　money　from；　and　he　had　agreed　to　do　it。　Mr。　Wolfe　had　phoned　her　that　evening。　Friday　evening；　and　told　her　that　he　had　already　partly　succeeded。　He　had　learned　that　her　husband　was　connected　with　something　that　was　criminal。　He　was　helping　somebody　with　things　that　were　against　the　law；　and　he　was　getting　well　paid　for　it。　Mr。　Wolfe　advised　her　to　keep　it　to　herself　until　he　had　more　details。　He　said　his　assistant；　Mr。　Goodwin；　would　e　up　Saturday　afternoon；　and　might　have　more　to　report　then。〃
　　〃And　that　Goodwin　knew　all　about　it？〃　Archer　asked。
　　〃Well；　naturally　she　took　that　for　granted。　She　didn't　say　that　Mr。　Wolfe　told　her　in　so　many　words　that　Mr。　Goodwin　knew　all　about　it；　but　if　he　was　his　assistant　and　helping　with　it；　naturally　she　would　think　so。　Anyway　that　didn't　seem　to　be　important　then；　because　she　had　told　it　all　to　her　husband。　They　used　the　same　bedroom　at　Birchvale；　and　she　said　that　after　they　had　gone　to　bed　she　simply　couldn't　help　it。　She　didn't　tell　me　their　conversation；　what　they　said　to　each　other；　but　they　had　had　a　violent　quarrel。　She　had　told　him　they　would　have　to　separate；　she　was　through　with　him；　and　she　would　have　Mr。　Wolfe　go　on　with　his　investigation　and　get　proof　of　what　he　had　done。　Mrs。　Rackham　had　a　very　strong　character；　and　she　hated　to　be　deceived。　But　the　next　day　she　wasn't　sure　she　really　meant　it；　that　she　really　wanted　to　part　from　him。　That　was　why　she　wanted　to　talk　about　it　with　someone。　I　think　the　reason　she　didn't　want　to　talk　with　Mrs。　Frey…〃
　　〃If　you　don't　mind；　Miss　Darrow；〃　Archer　suggested　gently；　〃just　the　facts　now。
　　〃Yes；　of　course。〃　She　sent　him　a　glance　and　returned　to　me。　〃I　told　her　I　thought　she　was　pletely　wrong。　I　said　that　if　her　husband　had　been　untrue　to　her；　or　anything　like　that；　that　would　be　different；　but　after　all　he　hadn't　done　wrong　to　her；　only　to　other　people　and　himself；　and　that　she　should　try　to　help　him　instead　of　destroying　him。　At　the　very　least；　I　said；　she　should　wait　until　she　knew　all　the　details　of　what　he　had　done。　I　think　that　was　what　she　wanted　to　hear；　but　she　didn't　say　so。　She　was　very　stubborn。　Then；　that　afternoon；　I　did　something　that　I　will　regret　all　my　life。　I　went　to　Barry　and　told　him　she　had　told　me　about　it；　and　said　I　was　sure　it　would　e　out　all　right　if　he　would　meet　her　halfway…tell　her　the　whole　thing；　tell　her　he　was　sorry；　as　he　certainly　should　be…and　no　more　foolishness　in　the　future。　And　Barry　said　he　loved　me。〃
　　She　weakened　a　little　there　for　the　first　time。　She　dropped　her　eyes。　I　had　been　boring　at　her　with　as　steady　and　sharp　a　gaze　as　I　had　in　me；　but　up　to　that　point　she　had　met　it　full　and　fair。
　　〃So　then？〃　I　asked。
　　Her　eyes　lifted　and　she　marched　on。　〃He　said　he　didn't　want　it　to　e　out　all　right　because　he　loved　me。　Shall　I　try　to　tell　you　what　I…how　I　felt！〃
　　〃Not　now。　Just　what　happened。〃
　　〃Nothing　happened　then。　That　was　in　the　middle　of　the　afternoon。　I　didn't　tell　Barry　I　loved　him…I　didn't　even　know　I　loved　him　then。　I　got　away　from　him。　Later　we　gathered　in　the　living　room　for　cocktails；　and　you　and　Mr。　Leeds　came；　and　we　played　that　game…you　remember。〃
　　〃Yep；　I　do。〃
　　〃And　dinner；　and　television　afterward；　and…〃
　　〃Excuse　me。　That　is　mon　knowledge。　Skip　to　later；　when　the　cops　had　e。　Did　you　tell　them　all　this？〃
　　〃No。〃
　　〃Why　not？〃　〃Because　I　didn't　think　it　would　be　fair　to　Barry。　I　didn't　think　he　had　killed　her；　and　I　didn't　know　what　criminal　things　he　had　helped　with；　and　I　thought　it　wouldn't　be　fair　to　tell　that　about　him　when　all　I　knew　was　what　Mrs。　Rackham　had　told　me。〃　The　fine　eyes　flashed　for　the　first　time。　〃Oh；　I　know　the　next　part。　Then　why　am　I　telling　it　now？　Because　I　know　more　about　him　now…a　great　deal　more！　I　don't　know　that　he　killed　Mrs。　Rackham；　but　I　know　he　could　have；　he　is　cruel　and　selfish　and　unscrupulousthere　is　nothing　he　wouldn't　do。　I　suppose　you　think　I'm　vindictive；　and　maybe　I　am；　but　it　doesn't　matter　what　you　think　about　me　as　long　as　I'm　telling　the　truth。　What　the　criminal　things　were　that　he　did；　and　whether　he　killed　his　wife…1　don't　know　anything　about　it；　that's　your　part。〃
　　〃Not　mine；　sister。　I'm　not　a　cop。〃
　　She　turned　to　the　others。　〃Yours；　then！〃
　　This　would　have　been　a　good　moment　for　me　to　take　time　out　to　read　my　signed　statement；　since　I　could　have　used　a　few　minutes　for　some　good　healthy　thinking。　Here　was　a　situation　that　was　new　to　me。　About　all　that　Barry　Rackham's　ticket　to　the　electric　chair　needed　was　my　endorsement；　and　I　thought　he　had　it　ing　to　him。　All　I　had　to　do　was　tell　the　truth。　I　could　say　that　I　had　no　knowledge　whatever　of　the　phone　call　Nero　Wolfe　was　purported　to　have　made　to　Mrs。　Rackham；　but　that　it　was　conceivable　that　he　had　made　such　a　call　without　mentioning　it　to　me；　since　he　had　often　withheld　information　from　me　regarding　his　actions　and　intentions。　You　couldn't　beat　that　for　truth。　In　various　occasions　I　had　used　all　my　wits　to　help　pin　it　on　a　murderer；　and　here　it　would　take　no　wit　at　all；　merely　tossing　in　a　couple　of　facts；　But　if　I　let　it　go　at　that；　it　was　a　cinch　that　before　the　sun　went　d