rs.inthebestfamelies-第30章

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　couple　of　facts；　But　if　I　let　it　go　at　that；　it　was　a　cinch　that　before　the　sun　went　down　Rackham　would　be　locked　up；　and　that　would　ruin　everything。　The　program　sunk；　the　months　all　wasted；　the　one　chance　gone；　Zeck　sailing　on　with　the　authority　of　his　superior　intellect；　and　Wolfe　and　me　high　and　dry。　My　wits　had　a　new　job；　and　quick。　I　liked　to　think　that　they　had　done　their　share　once　or　twice　in　getting　a　murderer　corralled；　now　it　was　up　to　them　to　do　more　than　their　share　in　keeping　a　murderer　running　loose　and　free　to　keep　appointments。　Truth　was　not　enough。
　　There　was　no　time　to　draw　a　sketch　and　see　how　I　liked　it。　All　three　of　them　were　looking　at　me；　and　Archer　was　saying；　〃You　can　see；　Goodwin；　why　I　wanted　you　to　read　your　statement　and　see　if　you　left　anything　out。〃
　　〃Yeah。〃　I　was　regretful。　〃I　can　also　see　you　holding　your　breath；　and　I　don't　blame　you。　If　I　now　say　that's　right；　I　forgot；　Wolfe　did　phone　Mrs。Rackham　that　Friday　evening　and　tell　her　that；　you've　got　all　you　need　and　hallelujah…1　would　love　to　help　out；　but　I　like　to　stick　to　the　truth　as　far　as　practical。〃
　　〃The　truth　is　all　I'm　asking　for。　Did　you　call　on　Rackham　at　his　apartment　yesterday　afternoon？〃
　　That　punch　had　of　course　been　telegraphed。　〃Yes；〃　I　said。
　　〃What　for？〃
　　〃On　a　job　for　a　client。　At　first　it　was　a　tailing　job；　and　then　when　Rackham　spotted　me　my　client　thought　I　might　leam　something　by　chatting　with　him。〃
　　〃Why　is　your　client　interested　in　Rackham？〃
　　〃He　didn't　say。〃
　　〃Who's　the　client？〃
　　I　shook　my　head。　〃I　don't　think　that　would　help　you　any。　He's　a　man　who　came　here　recently　from　the　West　Coast；　and　I　suspect　he's　connected　with　gambling　or　rackets　or　both；　but　my　suspicions　are　no　good　at　the　bank。　Let's　table　it　for　now。〃
　　〃I　want　the　name；　Goodwin。〃
　　〃And　I　want　to　protect　my　client　within　reason。　You　can't　connect　him　up　with　the　murder　you're　investigating。　Go　ahead　and　start　the　rigmarole。　Charge　me　again　as　a　material　witness　and　I　get　released　on　bail。　Meanwhile　I'll　be　wanting　my　lawyer　present　and　all　that　runaround。　What　will　it　get　you　in　the　long　run？〃
　　Ben　Dykes　said　in　a　nasty　voice；　〃We　don't　want　to　be　arbitrary　about　it。　We　wouldn't　expect　you　to　name　a　client　if　you　haven't　got　one。　West　Coast；　huh？〃
　　〃Is　Rackham　your　client？〃　Archer　asked。
　　〃No。〃
　　〃Have　you　done　any　work　for　him？〃
　　〃No。〃
　　〃Has　he　given　you　or　paid　you　any　money　in　the　past　week？〃
　　That　was　enough　and　to　spare。　I　was　hooked　good；　and　if　the　best　I　could　do　was　flop　around　trying　to　wriggle　off；　the　outlook　was　damn　thin。　〃Oh；〃　I　said；　〃so　that's　it。〃　I　gave　Lina　Darrow　an　appreciative　look　and　then　transferred　it　to　Archer。　〃This　narrows　it　down。　I've　collected　for　withholding　evidence　against　a　murderer。　That's　bad；　isn't　it？〃
　　No　one　answered。　They　just　looked　at　me。
　　So　I　went　on。　〃First；　I　hereby　state　that　I　have　no　money　from　Rackham；　and　that's　all　on　that　for　now。　Second；　I'm　a　little　handicapped　because　although　I　know　what　Miss　Darrow　has　in　her　mind；　I　don't　know　how　it　got　there。　She's　framing　Rackham　for　murder；　or　trying　to；　but　I'm　not　sure　whether　it's　her　own　idea　or　whether　she　has　been　nudged。　I　would　have　to　find　out　about　that　first　before　I　could　decide　how　I　stand。　I　know　you've　got　to　give　me　the　works；　and　that's　all　right；　it's　your　job；　you've　got　all　day　and　all　night　for　it；　but　you　can　take　your　pick。　Either　I　clam　up　as　of　now；　and　I　mean　clam；　and　you　start　prying　at　me；　or　first　I　am　allowed　to　have　a　talk　with　Miss　Darrow…with　you　here；　o￡　course。　Then　you　can　have　the　rest　of　the　week　with　me。　Well？〃
　　〃No；〃　Archer　said　emphatically。
　　〃Okay。　May　I　borrow　some　adhesive　tape？〃
　　〃We　know　everything　Miss　Darrow　has　to　say。〃
　　〃Sure　you　do。　I　want　to　catch　up。　I　said　with　you　here。　You　can　always　stop　it　if　you　get　bored；〃
　　Archer　looked　at　Dykes。　I　don't　know　whether　he　would　have　rather　had　Dykes　nod　his　head　or　shake　it；　but　he　got　neither。　All　Dykes　did　was　concentrate。
　　〃You　gentlemen；〃　I　said；　〃want　only　one　thing；　to　crack　the　case。　It　certainly　won't　help　if　I　shut　my　trap　and　breathe　through　my　nose。　It　certainly　won't　hurt　if　I　converse　with　Miss　Darrow　in　your　presence。〃
　　〃Let　him；〃　Lina　said　belligerently。　〃I　knew　he　would　deny　it。〃
　　〃What　do　you　want　to　ask　her？〃　Archer　demanded。
　　〃The　best　way　to　find　that　out　is　to　listen。〃　I　turned　to　Lina。　〃When　I　saw　you　yesterday　afternoon；　ing　out　or　his　apartment；　I　thought　something　was　stirring。　It　was　rude　the　way　you　went　right　by　me。〃
　　She　met　my　gaze　but　had　no　ment。
　　〃Was　it　yesterday；〃　I　asked；　〃that　he　treated　you　badly？〃
　　〃Not　only　yesterday；〃　she　said　evenly。　〃But　yesterday　he　refused　definitely　and　finally　to　marry　me。〃
　　〃Is　that　so　bad？　I　mean；　a　guy　can't　marry　everyone。〃
　　〃He　had　said　he　would…many　times。〃
　　〃But　hadn't　you　been　keeping　your　fingers　crossed？　After　all；　it　was　a　kind　of　a　special　situation。　He　knew　that　you　knew　something　that　would　get　him　arrested　for　murder　if　you　spilled　it…not　to　mention　other　criminal　things；　whatever　they　were。　Didn't　it　occur　to　you　that　he　might　be　kidding　you　along　for　security　reasons？〃
　　〃Yes；　I…yes；　it　did；　but　I　didn't　want　to　believe　it。　He　said　he　loved　me。　He　made　love　to　me…and　I　wanted　him　for　my　husband。〃　She　decided　that　wasn't　adequate　and　improved　on　it。　〃I　wanted　him　so　much！〃　she　exclaimed。
　　〃I'll　bet　you　did。〃　I　tried　not　to　sound　sarcastic。　〃How　do　you　feel　about　it　now？　Do　you　think　he　ever　loved　you？〃
　　〃No；　I　don't！　I　think　he　was　heartless　and　cruel。　I　think　he　was　afraid　of　me。　He　just　wanted　me　not　to　tell　what　I　knew。　And　I　began　to　suspect…the　way　he　acted…and　yesterday　I　insisted　that　we　must　be　married　immediately；　this　week；　and　when　I　insisted　he　lost　his　temper　and　he　was…he　was　hateful。〃
　　〃I　know　he's　got　a　temper。　Was　there　any　urgent　reason　for　wanting　to　get　married　quick；　like　expecting　a　visitor　from　heaven；　for　instance　a　baby？〃
　　She　flushed　and　appealed　to　Archer。　〃Do　I　have　to　let　him　insult　me？〃
　　〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　I　said　stiffly；　〃but　you　seem　to　be　pretty　sensitive　for　a　woman　who　was　hell…bent　to　marry　a　murderer。　Did…〃
　　〃I　didn't　know　he　was　a　murderer！　I　only　knew　if　I　told　about　what　Mrs。　Rackham　told　me　and　what　he　told　me…I　knew　he　would　be　suspected　even　more　than　he　was。〃
　　〃Uh…huh。　When　the　blowup　came　yesterday；　did　you　threaten　to　tell　what　you　knew？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　I　goggled　at　her。　〃You　know；　sister；〃　I　declared；　〃you　should　have　spent　more　time　thinking　this　through。　You　are　unquestionably　the　bummest　liar　I　have　ever　run　across。　I　thought　maybe…〃
　　Dykes　broke　in。　〃She　says　Rackham　probably　figured　he　wasn't　in　much　danger；　so　many　months　had　passed。〃
　　〃Yeah？　That's　partly　what　I　mean。　Whatever　she　says；　what　about　Rackham？　He's　not　boob　enough　to　figure　like　that。　He　would　know　damn　well　that　five　months　is　nothing　in　the　life　of　a　murder。　He　has　his　choice　between　marrying　this　attractive　specimen　or　having　her　run　to　you　with　the　ink　for　his　death　warrant；　and　not　only　does　he　act　heartless　and　cruel；　he　actually　opens　the　door　for　her　to　go！　This　guy　who　had　it　in　him　to　sneak　into　the　woods　at　night　with　a　knife　to　stab　his　wife　to　death　and　a　fighting　dog…he　just　opens　the　door　for　this　poor　pretty　creature　to　tell　the　world　about　it！　My　God；　you　would　buy　that？〃
　　〃You　can't　tell　about　people；〃　Archer　said。　〃And　she　has　details。　Take　the　detail　of　the　phone　call　Wolfe　made　to　Mrs。　Rackham　and　what　he　told　her　about　her　husband。　Not　even　a　good　liar　would　have　that　detail；　let　alone　a　bum　one。〃
　　〃Nuts。〃　I　was　disgusted。　〃No　such　phone　call　was　made；　and　Mrs。　Rackham　never　said　it　was。　As　for　Rackham's　having　been　in　with　crooks；　either　he　wasn't　and　sister　here　invented　it；　in　which　case　you'd　better　watch　your　step；　or　he　was；　and　sister　here　got　his　tongue　loosened　enough　for　him　to　tell　her　about　it。　I'm　perfectly　willing　to　believe　she　is　capable　of　that；　however　bum　a　liar　she　may　be。〃
　　〃You　say　Wolfe　didn't　make　that　call　to　Mrs。　Rackham？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃And　he　didn't　learn　that　Rackham's　ine　came　from　a　connection　with　criminal　activities？〃
　　〃My　God；　Mrs。　Rackham　didn't　leave　our　office　until　after　noon　that　Friday。　And　he　called　her　that　evening　to　tell　her？　When　he　hadn't　moved　a　finger　to　start　an　inquiry；　and　I　hadn't　either？　He　was　good；　but　not　that　good。〃　I　turned　to　Lina。　〃I　thought　maybe　you　had　had　a　coach　for　this；　possibly　got　in　with　some　professionals　yourself；　but　not　now；　the　way　you　tell　it。　Obviously　this　is　your　own　baby…I　beg　your　pardon　if　you　don't　want　babies　mentioned…say　your　own　script…and　it　is　indeed　a　lulu。　Framing　a　man　for　murder　is　no　job　for　an　amateur。　Aside　from　the　idea　of　Rackham's　preferring　a　jury　trial　to　you；　which　if　I　may　get　personal　is　plain　loco；　look　at　other　features。　If　it　had　been　the　way　you　say；　what　would　Wolfe　and　I　have　done　after　I　phoned　him　that　night　and　told　him　Mrs。Rackham　had　got　it？　Our　only　interest　was　the　fee　she　had　paid　us。　Why　didn't　we　just　hand　it　all　to　the　cops？　Another　little　feature；　do　you　remember　that　gathering　that　evening？　Did　either　Rackham　or　his　wife　act　like　people　who　were　riding　the　kind　of　storm　you　describe？　Don't　ask　me；　I　could　be　prejudiced；　ask　all　the　others。〃
　　I　left　her　for　Archer。　〃I　could　go　on　for　an　hour；　but　don't　tell　me　you　need　it。　I　don't　wonder　you　grabbed　at　it；　it　looked　as　if　it　might　possibly　be　the　break　you　had　been　hoping　for；　and　besides；　she　had　fixed　it　up　with　some　trimmings　that　might　be　very　juicy；　like　the　crap　about　me　working　for　Rackham。　I　have　not　and　am　not；　and　I　have　none　of　his　dough。　Must　I　punch　more　holes　in　it？〃
　　Archer　was　studying　me。　〃Is　it　your　contention　that　Miss　Darrow　invented　all　this？〃
　　〃It　is。〃
　　〃Why？〃
　　I　shrugged。　〃I　don't　know。　Do　you　want　me　to　guess？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃Well…my　best　one　first。　Have　you　noticed　her　eyes…the　deep　light　in　them？　I　think　she's　trying　to　take　over　for　you。　She　liked　Mrs。　Rackham；　and　when　she　got　left　that　two　hundred　grand　it　went　to　her　head。　She　thought　Rackham　had　killed　her…I　don't　know　whether　it　was　a　hunch　or　what…and　when　time　passed　and　it　looked　as　if　he　wasn't　going　to　get　tagged　for　it；　she　decided　it　was　her　duty　or　mission；　or　whatever　word　she　uses　for　it；　to　step　in。　Having　the　two　hundred　grand；　she　could　afford　a　hobby　for　a　while。　That　was　when　she　started　to　put　the　eyes　on　Rackham。　I　expect　she　thought　she　could　get　him　into　a　state　where　he　would　dump　it　all　out　for　her；　and　then　she　would　not　only　know　she　was　right　but　would　also　be　able　to　plete　her　mission。　But　the　months　went　by　and　he　never　dumped；　and　it　probably　got　a　little　embarrassing；　and　she　got　fanatic　about　it；　and　she　must　even　have　got　desperate；　judging　by　the　performance　she　finally　ended　up　with。　She　decided　Rackham　was　guilty；　that　part　was　all　right；　and　the　only　thing　lacking　was　evidence；　so　it　was　up　to　her　to　furnish　it。〃
　　I　leaned　forward　at　her。　〃It's　not　enough　to　want　to　do　a　good　deed；　you　damn　fool。　Wanting　is　fine；　but　you　also　need　some　slight　idea　of　how　to　go　about　it。　It　didn't　bother　you　that　one　by…product　was　making　me　out　a　cheap　crook；　did　it？