rs.inthebestfamelies-第32章

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der　about　the　same；　and　I　was　slightly　closer。
　　Zeck　asked　Roeder；　〃Have　you　had　a　talk？〃
　　Roeder　shook　his　head。　〃Since　Mr。　Rackham　had　never　met　me　before；　I　thought　it　might　be　better　for　you　to　explain　the　proposal　to　him。　Naturally　he　will　want　to　know　exactly　how　it　is　to　be　handled　before　deciding　whether　to　help　with　it。〃　He　reached　to　get　his　brief　case　from　the　floor；　put　it　on　his　lap；　and　opened　it。
　　〃I　think；〃　Zeck　said；　〃that　you　should　describe　the　operation；　since　you　conceived　it　and　will　manage　it。　But　you　were　right　to　wait。〃　He　turned　to　Rackham。　〃You　remember　our　last　talk　some　time　ago。〃
　　Rackham　said　nothing。
　　〃You　remember　it？〃　Zeck　demanded。　He　made　it　a　demand　by　the　faintest　possible　sharpening　of　his　tone。
　　〃I　remember　it；〃　Rackham　stated；　not　much　above　a　whisper。
　　〃You　know　the　position　you　took。　Ordinarily　that　course　is　not　permitted　to　any　man　who　has　been　given　a　place　in　my　organization；　and　I　made　an　exception　of　you　only　because　the　death　of　your　wife　had　changed　your　circumstances。　I　thought　it　better　to　await　an　opportunity　to　take　advantage　of　that　change；　and　now　it　has　e…through　Roeder　here。　We　want　your　help　and　we　are　prepared　to　insist　on　getting　it。　How　do　you　feel　about　it？〃
　　〃I　don't　know。〃　Rackham　licked　his　lips。　〃I'd　have　to　know　more　about　what　you　want。〃
　　Zeck　nodded。　〃But　first　your　attitude。　You　will　need　to　recognize　the　existence　of　mutual　interests…yours　and　mine。〃
　　Rackham　said　nothing。
　　〃Well？〃　The　faint　sharpening。
　　〃Damn　it；　of　course　I　recognize　them！〃
　　〃Good。　Go　ahead；　Roeder。〃
　　Roeder　had　got　some　papers　from　his　brief　case。　One　of　them　fluttered　away　from　him；　and　I　left　my　chair　to　retrieve　it　for　him。　I　believe　he　did　that　on　purpose。　I　believe　he　knew　that　now　that　the　moment　had　e　every　nerve　and　muscle　in　me　was　on　a　hair　trigger；　and　he　was　giving　me　an　excuse　to　loosen　them　up。
　　〃As　I　understand　it；〃　he　said；　〃we're　going　to　give　Rackham　a　cut；　and　before　I　tell　him　about　it　I　wish　you'd　take　a　look　at　this　revised　list　of　percentages。　Yours　is　of　course　fixed；　and　I　don't　like　to　reduce　mine　unless　it's　absolutely　unavoidable　。　。　。〃
　　He　had　a　sheet　of　paper　in　his　hand。　With　his　brief　case　on　his　lap；　and　loose　papers；　it　was　awkward　for　him　to　get　up；　so　I　obliged。　I　reached；　and　he　handed　me　the　paper；　and　I　had　to　leave　my　chair　to　get　it　to　Zeck。　On　my　way　I　took　a　glance　at　the　paper　because　I　thought　it　was　in　character　to　do　that；　and　if　I　ever　needed　my　character　to　stay　put　for　another　four　seconds　I　did　right　then。　When　I　extended　my　hand　to　Zeck　I　released　the　paper　an　instant　too　soon　and　it　started　to　drop。　I　grabbed　at　it　and　missed；　and　that　made　me　take　another　step　and　bend　over；　which　put　me　in　exactly　the　right　position　to　take　him　away　from　there　before　he　could　possibly　get　a　toe　on　one　of　the　buttons　under　his　desk。
　　Not　wanting　to　knock　his　chair　over；　I　used　my　left　knee　to　push　him　back；　chair　and　all；　my　right　knee　to　land　on　his　thighs　and　keep　him　there；　and　my　hands　for　his　throat。　There　was　only　one　thing　in　my　mind　at　that　precise　instant；　the　instant　I　had　him　away　from　the　desk；　and　that　was　the　fear　that　I　would　break　his　neck。　Since　I　was　in　front　of　him　I　had　to　make　absolutely　sure；　not　only　that　he　didn't　yap；　but　also　that　he　was　too　unfortable　to　try　things　like　jabbing　his　thumbs　in　my　eyes；　but　God　knows　I　didn't　want　to　overdo　it；　and　bones　and　tendons　are　by　no　means　all　alike。
　　What　will　be　merely　an　inconvenience　for　one　man　will　finish　another　one　for　good。
　　His　mouth　was　open　wide　and　his　shark　eyes　were　popping。　With　my　knee　on　him　he　couldn't　kick；　and　his　arms　were　just　flopping　around。　And　Roeder　was　there　by　me；　with　a　wadded　handkerchief　in　one　hand　and　a　piece　of　cord　in　the　other。　As　soon　as　he　had　the　handkerchief　stuffed　tight　in　the　open　mouth　he　moved　to　the　rear　of　the　chair；　taking　Zeck's　right　hand　with　him；　and　reached　around　for　the　left　hand。　It　tried　to　elude　him；　and　I　increased　the　pressure　of　my　fingers　a　little；　and　then　he　got　it。
　　〃Hurry　up；〃　I　growled；　〃or　I'll　kill　him　sure　as　hell。〃
　　It　took　him　a　year。　It　took　him　forever。　But　finally　he　straightened　up；　came　around　to　take　another　look　at　the　handkerchief　and　poke　it　in　a　little　tighter；　backed　up；　and　muttered；　〃All　right；　Archie。〃
　　When　I　took　my　hands　away　my　fingers　ached　like　the　devil；　but　that　was　nerves；　not　muscles。　I　leaned　over　to　get　my　ear　an　inch　away　from　his　nose；　there　was　no　question　about　his　breathing。
　　〃His　pulse　is　all　right；〃　Roeder　said；　not　through　his　nose。
　　〃You're　crazy；〃　Rackham　said　hoarsely。　〃Good　God！　You're　crazy！〃
　　He　was　out　of　his　chair；　standing　there　in　front　of　it；　trembling　all　over。
　　Boeder's　hand　went　to　his　side　pocket　for　the　Carson　Snub　Thirty；　which　he　had　got　from　the　brief　case　along　with　the　piece　of　cord。　I　took　it　and　aimed　it　at　Rackham。
　　〃Sit　down。〃　I　said。　〃and　stay。〃
　　He　sank　down　into　the　chair。　I　moved　to　the　end　of　the　desk　so　as　to　have　him　in　a　corner　of　my　eye　while　looking　at　Zeck。　Roeder；　at　my　left　elbow；　spoke　rapidly　but　distinctly。
　　〃Mr。　Zeck；〃　he　said；　〃you　told　me　on　the　telephone　two　years　ago　that　you　had　great　admiration　for　me。　I　hope　that　what　has　＇ust　happened　here　has　increased　it。　I'm　Nero　Wolfe；　of　course。　There　are　many　things　it　would　give　me　satisfaction　to　say　to　you；　and　perhaps　I　shall　some　day；　but　not　now。　It　is　true　that　if　one　of　your　men　suddenly　opened　the　door　Mr。　Goodwin　would　kill　you　first；　but　I'm　afraid　you'd　have　pany。　So　I'll　get　on。　Having　by　your　admission　matched　you　in　intellect；　it's　a　question　of　will；　and　mine　has　not　failed　me；　as　you　thought。　Confound　it；　I　wish　you　could　speak。〃
　　The　expression　of　Zeck's　eyes；　no　longer　popping；　indicated　that　Wolfe　had　nothing　on　him　there。
　　〃Here's　the　situation；〃　Wolfe　went　on。　〃During　the　two　months　I've　been　here　in　this　outlandish　guise　I　have　collected　enough　evidence　to　get　you　charged　on　thirty　counts　under　Federal　law。　I　assure　you　that　the　evidence　is　sound　and　sufficient；　and　is　in　the　hands　of　a　man　whom　you　cannot　stop　or　deflect。　You'll　have　to　take　my　word　for　it　that　if　that　evidence　is　produced　and　used　you　are　done　for；　and　that　it　will　be　immediately　produced　and　used　if　anything　untoward　happens　to　Mr。　Goodwin　or　me。　I　fancy　you　will　take　my　word　since　you　admit　that　I　match　you　in　intellect；　and　to　climax　these　five　frightful　months　with　such　a　bluff　as　this；　if　it　were　one；　would　be　witless。　However；　if　you　think　I'm　bluffing　there's　no　point　in　going　on。　If　you　think　I'm　bluffing；　please　shake　your　head　no；　meaning　you　don't　believe　me。〃
　　No　shake。
　　〃If　you　think　I　have　the　evidence　as　described；　please　nod　your　head。〃
　　No　nod。
　　〃I　warn　you；〃　Wolfe　said　sharply；　〃that　Mr。　Goodwin　and　I　are　both　ready　for　anything　whatever。〃
　　Zeck　nodded。　Nothing　violent；　but　a　nod。
　　〃You　assume　my　possession　of　the　evidence？〃
　　Zeck　nodded　again。
　　〃Good。　Then　we　can　bargain。　While　I　have　great　respect　for　the　Federal　laws；　I　am　under　no　obligation　to　catch　violators　of　them。　Without　punction　I　can　leave　that　to　others。　But　I　am　under　an　obligation　to　a　certain　individual　which　I　feel　strongly　and　which　I　must　discharge。　Mrs。　Rackham　paid　me　a　large　sum　to　serve　her　interest；　and　the　next　day　she　was　murdered。　It　was　clearly　my　duty　to　expose　her　murderer…not　only　my　duty　to　her　but　to　my　own　self…respect…and　I　have　failed。　With　an　obligation　of　that　nature　I　have　never　accepted　failure　and　do　not　intend　to。　Mr。　Goodwin；　working　in　my　behalf；　has　been　a　party　to　that　failure；　and　he　too　will　not　accept　it。〃
　　Zeck　nodded　again；　or　I　thought　he　did；　probably　to　signify　approval　of　our　high　moral　standards。
　　〃So　we　can　bargain；〃　Wolfe　told　him。　〃You　said　day　before　yesterday　that　you　have　evidence；　or　can　easily　get　it；　that　will　convict　Rackham　of　the　murder　of　his　wife。　Was　that　true？〃
　　Zeck　nodded。　The　shark　eyes　were　intent　on　Wolfe；　〃Very　well。　I　believe　you　because　I　know　what　you　are　capable　of。　I　offer　a　trade。　I'll　trade　you　the　evidence　I　have　collected　against　you　for　the　evidence　that　will　convict　Rackham。　Will　you　make　the　trade？〃
　　Zeck　nodded。
　　〃It　will　have　to　be　more　or　less　on　my　terms。　I　can　be　trusted；　you　cannot。　You　will　have　to　deliver　first。　But　I　realize　that　the　details　of　anything　as　vital　as　this　is　to　you　cannot　be　settled　without　discussion；　and　it　must　be　discussed　and　settled　now。　We　are　going　to　release　your　hands　and　take　that　handkerchief　from　your　mouth；　but　before　we　do　so；　one　more　warning。　You　are　to　stay　where　you　are　until　we're　finished。　If　you　move　toward　the　floor　signals　under　your　desk；　or　try　to　summon　your　men　in　any　other　manner；　you　will　die　before　anyone　else　does。　Also；　of　course；　there　is　the　evidence　that　exists　against　you。　You　understand　the　situation？〃
　　Zeck　nodded。
　　〃Are　you　ready　to　discuss　the　matter？〃
　　Zeck　nodded。
　　〃Release　him；　Archie；〃　Wolfe　snapped。
　　Needing　two　hands　to　untie　the　cord；　I　put　the　Carson　Snub　Thirty　down　on　the　polished　top　of　Zeck's　desk。　I　would　have　given　a　year's　pay　for　a　glance　at　Rackham；　to　see　what　the　chances　were；　but　that　might　have　ruined　it。　So　I　put　the　gun　there；　stepped　around　to　the　rear　of　Zeck's　chair；　knelt；　and　started　untying　the　knot。　My　heart　was　pounding　my　ribs　like　a　sledgehammer。
　　So　I　didn't　see　it　happen；　I　could　only　hear　it。　I　did　see　one　thing　there　behind　Zeck's　chair：　a　sudden　convulsive　jerk　of　his　arms；　which　must　have　been　his　reaction　to　the　sight　of　Rackham　jumping　for　the　gun　I　had　left　on　the　desk。　More　even　than　a　sight　of　Rackham；　to　see　if　he　was　rising　to　it；　I　wanted　a　sight　of　Wolfe；　to　see　if　he　was　keeping　his　promise　to　duck　for　cover　the　instant　Rackham　started　for　the　gun；　but　I　couldn't　afford　it。
　　My　one　desperate　job　now　was　to　get　that　cord　off　of　Zeck's　wrists　in　time；　and　while　Wolfe　had　used　the　trick　knot　we　had　practiced　with；　he　had　made　it　damn　tight。　I　barely　had　it　free　and　was　unwinding　the　cord　from　the　wrists　when　the　sound　of　the　shot　came；　followed　immediately　by　another。
　　As　I　got　the　cord　off　and　jammed　it　in　my　pocket；　Zeck's　torso　slumped　sideways　and　then　forward。　Flat　on　the　floor；　I　slewed　around；　saw　Zeck's　contorted　face　right　above　my　eyes；　pulled　the　handkerchief　out　of　his　mouth　and　stuffed　it　in　my　pocket　with　the　cord；　slid　forward　under　the　desk；　and　reached　for　one　of　the　signal　buttons。
　　I　didn't　know；　and　don't　know　yet；　whether　the　noise　of　the　shots　had　got　through　the　soundproof　door　or　whether　it　was　my　push　on　the　button　that　brought　them。　I　didn't　hear　the　door　open；　but　the　next　shots　I　heard　were　a　fusillade　that　came　from　no　Carson；　so　I　came　back　out　from　under　the　desk　and　on　up　to　my　feet。　Schwartz　and　his　buddy　were　standing　just　inside　the　door；　one　with　two　guns　and　one　with　one。　Rackham　was　stretched　out　on　the　floor；　flat　on　his　face。　Wolfe　was　standing　at　the　end　of　the　desk；　facing　the　door；　scowling　as　I　had　never　seen　him　scowl　before。
　　〃The　dirty　bastard；〃　I　said　bitterly；　and　I　admit　my　voice　might　have　trembled　even　if　I　hadn't　told　it　to。
　　〃Reach　up；〃　Schwartz　said；　advancing。
　　Neither　Wolfe　nor