rs.inthebestfamelies-第34章

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er；　I　penetrated　some　distance…not　very　far；　but　far　enough…into　Zeck's　confidence；　and　I　learned　a　good　deal　about　his　methods。　I　doubt　if　he　ever　had　conclusive　evidence　that　Rackham　bad　killed　Delia　Montrose；　but　Rackham；　conscious　of　his　guilt；　hadn't　the　spine　to　demand　a　showdown。　Murderers　seldom　have。　Then　Rackharo　got　a　spine；　suddenly　and　fortuitously；　by　being　a　millionaire；　he　thought　then　he　could　fight　it；　he　defied　Zeck；　and　Zeck；　taking　his　time；　retorted　by　threatening　to　expose　Rackham　for　the　murder　of　his　wife。　The　threat　was　dangerous　and　effective　even　without　authentic　evidence　to　support　it；　there　could　of　course　be　no　authentic　evidence　that　Rackham　killed　his　wife；　because　he　didn't。〃
　　They　all　froze；　still　wearing　the　frowns。　Knowing　Wolfe　as　I　did；　I　had　suspected　that　was　ing；　so　I　was　taking　them　all　in　to　get　the　impact；　but　there　wasn't　much　to　choose。　After　the　first　shock　they　all　began　to　make　noises；　then　words　came；　and　then；　as　the　full　beauty　of　it　hit　them；　the　words　petered　out。
　　〃All　but　Archer's。　You　have　signed　a　statement；〃　he　told　Wolfe；　〃to　the　effect　that　Zeck　told　Rackham　he　could　produce　evidence　that　would　convict　him　of　murder；　and　that　Rackham　thereupon　shot　Zeck。　Now　you　say；　in　contradiction…〃
　　〃There　is　no　contradiction；〃　Wolfe　declared。　〃The　fact　of　Rackham's　innocence　would　have　been　no　defense　against　evidence　manufactured　by　Zeck；　and　Rackham　knew　it。　Innocent　as　he　was…of　this　murder；　that　is…he　knew　what　Zeck　was　capable　of。〃
　　〃You　have　said　that　you　think　Rackham　killed　his　wife；　but　that　you　have　no　proof。〃
　　〃I　have　not；〃　Wolfe　snapped。　〃Read　your　transcripts。〃
　　〃I　shall。　And　you　now　say　that　you　think　Rackham　did　not　kill　his　wife？〃
　　〃Not　that　I　think　he　didn't。　I　know　he　didn't；　because　I　know　who　did。〃
　　Wolfe　flipped　a　hand。　〃I've　known　that　from　the　beginning。　That　night　in　April；　when　Mr。　Goodwin　phoned　me　that　Mrs。　Rackham　had　been　murdered；　I　knew　who　had　murdered　her。　But　I　also　knew　that　the　interests　of　Arnold　Zeck　were　involved　and　I　dared　not　move　openly。　So　I…but　you　know　all　about　that。〃　Wolfe　turned　to　me。　〃Archie。　Precautions　may　not　be　required；　but　you　might　as　well　take　them。〃
　　I　opened　a　desk　drawer　and　got　out　the　Grisson　。38。　My　favorite　Colt；　taken　from　me　in　Zeck's　garage　antechamber；　was　gone　forever。　After　a　glance　at　the　cylinder　I　dropped　the　Grisson　in　my　side　pocket　and　as　I　did　so　lifted　my　head　to　the　audience。　As　if　they　had　all　been　on　one　circuit；　the　six　pairs　of　eyes　left　me　and　went　to　Wolfe。
　　〃I　don't　like　this；〃　Archer　said　in　a　tight　voice。　〃I　am　here　officially；　and　I　don't　like　it。　I　want　to　speak　to　you　privately。〃
　　Wolfe　shook　his　head。　〃It's　much　better　this　way；　Mr。　Archer；　believe　me。　We're　not　in　your　county；　and　you're　free　to　leave　if　it　gets　too　much　for　you；　but…〃
　　〃I　don't　want　to　leave。　I　want　a　talk　with　you。　If　you　knew；　that　night；　who　had　killed　Mrs。　Rackham；　I　intend　to…〃
　　〃It　is；〃　Wolfe　said　cuttingly；　〃of　no　importance　what　you　intend。　You　have　had　five　months　to　implement　your　intentions；　and　where　are　you？　I　admit　that　up　to　three　days　ago　I　had　one　big　advantage　over　you；　but　not　since　then…not　since　I　told　you　of　the　package　I　got　with　a　cylinder　of　tear　gas　in　it；　and　of　the　phone　call　from　Mr。　Zeck。　That　brought　you　even　with　me。　It　was　after　noon　on　a　Friday　that　Mrs。　Rackham　left　here　after　hiring　me。　It　was　the　next　morning；　Saturday；　that　I　received　that　package　and　the　phone　call　from　Zeck。　How　had　he　learned　about　it？　Apparently　he　even　knew　the　amount　of　the　check　she　had　given　me。　How？　From　whom？〃
　　I　was　not　really　itching　to　shoot　anybody。　So　I　got　up　and　unobtrusively　moved　around　back　of　them；　to　the　rear　of　the　chair　that　was　occupied　by　Calvin　Leeds。　Wolfe　was　proceeding。
　　〃It　was　not　inconceivable　that　Mrs。　Rackham　had　told　someone　else　about　it；　her　daughter…in…law　or　her　secretary；　or　even　her　husband；　but　it　was　most　unlikely；　in　view　of　her　insistence　on　secrecy。　She　said　she　had　confided　in　no　one　except　her　cousin；　Calvin　Leeds。〃　Wolfe's　head　jerked　right　and　he　snapped；　〃That's　correct；　Mr。　Leeds？〃
　　Being　back　of　Leeds；　I　couldn't　see　his　face；　but　there　was　no　difficulty　about　hearing　him；　since　he　spoke　much　too　loud。
　　〃Certainly；〃　he　said。　〃Up　to　then…before　she　came　to　see　you…certainly。〃
　　〃Good；〃　Wolfe　said　approvingly。　〃You're　already　drawing　up　your　lines　of　defense。　You'll　need　them。〃
　　〃What　you're　doing；〃　Leeds　said；　still　too　loud；　〃if　I　understand　you…you're　intimating　that　I　told　Zeck　about　my　cousin's　ing　here　and　hiring　you。　You're　intimating　that　in　front　of　witnesses。〃
　　〃That's　right；〃　Wolfe　agreed。　〃But　it's　not　vital　to　me；　I　mention　it　chiefly　to　explain　why　I　suspected　you　of　duplicity；　and　of　being　involved　in　some　way　with　Arnold　Zeck　even　before　Mr。　Goodwin　left　here　that　day　to　go　up　there。　It　draws　attention　to　you；　no　doubt　of　that；　but　it　is　not　primary　evidence　that　you　murdered　your　cousin。　The　proof　that　it　was　you　who　killed　her　was　given　to　me　on　the　phone　that　night　by　Mr。　Goodwin。〃
　　There　were　stirrings　and　little　noises。　Leeds　ignored　them。
　　〃So；〃　he　said；　not　so　loud　now；　〃you're　actually　accusing　me　before　witnesses　of　murdering　my　cousin？〃
　　〃I'm　accusing　you　of　that；　yes；　sir；　but　also　I'm　accusing　you　of　something　much　worse　than　that。〃　Wolfe　spat　it　at　him。　〃I'm　accusing　you　of　deliberately　and　ruthlessly；　to　protect　yourself　from　the　consequences　of　your　murder　of　your　cousin　for　the　money　you　would　inherit　from　her；　thrusting　that　knife　into　the　belly　of　a　dog　that　loved　you　and　trusted　you！〃
　　Leeds　started　up；　but　hadn't　got　far　when　my　hands　were　on　his　shoulders；　and　with　plenty　of　pressure。　He　let　down。　I　moved　my　hands　to　the　back　of　his　chair。　Wolfe's　voice　was　cold　and　cutting。　〃No　one　could　have　done　that　but　you；　Mr。　Leeds。　In　the　woods　at　night；　that　trained　dog　would　not　have　gone　far　from　its　mistress。　Someone　else　might　possibly　have　killed　the　dog　first　and　then　her；　but　it　wasn't　done　that　way；　because　the　knife　was　left　in　the　dog。　And　if　someone　else；　permitted　to　get　close　to　her；　had　succeeded　in　killing　her　with　a　sudden　savage　thrust　and　then　defended　himself　against　the　dog's　attack；　it　is　not　believable　that　he　could　have　stopped　so　ferocious　a　beast　by　burying　the　knife　in　its　side　without　himself　getting　a　single　toothmark　on　him。　You　know　those　dogs；　you　wouldn't　believe　it；　neither　will　I。
　　〃No；　Mr。　Leeds；　it　could　have　been　only　you。　When　Mr。　Goodwin　went　on　to　your　house　and　you　stayed　out　at　the　kennels；　you　joined　your　cousin　on　her　walk　in　the　woods。　I　doubt　if　the　dog　would　have　permitted　even　you　to　stab　her　to　death　in　its　presence；　I　don't　know；　but　you　didn't　have　to。　You　sent　the　dog　away　momentarily；　and；　when　the　knife　had　done　its　work　on　your　cousin；　you　withdrew　it；　stood　there　in　the　dark　with　the　knife　in　your　hand；　and　called　the　dog　to　e。　It　came；　and　despite　the　smell　of　fresh　blood；　it　behaved　itself　because　it　loved　and　trusted　you。　You　could　have　spared　it；　you　could　have　taken　it　home　with　you；　but　no。　That　would　have　put　you　in　danger。　It　had　to　die　for　you；　and　by　your　hand。〃
　　Wolfe　took　a　breath。　〃To　this　point　I　know　I　am　right；　now　conjecture　enters。　You　stabbed　the　dog；　of　course；　burying　the　blade　in　its　belly；　but　did　you　leave　the　knife　there　intentionally；　to　prevent　a　gush　of　blood　on　you；　or　did　the　animal　convulsively　leap　from　you　at　the　feel　of　the　prick；　jerking　the　knife　from　your　grasp？　However　that　may　be；　all　you　could　do　was　make　for　home；　losing　no　time；　for　you　must　show　yourself　to　Mr。　Goodwin　as　soon　as　possible。　So　you　did　that。　You　said　good　night　and　went　to　bed。　I　don't　think　you　slept；　you　may　even　have　heard　the　dog's　whimpering　outside　the　door；　after　it　had　dragged　itself　there；　but　maybe　not；　since　it　was　beneath　Mr。　Goodwin's　window；　not　yours。　You　pretended　sleep；　of　course；　when　he　came　for　you。〃
　　Leeds　was　keeping　his　head　up；　but　I　could　see　his　hands　gripping　his　legs　just　above　the　knees。
　　〃You　used　that　dog；〃　Wolfe　went　on；　his　voice　as　icy　as　Arnold　Zeck's　had　ever　been；　〃even　after　it　died。　You　were　remorseless　to　your　dead　friend。　To　impress　Mr。　Goodwin；　you　were　overe　with　emotion　at　the　thought　that；　though　you　had　given　the　dog　to　your　cousin　two　years　ago；　it　had　e　to　your　doorstep　to　die。　It　had　not　e　to　your　doorstep　to　die；　Mr。　Leeds；　and　you　knew　it；　it　had　e　there　to　try　to　get　at　you。　It　wanted　to　sink　its　teeth　in　you　just　once。　I　say　you　knew　it；　because　when　you　squatted　beside　the　dog　and　put　your　hand　on　it；　it　snarled。　It　would　not　have　snarled　if　it　had　felt　your　hand　as　the　soothing　and　sympathetic　touch　of　a　trusted　friend　in　its　last　agony；　indeed　not；　it　snarled　because　it　knew　you；　at　the　end；　to　be　unworthy　of　its　love　and　trust；　and　it　scorned　and　hated　you。　That　snarl　alone　is　enough　to　convict　you。　Do　you　remember　that　snarl；　Mr。　Leeds？　Will　you　ever　forget　it？　Your　old　friend　Nobby；　his　last　words　for　you…〃
　　Leed's　head　went　forward；　dropping；　and　his　hands　came　up　to　cover　his　face。
　　He　made　no　sound；　and　no　one　else　did　either。　The　silence　darted　around　us　and　into　us；　ing　out　from　Leeds。　Then　Lina　Darrow　took　in　a　breath　with　a　sighing；　sobbing　sound；　and　Annabel　got　up　and　went　to　her。
　　〃Take　him；　Mr。　Archer；〃　Wolfe　said　grimly。　〃I'm　through　with　him；　and　it's　about　time。〃
　　
　　22
　　I'M　SITTING　at　a　window　overlooking　a　fiord；　typing　this　on　a　new　portable　I　bought　for　the　trip。　In　here　it's　pleasant。　It's　late　in　the　season　for　outdoors　in　Norway；　but　if　you　run　hard　to　keep　your　blood　going　you　can　stand　it。
　　I　got　a　letter　yesterday　which　read　as　follows：
　　Dear　Archie：
　　The　chickens　came　from　Mr。　Haskins　Friday；　four　of　them；　and　they　were　satisfactory。　Marko　came　to　dinner。　He　misses　Fritz；　he　says。　I　have　given　Fritz　a　raise。
　　Mr。　Cramer　dropped　in　for　a　talk　one　day　last　week。　He　made　some　rather　pointed　ments　about　you；　but　on　the　whole　behaved　himself　tolerably。
　　I　am　writing　this　longhand　because　I　do　not　like　the　way　the　man　sent　by　the　agency　types。
　　Vanda　peetersiana　has　a　raceme　29　in。　long。　Its　longest　last　year　was　22　in。
　　We　have　found　three　snails　in　the　warm　room。　I　thought　of　mailing　them　to　Mr。　Hewkt　but　didn't。
　　Mr。　Leeds　hanged　himself　in　the　jail　at　White　Plains　yesterday　and　was　dead　when　discovered。　That　of　course　cancels　your　promise　to　Mr。　Archer　to　return　in　time　for　the　trial；　but　I　trust　you　will　not　use　it　as　an　excuse　to　prolong　your　stay。
　　We　have　received　your　letters　and　they　were　most　wele。　1　have　received　an　offer　of　315　for　the　furniture　in　your　office　but　am　insisting　on　350。　Fritz　says　he　has　written　you。　I　am　beginning　to　feel　more　like　myself。
　　My　best　regards；　NW
　　
　　I　let　Lily　read　it。　〃Darn　him　anyhow；〃　she　said。　〃No　message；　not　a　mention　of　me。　My　Pete！　Huh。　Fickle　Fatty。〃
　　〃You'd　be　the　last；〃　I　told　her。　〃that　he'd　ever　send　a　message　to。　You're　the　only　woman　that　ever　got　close　enough　to　him；　at　least　in　my　time；　to　make　him　smell　of　perfume。〃







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