rs.inthebestfamelies-第7章

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　　A　grunt　and　a　pause。　〃On　what　I　know　now；　everything　about　Mrs。　Rackham's　talk　with　me　and　the　purpose　of　your　trip　there。　About　Mrs。　Rackham　and　Mr。　Leeds　and　what　you　have　seen　and　heard　there；　everything。　But　you　will　of　course　confine　yourself　strictly　to　that。〃
　　〃Nothing　about　sausage？〃
　　〃Absolutely　nothing。　The　question　is　idiotic。〃
　　〃Yeah；　I　just　asked。　Okay。　Well；　I　got　here　and　met　dogs　and　people。　Leed's　place　is　on　a　er　of　Mrs。　Rackham's　property；　and　we　walked　through　the　woods　for　dinner　at　Birchvale。　There　were　eight　of　us　at　dinner。　。　。〃
　　I'm　fairly　good　with　a　billiard　cue；　and　only　Saul　Panzer　can　beat　me　at　tailing　a　man　or　woman　in　New　York；　but　what　I　am　best　at　is　reporting　a　plicated　event　to　Nero　Wolfe。　With；　I　figured；　a　probable　maximum　of　ten　minutes　for　it；　I　covered　all　the　essentials　in　eight；　leaving　him　two　for　questions。　He　had　some；　of　course。　But　I　think　he　had　the　picture　well　enough　to　sleep　on　when　I　saw　the　light　of　a　car　through　the　window；　told　him　goodby；　and　hung　up。　I　stepped　from　the　living　room　into　the　little　hall；　opened　the　outside　door；　and　was　standing　on　the　stone　slab　as　a　car　with　STATE　POLICE　painted　on　it　came　down　the　narrow　drive　and　stopped。
　　Two　uniformed　public　servants　piled　out　and　made　for　me。　I　only　hoped　neither　of　them　was　my　pet　Westchester　hate；　Lieutenant　Con　Noonan；　and　had　my　hope　granted。　They　were　both　rank…and…file。
　　One　of　them　spoke。　〃Your　name　Goodwin？〃
　　I　conceded　it。　Dogs　had　started　to　bark。
　　〃After　finding　a　dead　body　you　went　off　and　came　here　to　rest　your　feet？〃
　　〃I　didn't　find　the　body。　A　dog　did。　As　for　my　feet；　do　you　mind　stepping　inside？〃
　　I　held　the　door　open；　and　they　crossed　the　threshold。　With　a　thumb　I　called　their　attention　to　Nobby；　on　the　bench。
　　〃That's　another　dog。　It　had　just　crawled　here　to　die；　there　on　the　doorstep。　It　struck　me　that　Mrs。　Rackham　might　have　been　killed　with　that　knife　before　it　was　used　on　the　dog；　and　that　you　guys　would　be　interested　in　the　knife　as　is；　before　somebody　took　it　to　slice　bread　with；　for　instance。　So　when　Leeds　went　to　the　house　to　phone　I　came　here。　I　have　no　corns。〃
　　One　of　them　had　stepped　to　the　bench　to　look　down　at　Nobby。　He　asked；　〃Have　you　touched　the　knife？〃
　　〃No。〃
　　〃Was　Leeds　here　with　you？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃Did　he　touch　the　knife？〃
　　〃I　don't　think　so。　If　he　did　I　didn't　see　him。〃
　　The　cop　turned　to　his　colleague。　〃We　won't　move　it；　not　now。　You'd　better　stick　here。　Right？〃
　　〃Right〃
　　〃You'll　be　getting　word。　e　along；　Goodwin。〃
　　He　marched　to　the　door　and　opened　it　and　let　me　pass　through　first。　Outdoors　he　crossed　to　his　car；　got　in　behind　the　wheel；　and　told　me；　〃Hop　in。〃
　　I　stood。　〃Where　to？〃
　　〃Where　I'm　going。〃
　　〃I'm　sorry；〃　I　said　regretfully；　〃but　I　like　to　know　where。　If　it's　White　Plains　or　a　barracks；　I　would　need　a　different　kind　of　invitation。　Either　that　or　physical　help。〃
　　〃Oh；　you're　a　lawyer。〃
　　〃No；　but　I　know　a　lawyer。〃
　　〃Congratulations。〃　He　leaned　toward　me　and　spoke　through　his　nose。
　　〃Mr。　Goodwin；　I'm　driving　to　Mrs。　Rackham's　house；　Birchvale。　Would　you　care　to　join　me？〃
　　〃I'd　love　to；　thanks　so　much；〃　I　said　warmly；　and　climbed　in。
　　
　　5
　　THE　rest　of　that　night；　more　than　six　hours；　from　half…past　midnight　until　well　after　sunrise；　I　might　as　well　have　been　in　bed　asleep　for　all　I　got　out　of　it。　I　learned　only　one　thing；　that　the　sun　rises　on　April　ninth　at　5：39；　and　even　that　wasn't　reliable　because　I　didn't　know　whether　it　was　a　true　horizon。　Lieutenant　Con　Noonan　was　at　Birchvale；　among　others；　but　his　style　was　cramped。
　　Even　after　the　arrival　of　District　Attorney　Cleveland　Archer　himself；　the　atmosphere　was　not　one　of　single…minded　devotion　to　the　service　of　justice。
　　Not　that　they　weren't　all　for　justice；　but　they　had　to　keep　it　in　perspective；　and　that's　not　so　easy　when　a　prominent　wealthy　taxpayer　like　Mrs。　Barry　Rackham　has　been　murdered　and　your　brief　list　of　suspects　includes　（a）　her　husband；　now　a　widower；　who　may　himself　now　be　a　prominent　wealthy　taxpayer；　（b）　an　able　young　politician　who　has　been　elected　to　the　state　assembly；　（c）　the　dead　woman's　daughter…in…law；　who　may　possibly　be　more　of　a　prominent　wealthy　taxpayer　than　the　widower；　and　（d）　a　vice…president　of　a　billion…dollar　New　York　bank。　They're　all　part　of　the　perspective；　though　you　wish　to　God　they　weren't　so　you　could　concentrate　on　the　other　three　suspects：　（e）　the　dead　woman's　cousin；　a　breeder　of　dogs　which　don't　make　friends；　（f）　her　secretary；　a　mere　employee；　and　（g）　a　private　dick　from　New　York　whose　tongue　has　needed　bobbing　for　some　time。　With　a　setup　like　that　you　can't　just　take　them　all　down　to　White　Plains　and　tell　the　boys　to　start　chipping　and　save　the　pieces。
　　Except　for　fifteen　minutes　alone　with　Con　Noonan；　I　spent　the　first　two　hours　in　the　big　living　room　where　we　had　looked　at　television；　having　for　pany　the　members　of　the　family；　the　guests；　five　members　of　the　domestic　staff；　and　two　or　more　officers　of　the　law。　It　wasn't　a　bit　jolly。　Two　of　the　female　servants　wept　intermittently。　Barry　Rackham　walked　up　and　down；　sitting　occasionally　and　then　starting　up　again；　speaking　to　no　one。　Oliver　Pierce　and　Una　Darrow　sat　on　a　couch　conversing　in　undertones；　spasmodically；　with　him　doing　most　of　the　talking。　Dana　Hammond；　the　banker；　was　jumpy。　Mostly　he　sat　slumped；　with　his　chin　down　and　his　eyes　closed；　but　now　and　then　he　would　arise　slowly　as　if　something　hurt　and　go　to　say　something　to　one　of　the　others；　usually　Annabel　or　Leeds。　Leeds　had　been　getting　a　blaze　started　in　the　fireplace　when　I　was　ushered　in；　and　it　continued　to　be　his　chief　concern。　He　got　the　fire　so　hot　that　Annabel　moved　away；　to　the　other　side　of　the　room。　She　was　the　quietest　of　them；　but　from　the　way　she　kept　her　jaw　clamped　I　guessed　that　it　wasn't　because　she　was　the　least　moved。
　　One　by　one　they　were　escorted　from　the　room　for　a　private　talk　and　brought　back　again。　It　was　when　my　turn　came；　not　long　after　I　had　arrived；　that　I　found　Lieutenant　Noonan　was　around。　He　was　in　a　smaller　room　down　the　hall；　seated　at　a　table；　looking　harassed。　No　doubt　life　was　hard　for　him…born　with　the　instincts　of　a　Hitler　or　Stalin　in　a　country　where　people　are　determined　to　do　their　own　voting。　The　dick　who　took　me　in　motioned　me　to　a　chair　across　the　table。
　　〃You　again；〃　Noonan　said。
　　I　nodded。　〃That's　exactly　what　I　was　thinking。　I　haven't　seen　you　since　the　time　I　didn't　run　my　car　over　Louis　Rony。〃
　　I　didn't　expect　him　to　wince；　and　he　didn't。　〃You're　here　investigating　that　dog　poisoning　at　Hillside　Kennels。〃
　　I　had　no　ment。
　　〃Weren't　you？〃　he　snapped。　〃If　you're　answering　questions。〃
　　〃Oh；　I　beg　your　pardon。　I　didn't　know　it　was　a　question。　It　sounded　more　like　a　statement。〃
　　〃You　are　investigating　the　dog　poisoning？〃
　　〃I　started　to。　I　spent　an　hour　at　it　there　with　Leeds；　before　we　came　here　to　dinner。〃
　　〃So　he　said。　Make　any　progress？〃
　　〃Nothing　remarkable。　For　one　thing；　I　had　kibitzers；　which　is　no　help。　Mrs。　Frey　and　Mr。　Hammond。〃
　　〃Did　you　all　e　over　here　together？〃
　　〃No。　Leeds　and　I　came　about　an　hour　after　Mrs。　Frey　and　Mr。　Hammond　left。〃
　　〃Did　you　drive？〃
　　〃Walked。　He　walked　and　I　ran。〃
　　〃You　ran？　Why？〃
　　〃To　keep　up　with　him。〃
　　Noonan　smiled。　He　has　the　meanest　smile　I　know　of　except　maybe　Boris　Karloff。　〃You　get　your　edy　from　the　ics；　don't　you；　Goodwin？〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　〃Tell　me　about　the　dinner　here　and　afterwards。　Make　it　as　funny　as　you　can。〃
　　I　took　ten　minutes　for　it；　as　much　as　I　had　had　for　Wolfe；　but　getting　interrupted　with　questions。　I　stuck　to　facts　and　gave　them　to　him　straight。
　　When　we　came　to　the　end　he　went　back　and　concentrated　on　whether　all　of　them　had　heard　Mrs。　Rackham　say　she　was　going　for　a　walk　with　the　dog；　as　of　course　they　had　since　she　had　issued　a　blanket　invitation　for　pany。
　　Then　I　was　sent　back　to　the　living　room；　and　it　was　Lina　Darrow's　turn　in　the　preliminaries。　I　wondered　if　she　would　play　dumb　with　him　as　she　had　with　me。
　　It　was　as　empty　a　stretch　or　hours　as　I　have　ever　spent。　I　might　as　well　have　been　a　housebroken　dog；　no　one　seemed　to　think　I　mattered；　and　I　was　not　in　a　position　to　tell　them　how　wrong　they　were。　At　one　point　I　made　a　serious　effort　to　get　into　a　conversation；　making　the　rounds　and　offering　remarks；　but　got　nowhere。　Dana　Hammond　merely　gave　me　a　look；　without　opening　his　trap。　Oliver　Pierce　didn't　even　look　at　me。　Lina　Darrow　mumbled　something　and　turned　away。　Calvin　Leeds　asked　me　what　they　had　done　with　Nobby's　remains；　nodded　and　frowned　at　my　answer；　and　went　to　put　another　log　on　the　fire。　Annabel　Frey　asked　me　if　I　wanted　more　coffee；　and　when　I　said　yes　apparently　didn't　hear　me。　Barry　Rackham；　whom　I　tackled　at　the　far　end　of　the　room；　was　the　most　talkative。　He　wanted　to　know　whether　anyone　had　e　from　the　District　Attorney's　office。　I　said　I　didn't　know。　He　wanted　to　know　the　name　of　the　cop　in　the　other　room　who　was　asking　questions；　and　I　told　him　Lieutenant　Con　Noonan。　That　was　my　longest　conversation；　two　whole　questions　and　answers。
　　I　did　get　in　one　piece　of　detection；　somewhat　later；　when　finally　District　Attorney　Cleveland　Archer　made　an　appearance。　As　he　came　into　the　room　and　made　himself　known　and　everybody　moved　to　approach　him；　I　took　a　look　at　his　shoes　and　saw　that　he　had　undoubtedly　been　in　the　woods　to　inspect　the　spot　where　Mrs。　Rackham's　body　was　found。　Likewise　Ben　Dykes；　the　dean　of　the　Westchester　County　dicks；　who　was　with　him。　That　made　me　feel　slightly　better。　It　would　have　been　a　shame　to　stick　there　the　whole　night　without　detecting　a　single　damn　thing。
　　After　a　few　preliminary　words　to　individuals　Archer　spoke　to　them　collectively。　〃This　is　a　terrible　thing；　an　awful　thing。　It　is　established　that　Mrs。Rackham　was　stabbed　to　death　out　there　in　the　woods…and　the　dog　that　was　with　her。　We　have　the　knife　that　was　used；　as　you　know…it　has　been　shown　to　you…one　of　the　steak　knives　that　are　kept　in　a　drawer　here　in　the　dining　room…they　were　used　by　you　at　dinner　last　evening。　We　have　statements　from　all　of　you；　but　of　course　I'll　have　to　talk　further　with　you。　I　won't　try　to　do　that　now。　It's　after　three　o'clock；　and　I'll　e　back　in　the　morning。　I　want　to　ask　whether　any　of　you　has　anything　to　say　to　me　now；　anything　that　shouldn't　wait　until　then。〃　His　eyes　went　over　them。　〃Anyone？〃
　　No　sound　and　no　movement　from　any　quarter。　They　sure　were　a　chatty　bunch。　They　just　stood　and　stared　at　him；　including　me。　I　would　have　liked　to　relieve　the　tension　with　a　remark　or　question；　but　didn't　want　to　remind　him　that　I　was　present。
　　However；　he　didn't　need　a　reminder。　After　all　the　others；　including　the　servants；　had　cleared　out；　Leeds　and　I　were　moving　toward　the　door　when　Ben　Dykes's　voice　came。　〃Goodwin！〃
　　Leeds　kept　going。　1　turned。
　　Dykes　came　to　me。　〃We　want　to　ask　you　something。〃
　　〃Shoot。〃
　　District　Attorney　Archer　joined　us；　saying；　〃In　there　with　Noonan；　Ben。〃
　　〃Him　and　Noonan　bring　sparks；〃　Dykes　objected。　〃Remember　last　year　at　Spelling's？〃
　　〃I'll　do　the　talking；〃　Archer　stated；　and　led　the　way　to　the　hall　and　along　to　the　smaller　room　where　Noonan　was　still