rs.inthebestfamelies-第9章

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an　to　the　car　and　unlocked　it　and　climbed　in；　started　the　engine；　swung　around　the　graveled　space；　and　passed　the　house　on　my　way　out　just　as　Leeds　emerged　through　the　side　door。　I　stepped　on　the　brake；　stuck　my　head　through　the　window；　yelled　at　him；　〃Got　an　errand　to　do；　see　you　later！〃　and　rolled　on　through　the　gate　and　into　the　highway；　At　that　hour　Sunday　morning　the　roads　were　all　mine；　the　bright　new　sun　was　at　my　left　out　of　the　way；　and　it　would　have　been　a　pleasant　drive　if　I　had　been　in　a　mood　to　feel　pleased。　Which　I　wasn't。　This　was　a　totally　different　situation　from　the　other　two　occasions　when　we　had　crossed　Arnold　Zeck's　path　and　someone　had　got　killed。　Then　the　corpses　had　been　Zeck's　men；　and　Zeck；　Wolfe；　and　the　public　interest　had　all　been　on　the　same　side。　This　time　Zeck's　man；　Barry　Rackham；　was　the　number　one　suspect；　and　Wolfe　had　either　to　return　his　dead　client's　ten　grand；　keep　it　without　doing　anything　to　earn　it；　or　meet　Zeck　head　on。　Knowing　Wolfe　as　I　did；　I　hit　eighty…five　that　morning　rolling　south　on　the　Sawmill　River　Parkway。
　　The　dash　clock　said　7：18　as　I　left　the　West　Side　Highway　at　46th　Street。
　　I　had　to　cross　to　Ninth　Avenue　to　turn　south。　It　was　as　empty　as　the　country　roads　had　been。　Turning　right　on　35th；　I　went　on　across　Tenth　Avenue；　on　nearly　to　Eleventh；　and　pulled　to　the　curb　in　front　of　Wolfe's　old　brownstone　house。
　　Even　before　I　killed　the　engine　I　saw　something　that　made　me　goggle　…a　sight　that　had　never　greeted　me　before　in　the　thousands　of　rimes　I　had　braked　a　car　to　a　stop　there。
The　front　door　was　standing　wide　open。
　　
　　6
　　MY　HEART　came　up。　I　swallowed　it　down；　jumped　out；　ran　across　the　sidewalk　and　up　the　seven　steps　to　the　stoop　and　on　in。　Fritz　and　Theodore　were　there　in　the　hall；　ing　to　me。　Their　faces　were　enough　to　make　a　guy's　heart　pop　right　out　of　his　mouth。　〃Airing　the　house？〃　I　demanded。
　　〃He's　gone；〃　Fritz　said。
　　〃Gone　where？〃
　　〃I　don't　know。　During　the　night。　When　I　saw　the　door　was　open…〃
　　〃What's　that　in　your　hand？〃
　　〃He　left　them　on　the　table　in　his　room…for　Theodore　and　me；　and　one　for　you…〃
　　I　snatched　the　pieces　of　paper　from　his　trembling　hand　and　looked　at　the　one　on　top。　The　writing　on　it　was　Wolfe's。
　　
　　Dear　Fritz；
　　Marko　Vukcic　will　want　your　services。　He　should　pay　you　at　least　2000　a　month。
　　My　best　regards。　。　。Nero　Wolfe。
　　
　　I　looked　at　the　next　one。
　　Dear　Theodore：
　　Mr。　Hewitt　will　take　the　plants　and　will　need　your　help　with　them。　He　should　pay　you　around　200　weekly。
　　My　regards。　。　。Nero　Wolfe。
　　
　　I　looked　at　the　third　one。
　　AG；
　　Do　not　look　for　me。
　　My　very　best　regards　and　wishes。　。　。NW
　　
　　I　went　through　them　again；　watching　each　word；　told　Fritz　and　Theodore；　〃e　and　sit　down；〃　went　to　the　office；　and　sat　at　my　desk。　They　moved　chairs　to　face　me；　〃He's　gone；〃　Fritz　said；　trying　to　convince　himself。
　　〃So　it　seems；〃　I　said　aggressively。
　　〃You　know　where　he　is；〃　Theodore　told　me　accusingly。　〃It　won't　be　easy　to　move　some　of　the　plants　without　damage。　I　don't　like　working　on　Long　Island；　not　for　two　hundred　dollars　a　week。　When　is　he　ing　back？〃
　　〃Look；　Theodore；〃　I　said；　〃I　don't　give　a　good　goddam　what　you　like　or　don't　like。　Mr。　Wolfe　has　always　pampered　you　because　you're　the　best　orchid　nurse　alive。　This　is　as　good　a　time　as　any　to　tell　you　that　you　remind　me　of　sour　milk。　I　do　not　know　where　Mr。　Wolfe　is　nor　if　or　when　he's　ing　back。　To　you　he　sent　his　regards。　To　me　he　sent　his　very　best　regards　and　wishes。　Now　shut　up。〃
　　I　shifted　to　Fritz。　〃He　thinks　Marko　Vukcic　should　pay　you　twice　as　much　as　he　does。　That's　like　him；　huh？　You　can　see　I'm　sore　as　hell；　his　doing　it　like　this；　but　I'm　not　surprised。　To　show　you　how　well　I　know　him；　this　is　what　happened：　not　long　after　I　phoned　him　last　night　he　simply　wrote　these　notes　to　us　and　walked　out　of　the　house；　leaving　the　door　open…you　said　you　found　it　open…to　show　anyone　who　might　be　curious　that　there　was　no　longer　anyone　or　anything　of　any　importance　inside。　You　got　up　at　your　usual　time；　six…thirty；　saw　the　open　door；　went　up　to　his　room；　found　his　bed　empty　and　the　notes　on　the　table。　After　going　up　to　the　plant　rooms　to　call　Theodore；　you　returned　to　his　room；　looked　around；　and　discovered　that　he　had　taken　nothing　with　him。　Then　you　and　Theodore　stared　at　each　other　until　I　arrived。　Have　you　anything　to　add　to　that？〃
　　〃I　don't　want　to　work　on　Long　Island；〃　Theodore　stated。
　　Fritz　only　said；　〃Find　him；　Archie。〃
　　〃He　told　me　not　to。〃
　　〃Yes…but　find　him！　Where　will　he　sleep？　What　will　he　eat？〃
　　I　got　up　and　went　to　the　safe　and　opened　it；　and　looked　in　the　cash　drawer；　where　we　always　kept　a　supply　for　emergency　expenses。　There　should　have　been　a　little　over　four　thousand　bucks；　there　was　a　little　over　a　thousand。　I　closed　the　safe　door　and　twirled　the　knob；　and　told　Fritz；　〃He'll　sleep　and　eat。　Was　my　report　accurate？〃
　　〃Not　quite。　One　of　his　bags　is　gone；　and　pajamas；　toothbrush；　razor；　three　shirts；　and　ten　pairs　of　socks。〃
　　〃Did　he　take　a　walking　stick？〃
　　〃No。　The　old　gray　topcoat　and　the　old　gray　hat。〃
　　〃Were　there　any　visitors？〃
　　〃No。〃
　　〃Any　phone　calls　besides　mine？〃
　　〃I　don't　know　about　yours。　His　extension　and　mine　were　both　plugged　in；　but　you　know　I　don't　answer　when　you're　out　unless　he　tells　me　to。　It　rang　only　once；　at　eight　minutes　after　twelve。〃
　　〃Your　clock's　wrong。　That　was　me。　It　was　five　after。〃　I　went　and　gave　him　a　pat　on　the　shoulder。　〃Okay。　I　hope　you　like　your　new　job。　How's　chances　for　some　breakfast？〃
　　〃But　Archie！　His　breakfast　。　。　。〃
　　〃I　could　eat　that　too。　I　drove　forty　miles　on　an　empty　stomach。〃　I　patted　him　again。　〃Look；　Fritz。　Right　now　I'm　sore　at　him；　damn　sore。　After　some　griddle　cakes　and　broiled　ham　and　eight　or　ten　eggs　in　black　butter　and　a　quart　of　coffee；　we'll　see。　I　think　I'll　be　even　sorer　than　I　am　now；　but　we'll　see。　Is　there　any　of　his　favorite　honey　left　that　you　haven't　been　giving　me　lately？　The　thyme　honey？〃
　　〃Yes…some。　Four　jars。〃
　　〃Good。　I'll　finish　off　with　that　on　a　couple　of　hot　cakes。　Then　we'll　see　how　I　feel。〃
　　〃I　would　never　have　thought…〃　Fritz's　voice　had　a　quaver；　and　he　stopped　and　started　over　again。　〃I　would　never　have　thought　this　could　happen。　What　is　it；　Archie？〃　He　was　practically　wailing。　〃What　is　it？　His　appetite　has　been　good。〃
　　〃We　were　going　to　repot　some　Miltonias　today；〃　Theodore　said　dismally。
　　I　snorted。　〃Go　ahead　and　pot　'em。　He　was　no　help　anyhow。　Beat　it　and　let　me　alone。　I've　got　to　think。　Also　I'm　hungry。　Beat　it！〃
　　Theodore；　mumbling；　shuffled　out。　Fritz；　following　him；　turned　at　the　door。　〃That's　it；　Archie。　Think。　Think　where　he　is　while　I　get　your　breakfast。〃
　　He　left　me；　and　I　sat　down　at　my　desk　to　do　the　thinking；　but　the　cogs　wouldn't　catch。　I　was　too　mad　to　think。　〃Don't　look　for　me。〃　That　was　him　to　a　T。　He　knew　damn　well　that　if　I　should　ever　e　home　to　find　he　had　vanished；　the　one　activity　that　would　make　any　sense　at　all　would　be　to　start　looking　for　him；　and　here　I　was　stopped　cold　at　the　take…off。　Not　that　I　had　no　notion　at　all。　That　was　why　I　had　left　Leed's　place　without　notice　and　stepped　it　up　to　eighty…five　getting　back：　I　did　have　a　notion。　Two　years　had　passed　since　Wolfe　had　told　me；　〃Archie；　you　are　to　forget　that　you　know　that　man's　name。　If　ever；　in　the　course　of　my　business；　I　find　that　I　am　mitted　against　him　and　must　destroy　him；　I　shall　leave　this　house；　find　a　place　where　I　can　work…and　sleep　and　eat　if　there　is　time　for　it…and　stay　there　until　I　have　finished。〃
　　So　that　part　was　okay；　but　what　about　me？　On　another　occasion；　a　year　later；　he　bad　said　to　five　members　of　a　family　named　Sperling；　in　my　presence；　〃In　that　event　he　will　know　it　is　a　mortal　encounter；　and　so　will　I；　and　I　shall　move　to　a　base　of　operations　which　will　be　known　only　to　Mr。　Goodwin　and　perhaps　two　others。〃　Okay。　There　was　no　argument　with　the　mortal　encounter　or　about　the　move。　But　I　was　the　Mr。　Goodwin　referred　to；　and　here　I　was　staring　at　it…〃Don't　look　for　me。〃　Where　did　that　leave　me？　Certainly　the　two　others　he　had　had　in　mind　were　Saul　Panzer　and　Marko　Vukcic；　and　I　didn't　even　dare　to　phone　Saul　and　ask　a　couple　of　discreet　questions；　and　besides；　if　he　had　let　Saul　in　and　left　me　out；　to　hell　with　him。　And　what　was　I　supposed　to　say　to　people…for　instance；　people　like　the　District　Attorney　of　Westchester　County？
　　That　particular　question　got　answered；　partly　at　least；　from　an　unexpected　quarter。　When　I　had　finished　with　the　griddle　cakes；　ham；　eggs；　thyme　honey；　and　coffee；　I　went　back　to　the　office　to　see　if　I　was　ready　to　quit　feeling　and　settle　down　to　thinking；　and　was　working　at　it　when　I　became　aware　that　I　was　sitting　in　Wolfe's　chair　behind　his　desk。　That　brought　me　up　with　a　jerk。　No　one　else；　including　me；　ever　sat　in　that　chair；　but　there　I　was。　I　didn't　approve　of　it。　It　seemed　to　imply　that　Wolfe　was　through　with　that　chair　for　good；　and　that　was　a　hell　of　an　attitude　to　take；　no　matter　how　sore　I　was。　I　opened　a　drawer　of　his　desk　to　check　its　contents；　pretending　that　was　what　1　had　sat　there　for；　and　was　starting　a　careful　survey　when　the　doorbell　rang。
　　Going　to　answer　it；　I　took　my　time　because　I　had　done　no　thinking　yet　and　therefore　didn't　know　my　lines。　Seeing　through　the　one…way　glass　panel　in　the　front　door　that　the　man　on　the　stoop　was　a　civilian　stranger；　my　first　impulse　was　to　let　him　ring　until　he　got　tired；　but　curiosity　chased　it　away　and　I　opened　the　door。　He　was　just　a　citizen　with　big　ears　and　an　old　topcoat；　and　he　asked　to　see　Mr。　Nero　Wolfe。　I　told　him　Mr。　Wolfe　wasn't　available　on　Sundays；　and　I　was　his　confidential　assistant；　and　could　I　help。
　　He　thought　maybe　I　could；　took　an　envelope　from　a　pocket；　extracted　a　sheet　of　paper；　and　unfolded　it。
　　〃I'm　from　the　Gazette；〃　he　stated。　〃This　copy　for　an　ad　we　got　in　the　mail　this　morning…we　want　to　be　sure　it's　authentic。〃
　　I　took　the　paper　and　gave　it　a　look。　It　was　one　of　our　large…sized　letterheads；　and　the　writing　and　printing　on　it　were　Wolfe's。　At　the　top　was　written：
　　Display　advertisement　for　Monday's　Gazette；　first　section；　two　columns　wide；　depth　as　required。　In　thin　type；　not　blatant。　Send　bill　to　above　address。
　　
　　Below　the　copy　was　printed　by　hand：
　　MR。　NERO　WOLFB　ANNOUNCES　HIS　RETIREMENT　FROM　THE　DETECTIVE　BUSINESS　TODAY；　APRIL　10；　1950
　　Mr。　Wolfe　will　not　hereafter　be　available。　Inquiries　from　clients　on　unfinished　matters　may　be　made　of　Mr。　Archie　Goodwin。　Inquiries　from　others　than　clients　will　not　receive　attention。
　　
　　Beneath　that　was　Wolfe's　signature。　It　was　authentic　all　right。
　　Having　learned　it　by　heart；　I　handed　it　back。　〃Yeah；　thats　okay。　Sure。
　　Give　it　a　good　spot。〃
　　〃It's　authentic？〃
　　〃Absolutely。〃
　　〃Listen；　I　want　to　see　him。　Give　me　a　break！　Good　spot　hell；　it's　page　one　if　I　can　get　a　story　on　it！〃
　　〃Don't　you　believe　your　own　ads？　It　says　that　Mr。　Wolfe　will　not　hereafter　be　available。〃　I　had　the　door　swung　to　a　narrow　gap。　〃I　never　saw　you　before；　but　Lon　Cohen　is　an　old　friend　of　mine。　He　gets　to　work　at　noon；　doesn't　he？〃　〃Yes；　but…〃
　　〃Tell　him　not　to　bother　to　phone　about　this。　Mr。　Wolfe　is　not　a