rs.inthebestfamelies-第15章

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n　pets；　since　I　would　put　a　woman　ahead　of　a　Doberman　pinscher　any　day；　and　there　was　room　for　improvement　in　him　in　a　few　other　respects；　but　I　couldn't　help　but　admit　he　had　a　point　and　was　not　being　at　all　unreasonable。　So　if　I　had　known　where　Wolfe　was　I　would　have　had　to　harden　my　heart；　and　as　it　was　all　I　had　to　harden　was　my　voice。　It　struck　me　then；　for　the　first　time；　that　maybe　I　shouldn't　be　so　sore　at　Wolfe　after　all。
　　Leeds　hung　on　for　another　quarter　of　an　hour；　and　I　prolonged　it　a　little　myself　by　trying　to　get　something　out　of　him　about　the　progress　the　cops　had　made；　without　success。　He　went　away　mad；　still　calling　me　a　liar；　which　kept　it　unanimous。　What　he　got　from　me　was　nothing。　What　I　got　from　him　was　that　Mrs。　Rackham's　funeral　would　be　the　next　morning；　Wednesday。　Not　a　profitable　way　to　spend　most　of　an　hour；　for　either　of　us。　I　spent　what　was　left　of　the　afternoon　looking　into　the　matter　of　sausage。
　　Within　ten　minutes　after　the　package　had　been　opened　that　day；　Wolfe　had　phoned　both　Mummiani　and　the　Fleet　Messenger　Service　and　got　a　blank　as　expected；　but　on　the　outside　chance　that　I　might　at　least　get　a　bone　for　my　curiosity　to　gnaw　on　I　made　a　trip　to　Fulton　Street　and　one　uptown。
　　At　Mummiani's　no　one　knew　anything。　Since　Wolfe　had　been　getting　Darst's　sausage　from　them　for　years；　and　in　that　time　their　personnel　had　e　and　gone；　any　number　of　outsiders　could　know　about　it　At　the　Fleet　Messenger　Service　they　were　willing　to　help　but　couldn't。　They　remembered　the　package　because　Wolfe　had　phoned　about　it；　but　all　I　learned　was　that　it　had　been　left　there　by　a　youth　who　might　have　been　playing　hookey　from　the　eighth　grade；　and　I　didn't　even　bother　to　listen　to　the　description；　such　as　it　was。
　　Fed　up　with　an　empty　house　and　the　phone　ringing　and　being　called　a　bar；　I　put　in　a　call　myself　from　a　drugstore　booth；　and　made　personal　arrangements　for　dinner　and　a　show。
　　Wednesday　morning　a　visitor　came　that　I　let　in。　I　had　formed　the　habit；　since　returning　from　jail；　of　hearing　the　doorbell　ring；　going　to　the　hall；　observing　through　the　one…way　glass　panel　who　it　was　out　on　the　stoop；　making　a　face；　and　returning　to　the　office。　If　the　bell　kept　ringing　long　enough　to　be　a　nuisance　I　flipped　the　switch　that　turned　it　off。　This　time；　around　eleven　Wednesday　morning；　instead　of　making　a　face　I　went　and　opened　the　door　and　said；　〃Well；　hello！　ing　in？〃
　　A　chunky　specimen　about　my　height；　with　wrinkled　pink　skin　and　gray　hair　and　sharp　gray…blue　eyes；　grunted　a　greeting　and　stepped　over　the　sill。
　　I　said　it　was　cold　for　April；　and　he　agreed。　As　I　hung　his　topcoat　on　the　rack　I　told　myself　that　I　must　be　more　restrained。　The　fact　that　I　was　alone　in　the　house　was　no　reason　to　give　Inspector　Cramer　of　Manhattan　Homicide　the　impression　that　I　was　glad　to　see　him。　Wolfe　or　no　Wolfe；　I　could　keep　up　appearances。
　　I　let　him　lead　the　way　to　the　office。　This　time　I　sat　at　my　own　desk。　I　was　tempted　to　take　Wolfe's　chair　again　just　to　see　how　he　would　react；　but　it　would　have　put　me　at　a　disadvantage；　I　was　so　used　to　dealing　with　him；　in　the　red　leather　chair；　from　my　own　angle。
　　He　eyed　me。　〃So　you're　holding　the　fort；〃　he　growled。
　　〃Not　exactly；〃　I　objected。　〃I'm　only　the　caretaker。　Or　maybe　I'm　going　down　with　the　ship。　Not　that　those　who　have　left　are　rats。〃
　　〃Where's　Wolfe？〃
　　〃I　don't　know。　Next；　you　call　me　a　liar。　Then　I　say　I　have　been；　but　not　now。　Then　you…〃
　　〃Nuts。　Where　is　he；　Archie？〃
　　That　cleared　the　atmosphere。　Over　the　years　he　had　called　me　Goodwin　fifty　times　to　one　Archie。　He　called　me　Archie　only　when　he　wanted　something　awful　bad　or　when　he　had　something　wrapped　up　that　Wolfe　had　given　him　and　his　humanity　overcame　him。　So　we　were　to　be　mellow。
　　〃Listen；〃　I　said；　friendly　but　firm。　〃That　routine　is　all　right　for　people　like　district　attorneys　and　state　cops　and　the　representatives　of　the　press；　but　you're　above　it。　Either　I　don't　know　where　he　is；　or　I　do　know　but　I'm　sitting　on　it。　What's　the　difference？　Next　question。〃
　　He　took　a　cigar　from　his　pocket；　inspected　it；　rubbed　it　between　his　palms；　and　inspected　it　again。　〃It　must　be　quite　a　thing；〃　he　remarked；　not　growling。　〃That　ad　in　the　paper。　The　plants　gone。　Fritz　and　Theodore　gone。　Vukcic　listing　the　house　for　sale。　I'm　going　to　miss　it；　I　am；　never　dropping　in　to　see　him　sitting　there　thinking　he's　smarter　than　God　and　all　His　angels。　Quite　a　thing；　it　must　be。　What　is　it？〃
　　I　said　slowly　and　wearily；　〃Either　I　don't　know　what　it　is；　or　I　do　know　but…〃
　　〃What　about　the　sausage　that　turned　into　tear　gas？　Any　connection？〃
　　I　am　always　ready　for　Inspector　Cramer；　in　the　light　of　experience　guided　by　intelligence；　and　therefore　didn't　bat　an　eye。　I　merely　cocked　my　head　a　little；　met　his　gaze；　and　considered　the　matter　until　I　was　satisfied。　〃I　doubt　if　it　was　Fritz；〃　I　stated。　〃Mr。　Wolfe　has　him　too　well　trained。　But　in　the　excitement　Sunday　morning；　Mr。　Wolfe　being　gone；　Fritz　told　Theodore；　and　you　got　it　out　of　Theodore。〃　I　nodded。　〃That　must　be　it。〃
　　〃Did　the　tear　gas　scare　him　out　of　his　skin？　Or　out　of　his　house；　which　is　the　same　thing。　Was　that　it？〃
　　〃It　might　have；　mightn't　it？　A　coward　like　him？〃
　　〃No。〃　Cramer　put　the　cigar　between　his　teeth；　tilted　up。　〃No；　there　are　plenty　of　things　about　Wolfe　I　can　and　do　object　to；　but　he's　not　a　coward。　There　might　have　been　something　about　that　tear　gas　that　would　have　scared　anybody。　Was　there？〃
　　〃As　far　as　I　know；　it　was　just　plain　tear　gas；　nothing　fancy。〃　I　decided　to　shove　a　little。　〃You　know；　it's　nice　to　have　you　here　any　time；　just　for　pany；　but　aren't　you　spreading　out　some？　Your　job　is　homicide；　and　the　tear　gas　didn't　even　make　us　sick；　let　alone　kill　us。　Also　your　job　is　in　the　County　of　New　York；　and　Mrs。　Rackham　died　in　Westchester。　I　enjoy　talking　with　you；　but　have　you　got　credentials？〃
　　He　made　a　noise　that　could　have　been　a　chuckle。　〃That's　more　like　it；〃　he　said；　not　sarcastically。　〃You're　beginning　to　sound　natural。　I'll　tell　you。　I'm　here　at　the　request　of　Ben　Dykes；　who　would　give　all　his　teeth　and　one　ear　to　clear　up　the　Rackham　case　ahead　of　the　state　boys。　He　thinks　that　Archer；　the　DA；　may　have　swallowed　the　idea　that　you　and　Leeds　are　lying　too　deep；　and　he　came　to　me　as　an　expert　on　Nero　Wolfe；　which　God　knows　I　am。　He　laid　it　all　out　for　me　and　wanted　my　opinion。〃　He　shifted　the　cigar　to　a　new　angle。　〃The　way　it　looked　to　me；　there　were　three　possibilities。　First；　the　one　that　Archer　has　sold　himself　on；　that　you　and　Leeds　are　lying；　and　that　what　Mrs。　Rackham　really　told　Wolfe　when　she　came　here；　together　with　her　getting　murdered　the　next　day；　somehow　put　Wolfe　on　a　spot　that　was　too　hot　for　him；　and　he　scooted；　after　fixing　with　you　to　cover　as　well　as　you　could。　I　told　Dykes　I　would　rule　that　out；　for　various　reasons…chiefly　because　neither　you　nor　Wolfe　would　risk　that　much　on　a　setup　that　depended　on　a　stranger　like　Leeds　sticking　to　a　lie。　Shall　I　analyze　it　more？〃
　　〃No；　thanks；　that'll　do。〃
　　〃I　thought　so。　Next；　the　possibility　that　when　you　phoned　Wolfe　right　after　the　body　was　found　you　told　him　something　that　gave　him　a　line　on　the　murderer；　but　it's　tricky　and　he　had　to　go　outdoors　to　get　his　evidence；　preparing　to　grandstand　it　for　the　front　page。　I　told　Dykes　I　would　rule　that　out　too。　Wolfe　is　quite　capable　of　a　play　like　that；　sure　he　is；　but　if　that's　all　it　amounted　to；　why　move　the　plants　out　and　put　Frits　to　work　in　a　restaurant　and　list　the　house　for　sale？　He's　colorful；　but　not　that　colorful。　Mrs。Rackham　only　paid　him　ten　thousand；　about　what　I　make　a　year。　Why　should　he　spend　it　having　his　orchids　carted　around？〃
　　Cramer　shook　his　head；　〃Not　for　my　money。　That　leaves　the　third　possibility：　that　something　really　did　scare　him。　That　there　was　something　about　Mrs。　Rackham's　murder；　or　anyhow　connected　with　it；　that　he　knew　he　couldn't　handle　sitting　there　in　that　chair；　but　for　some　reason　he　had　to　handle　it。　So　he　scooted。　As　you　say；　you　either　don't　know　where　he　is　or　you　know　and　won't　tell…and　that's　no　help　either　way。　Now　I've　got　a　lot　to　say　about　this　possibility。　You　got　time　to　listen？〃
　　〃I've　got　all　day；　but　Fritz　isn't　here　to　get　our　lunch。〃
　　〃We'll　go　without。〃　He　clasped　his　hands　behind　his　head　and　shifted　his　center　of　gravity。　〃You　know；　Archie；　sometimes　I'm　not　as　far　behind　as　you　think　I　am。〃
　　〃Also　sometimes　I　don't　think　you're　as　far　behind　as　you　think　I　do。〃
　　〃That's　possible。　Anyhow；　I　can　add。　I　think　he　got　word　direct　from　Arnold　Zeck。　Did　he？〃
　　〃Huh？　Who's　Arnold　Zeck？　Did　you　just　make　it　up？〃
　　I　knew　that　was　a　mistake　the　instant　it　was　out　of　my　mouth。　Then　I　had　to　try　to　keep　it　from　showing　on　my　face；　the　realization　that　I　had　fumbled　it；　but　whether　that　was　a　success　or　not…and　I　couldn't　very　well　look　in　a　mirror　to　find　out…it　was　too　late。
　　Cramer　looked　pleased。　〃So　you've　been　around　all　these　years；　a　working　detective；　meeting　the　people　you　do；　and　you've　never　heard　of　Arnold　Zeck。　Either　I've　got　to　believe　that；　or　I　touched　a　tender　spot。〃
　　〃Sure　I've　heard　of　him。　It　just　didn't　click　for　a　second。〃
　　〃Oh；　for　God's　sake。　It's　affecting　you　already；　having　Wolfe　gone。　That　wasn't　just　a　shot　in　the　dark。　One　day　two　years　ago　I　sat　here　in　this　chair。　Wolfe　sat　there。〃　He　nodded　at　Wolfe's　chair。　〃You　were　where　you　are　now。　A　man　named　Orchard　had　been　murdered；　and　so　had　a　woman　named　Poole。　In　the　course　of　our　long　talk　Wolfe　explained　in　detail　how　an　ingenious　and　ruthless　man　could　operate　a　blackmail　scheme；　good　for　at　least　a　million　a　year；　without　sticking　his　neck　out。　Not　only　could；　it　was　being　done。　Wolfe　refused　to　name　him；　and　since　he　wasn't　behind　the　murders　it　was　out　of　my　territory；　but　a　thing　or　two　I　heard　and　a　couple　of　things　that　happened　gave　me　a　pretty　clear　idea。　Not　only　me…it　was　whispered　around：　Arnold　Zeck。　You　may　perhaps　remember　it。〃
　　〃I　remember　the　Orchard　case；　certainly；〃　I　conceded。　〃I　didn't　hear　the　whispering。〃
　　〃I　did。　You　may　also　remember　that　a　year　later；　last　summer；　Wolfe's　plant　rooms　got　shot　up　from　a　roof　across　the　street。〃
　　〃Yep。　I　was　sitting　right　here　and　heard　it。〃
　　〃So　I　understand。　Since　no　one　was　killed　that　never　got　to　me　officially；　but　naturally　I　heard　things。　Wolfe　had　started　to　investigate　a　man　named　Rony；　and　Rony's　activities　were　the　kind　that　might　lead　a　first…class　investigator　like　Wolfe　in　the　direction　of　Arnold　Zeck；　maybe　up　close　to　Zeck；　possibly　even　clear　to　him。　I　thought　then　that　Wolfe　had　got　warned　off；　by　Zeck　himself　or　someone　near　him；　and　he　had　disregarded　it；　and　for　a　second　warning　they　messed　up　his　orchids。　Then　Rony　got　killed；　and　that　was　a　break　for　Wolfe　because　it　put　him　and　Zeck　on　the　same　side。〃
　　〃Gosh；〃　I　remarked；　〃it　sounds　awful　plicated　to　me。〃
　　〃I'll　bet　it　does。〃　Cramer　moved　the　cigar…getting　shorter　now；　although　he　never　lit　one…to　the　other　side　of　his　mouth。　〃All　I'm　doing　is　showing　you　that　I'm　not　just　hoping　for　a　bite；　and　I　don't　want　to　string　it　out。　It　was　a　good　guess　that　Wolfe　had　jostled　up　against　Arnold　Zeck　in　both　the　Orchard　case　and　the　Rony　case；　and　now　what　happens？　Not　long　after