rs.inthebestfamelies-第20章

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　　〃I　don't　know。　I　didn't　know　why　she　should　either。　But　it　was　Max　Christy　who　arranged　this　date；　and　while　he　is　not　himself　a　marksman　as　far　as　I　know；　he　moves　in　circles　that　like　direct　action。〃　I　waved　a　hand。
　　〃Forget　it。　If　that's　the　kind　of　interest　you've　got　in　Rackham　you　wouldn't　tell　me　anyhow。　But　another　thing：　Rackham　knows　me。　It's　twice　as　hard　to　tail　a　guy　that　knows　you。　Why　hire　a　man　that's　handicapped　to　begin　with？　Why　not…〃
　　I　held　it　because　we　had　stopped　for　a　red　light；　on　Fifth　Avenue　in　the　Seventies；　and　our　windows　were　open；　and　the　open　window　of　a　car　alongside　was　only　arm's　distance　away。
　　When　the　light　changed　and　we　rolled　again　Roeder　spoke。　〃I'll　tell　you；　Goodwin；　this　thing's　touchy。　There'll　be　some　people　scattered　around　that　are　in　on　things　together；　and　they　trust　each　other　up　to　a　point。　As　long　as　their　interests　all　run　the　same　way　they　can　trust　each　other　pretty　well。　But　when　something　es　up　that　might　help　some　and　hurt　others；　then　it　gets　touchy。　Then　each　man　looks　out　for　himself；　or　he　decides　where　the　strength　is　and　lines　up　there。　That's　where　I　am；　where　the　strength　is。　But　I'm　not　trying　to　line　you　up；　we　wouldn't　want　to　even　if　we　could；　how　could　we　trust　you？　You're　an　outsider。　All　we　want　you　for　is　an　expert　tailing　job；　and　you　report　to　me　and　me　only。　Where　are　you　going。　Bill？〃
　　The　driver　half…turned　his　head　to　answer；　〃Here　in　the　park　it　might　be　cooler。〃
　　〃It's　no　cooler　anywhere。　I　like　straight　streets。　Get　out　again；　will　you？〃
　　The　driver　said　he　would；　in　a　hurt　tone。　Roeder　returned　to　me。　〃There　are　three　men　named　Panzer；　Gather；　and　Durkin　who　worked　for　Nero　Wolfe　off　and　on。　That　right？〃
　　I　said　it　was。
　　〃They'll　work　for　you；　won't　they？〃
　　I　said　I　thought　they　would。
　　〃Then　you　can　use　them；　and　you　won't　have　to　show　much。　I'm　told　they're　exceptionally　good　men。〃
　　〃Saul　Panzer　is　the　best　man　alive。　Gather　and　Durkin　are　way　above　average。〃
　　〃That's　all　you'll　need。　Now　I　want　to　ask　you　something；　but　first　here's　a　remark。　It's　a　bad　thing　to　mislead　a　client；　I'm　sure　you　realize　that；　but　in　this　case　it　would　be　worse　than　bad。　I　don't　have　to　go　into　details；　do　I？〃
　　〃No；　but　you're　going　too　fast。　I　haven't　got　a　client。〃
　　〃Oh；　yes；　you　have。〃　Roeder　smiled。　〃Would　I　waste　my　time　like　this？　You　were　there　when　Mrs。　Rackham　was　killed；　you　phoned　Nero　Wolfe　and　in　six　hours　he　was　gone；　and　you　were　held　as　a　material　witness。　Now　here　I　want　to　hire　you　to　tail　Rackham；　and　you　don't　know　why。　Can　you　say　no？　Impossible。〃
　　〃It　could　be；〃　I　suggested；　〃that　I've　had　all　I　want。〃
　　〃Not　you；　from　what　I've　heard。　That's　all　right；　not　being　able　to　let　go　is　a　good　thing　in　a　man；　but　it　brings　up　this　question　I　mentioned。　You're　on　your　own　now　apparently；　but　you　were　with　Nero　Wolfe　a　long　time。　You're　still　living　in　his　house。　Of　course　you're　in　touch　with　him…don't　bother　to　deny　it…but　that's　no　concern　of　ours　as　long　as　he　doesn't　get　in　the　way。　Only　on　this　job　it　has　to　be　extra　plain　that　you're　working　for　the　man　who　pays　you。　If　you　get　facts　about　Rackham　and　peddle　them　elsewhere；　to　Nero　Wolfe　for　example；　you　would　be　in　a　very　bad　situation。　Perhaps　you　know　how　bad？〃
　　〃Sure；　I　know。　If　I　were　standing　up　my　knees　would　give。　Just　for　the　record；　I　don't　know　where　Mr。　Wolfe　is；　I'm　not　in　touch　with　him；　and　I'm　in　no　frame　of　mind　to　peddle　him　anything。　If　I　take　this　on；　tailing　Rackham；　it　will　be　chiefly　because　I've　got　my　share　of　monkey　in　me。　I　doubt　if　Mr。　Wolfe；　wherever　he　is；　would　recognize　the　name　Rackham　if　he　heard　it。〃
　　The　brown　pointed　beard　waggled　as　Roeder　shook　his　head。　〃Don't　overplay　it；　Goodwin。〃
　　〃I'm　not。　I　won't。〃
　　〃You　are　still　attached　to　Wolfe。〃
　　〃Like　hell　I　am。〃
　　〃I　couldn't　pay　you　enough　to　tell　me　where　he　is…assuming　you　know。〃
　　〃Maybe　not；〃　I　conceded。　〃But　not　selling　him　is　one　thing；　and　carrying　his　picture　around　is　another。　I　freely　admit　he　had　his　good　points；　I　have　often　mentioned　them　and　appreciated　them；　but　as　the　months　go　by　one　fact　about　him　stands　out　clearer　than　anything　else。　He　was　a　pain　in　the　ass。
　　The　driver's　head　jerked　around　for　a　darting　glance　at　me。　We　had　left　the　park　and　were　back　on　Fifth　Avenue；　headed　uptown　in　the　Eighties。
　　My　remarks　about　Wolfe　were　merely　casual；　because　my　mind　was　on　something　else。　Who　was　after　Rackham　and　why？　If　it　was　Zeck；　or　someone　in　one　of　Zeck's　lines　of　mand；　then　something　drastic　had　happened　since　the　April　day　when　Zeck　had　sent　Wolfe　a　package　of　sausage　and　phoned　him　to　let　Rackham　alone。　If　it　wasn't　Zeck；　then　Max　Christy　and　this　Roeder　were　lined　up　against　Zeck；　which　made　them　about　as　safe　to　play　with　as　an　atomic　stockpile。　Either　way；　how　could　I　resist　it？
　　Besides；　I　liked　the　logic　of　it。　Nearly　five　months　ago　Mrs。　Rackham　had　hired　us　to　do　a　survey　on　her　husband；　and　paid　in　advance；　and　we　had　let　it　slide。　Now　I　could　take　up　where　we　had　left　off。　If　Roeder　and　his　colleagues；　whoever　they　were；　wanted　to　pay　me　for　it；　there　was　no　use　offending　them　by　refusing。
　　So；　rolling　north　on　the　avenue；　Roeder　and　I　agreed　that　we　agreed　in　principle　and　got　down　to　brass　tacks。　Since　Rackham　was　on　guard　it　couldn't　be　an　around　the　clock　operation　with　less　than　a　dozen　men；　and　I　had　three　at　the　most。　Or　did　I？　Saul　and　Fred　and　Orrie　might　not　be　immediately　available。　There　was　no　use　discussing　an　operation　until　I　found　out　if　I　had　any　operators。　Having　their　phone　numbers　in　my　head；　I　suggested　that　we　stop　at　a　drugstore　and　use　a　booth；　but　Roeder　didn't　like　that。　He　thought　it　would　be　better　to　go　to　my　office　and　phone　from　there；　and　I　had　no　objection；　so　he　told　the　driver　to　go　over　to　Madison　and　downtown。
　　At　that　hour；　getting　on　toward　eleven；　Madison　Avenue　was　wide　open；　and　so　was　the　curb　in　front　of　the　office　building。　Roeder　told　the　driver　we　would　be　an　hour　or　more；　and　we　left　him　parked　there。　In　the　brighter　light　of　the　elevator　the　pleats　of　Roeder's　face　were　less　noticeable；　and　he　didn't　look　as　old　as　I　would　have　guessed　him　in　the　car；　but　I　could　see　there　was　a　little　gray　in　his　beard。　He　stood　propped　in　a　corner　with　his　shoulders　slumped　and　his　eyes　closed　until　the　door　opened　for　the　tenth　floor；　and　then　came　to　and　followed　me　down　the　hall　to　1019。1　unlocked　the　door　and　let　us　in；　switched　on　the　light；　motioned　him　to　a　chair；　sat　at　the　desk；　pulled　the　phone　to　me；　and　started　dialing。
　　〃Wait　a　minute；〃　he　said　gruffly。
　　I　put　it　back　on　the　cradle；　looked　at　him；　got　a　straight　clear　view　of　his　eyes　for　the　first　time；　and　felt　a　tingle　in　the　small　of　my　back。　But　I　didn't　know　why。
　　〃This　must　not　be　heard；〃　he　said。　〃I　mean　you　and　me。　How　sure　are　you？〃
　　〃You　mean　a　mike？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃Oh；　pretty　sure。〃
　　〃Better　take　a　look。〃
　　I　left　my　chair　and　did　so。　The　room　being　small　and　the　walls　mostly　bare；　it　wasn't　much　of　a　job；　and　I　made　it　thorough；　even　pulling　the　desk　out　to　inspect　behind　it。　As　I　straightened　up　from　retrieving　a　pencil　that　had　rolled　off　the　desk　when　I　pushed　it　back　in　place；　he　spoke　to　my　back。
　　〃I　see　you　have　my　dictionary　here。〃
　　Not　through　his　nose。　I　whirled　and　went　rigid；　gaping　at　him。　The　eyes　again…and　now　other　items　too；　especially　the　forehead　and　ears。　I　had　every　right　to　stare；　but　I　also　had　a　right　to　my　own　opinion　of　the　fitness　of　things。　So　while　staring　at　him　I　got　myself　under　control；　and　then　circled　the　end　of　my　desk；　sat　down　and　leaned　back；　and　told　him；　〃I　knew　you　all…〃
　　〃Don't　talk　so　loud。〃
　　〃Very　well。　I　knew　you　all　the　rime；　but　with　that　damn　driver　there　I　had　to…〃
　　〃Pfui。　You　hadn't　the　slightest　inkling。〃
　　I　shrugged。　〃That's　one　we'll　never　settle。　As　for　the　dictionary；　it's　the　one　from　my　room　which　you　gave　roe　for　Christmas　nineteen　thirty…nine。　How　much　do　you　weight〃
　　〃I've　lost　a　hundred　and　seventeen　pounds。〃
　　〃Do　you　know　what　you　look　like？〃
　　He　made　a　face。　With　the　pleats　and　whiskers；　he　didn't　really　have　to　make　one；　but　of　course　it　was　an　old　habit　which　had　probably　been　suppressed　for　months。
　　〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃I　do。　I　look　like　a　sixteenth…century　prince　of　Savoy　named　Philibert。〃　He　flipped　a　hand　impatiently。　〃This　can　wait；　surely；　until　we're　home　again？〃
　　〃I　should　think　so；〃　I　conceded。　〃What's　the　difference；　another　year　or　two？　It　won't　be　as　much　fun；　though；　because　now　I'll　know　what　I'm　waiting　for。　What　I　really　enjoyed　was　the　suspense。　Were　you　dead　or　alive　or　what？　A　perfect　picnic。〃
　　He　grunted。　〃I　expected　this；　of　course。　It　is　you；　and　since　I　decided　long　ago　to　put　up　with　you；　I　even　wele　it。　But　you；　also　long　ago；　decided　to　put　up　with　me。　Are　we　going　to　shake　hands　or　not？〃
　　I　got　up　and　went　halfway。　He　got　up　and　came　halfway。　As　we　shook；　our　eyes　met；　and　I　deliberately　focused　on　his　eyes；　because　otherwise　I　would　have　been　shaking　with　a　stranger；　and　one　hell　of　a　specimen　to　boot。　We　returned　to　our　chairs。
　　As　I　sat　down　I　told　him　courteously；　〃You'll　have　to　excuse　me　if　I　shut　my　eyes　or　look　away　from　time　to　time。　It'll　take　a　while　to　get　adjusted。〃
　　
　　13
　　〃NO　OTHER　course；〃　Wolfe　said；　〃was　possible。　I　had　accepted　money　from　Mrs。　Rackham　and　she　had　been　murdered。　I　was　mitted　in　her　interest；　and　therefore　against　Arnold　Zeck；　and　I　was　no　match　for　him。　I　had　to　ambush　him。　With　me　gone；　how　should　you　act？　You　should　act　as　if　I　had　disappeared　and　you　knew　nothing。　Under　what　circumstances　would　you　do　that　most　convincingly？　You　are　capable　of　dissimulation；　but　why　try　you　so　severely？　Why　not　merely…〃
　　〃Skip　it；〃　I　told　him。　〃Save　it　for　later。　Where　do　we　stand　now；　and　what　chance　have　we　got？　Any　at　all？〃
　　〃I　think　so；　yes。　If　the　purpose　were　merely　to　expose　one　or　more　of　Zeck's　operations；　it　could　be　done　like　that。〃　He　snapped　his　fingers。　〃But　since　he　must　himself　be　destroyed…all　I　can　say　is　that　I　have　reached　the　point　where　you　can　help。　I　have　talked　with　him　three　times。〃
　　〃Exactly　who　and　what　are　you？〃
　　〃I　e　from　Los　Angeles。　When　I　left　here；　on　April　ninth；　I　went　to　southern　Texas；　on　the　Gulf；　and　spent　there　the　most　painful　month　of　my　life…except　one；　long　ago。　At　its　end　I　was　not　recognizable。〃　He　shuddered。
　　〃I　then　went　to　Los　Angeles；　because　a　man　of　importance　there　considers　himself　more　deeply　in　my　debt　even　than　he　is。　He　is　important　but　not　reputable。　The　terms　are　not　interchangeable。〃
　　〃I　never　said　they　were。〃
　　〃Through　him　I　met　people　and　I　engaged　in　certain　activities。　In　appearance　I　was　monstrous；　but　in　the　circles　I　frequented　my　stubble　was　accepted　as　a　masquerade；　which　indeed　it　was；　and　I　displayed　myself　publicly　as　little　as　possible。　With　my　two　invaluable　assets；　my　brains　and　my　important　debtor；　and　with　a　temporary　abandonment　of　scruple；　I　made　a　substantial　impression　in　the　shortest　possible　rime；　especially　with　a　device　which　I　conceived　for　getting　considerable　sums　of　money　from　ten　different　people　simultaneously；　with　a　minimum　of　risk。　Luck　had　a　hand　in