rs.toomanywomen-第8章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　other　way　better。　How　many　people　around　here　know　about　me？　The　receptionist　outside；　and　who　else？　I　believe　you　mentioned　discussing　it　with　two　of　your　brother　executives　and　a　member　of　the　Board　of　Directors。〃
　　I　could　tell　by　the　look　on　his　face　that　he　was　not　lost　at　sea。　He　liked　the　other　way　better　too；　and　he　was　checking　off　names。　The　〃…uh；　plexities〃　were　turning　up　again；　and　he　wasn't　getting　any　pleasure　out　of　them。
　　〃Not　the　receptionist；〃　he　said　grimly。　〃I　spoke　to　her　myself　about　it。　Miss　Abrams　has　been　with　us　twenty　years；　and　there's　no　question　about　her。〃　He　was　getting　some　satisfaction　from　the　assurance　that　there　was　one　around　he　could　trust。
　　〃Then。。。？〃　I　asked　meaningly。
　　He　nodded；　more　to　himself　than　to　me。　〃I　suppose　so；〃　he　muttered。　He　put　the　report　on　his　desk；　just　so；　nice　and　square；　and　gazed　down　at　it；　with　his　palms　pressed　together；　the　fingers　out　straight；　rubbing　slowly　back　and　forth。　〃I　suppose　so；〃　he　repeated　gloomily　but　not　despairingly。　His　face　jerked　to　me。　〃I'll　give　that　some　consideration。　Disregard　it。　What　about　this　young　woman　Moore　was　hoping　to　marry…what's　her　name？〃　He　fingered　to　the　last　page　of　my　report。　〃Hester　Livsey。　Did　she　furnish　any…uh；　information？〃
　　〃Nothing　to　speak　of；　no。　I'll　try　her　again…that　is；　if　I'm　to　go　on。　Do　you　want　me　to　e　back　tomorrow？〃
　　〃Certainly。　Why　not？〃
　　〃I　just　thought；　since　Naylor's　on　to　me；　and　probably　by　tomorrow　noon　everybody　else　will　be　too…〃
　　〃That　doesn't　matter。　e　by　all　means。　I　have　no　more　time　now；　but　ring　me　in　the　horning　around　ten。　We've　started　this　and　we're　going　through　with　it。〃　He　reached　for　a　fancy　phone　thing；　a　kind　I　hadn't　seen　before；　and　told　it　he　was　ready　for　a　Mr。　Whosis；　a　name　I　didn't　catch。
　　I　bowed　out。
　　Quitting　time　at　Naylor…Kerr　was　five　o'clock。　It　was　four…fifty…six　as　I　went　back　down　the　corridor　of　the　executive　offices。　On　the　elevator　I　said；　〃Thirty…four；〃　not　on　account　of　any　scruple　about　chiseling　the　pany　to　the　tune　of　four　minutes'　time；　but　because　my　hat　and　coat　were　in　my　room。
　　There　was　no　sign　that　any　visitors　had　called　during　my　brief　absence。　Closing　the　door；　I　opened　the　drawer　of　the　cabinet　to　give　things　a　look；　and　found　that　the　particles　of　tobacco　were　all　present　and　accounted　for。　I　stood　by　the　window　a　while；　going　over　the　developments　in　my　mind；　including　the　talk　with　Pine；　and　considered　the　desirability　of　phoning　Wolfe　to　suggest　that　it　might　be　a　good　plan　for　me　to　intrude　on　Mrs。　Jasper　Pine　before　her　husband　got　home　from　work。　I　probably　would　have　done　that　if　it　hadn't　been　for　the　coolness　previously　mentioned。　Under　the　circumstances　I　voted　no。
　　Outside　my　door　I　stopped　short　and　surveyed　the　scene。　It　was　a　real　shock。　The　place　looked　absolutely　empty；　in　spite　of　all　the　hundreds　of　desks　and　chairs　and　miscellaneous　objects。　The　girls　were　gone；　and　what　a　difference　it　made！　I　stood　and　gazed　around；　making　one　or　two　quick　changes　in　my　philosophy。　I　decided　that　until　you　single　one　out　and　she　gets　personal　to　you；　a　hundred　girls；　or　a　thousand　girls；　are　just　a　girl。　So　it　wasn't　accurate　to　look　at　that　empty　room　and　say　to　yourself；　the　girls　have　gone；　the　way　to　say　it　was；　the　girl　has　gone。　Nursing　a　strong　suspicion　that　I　had　hit　on　something　that　was　profound　enough　for　three　magazine　articles　or　even　a　book；　I　made　my　way　to　the　elevators　and　down　to　the　street。　A　taxi　in　that　part　of　town　at　that　time　of　day　wasn't　to　be　thought　of；　so　I　went　to　the　corner　and　turned　right　on　Wall　Street；　headed　for　the　west　side　subway。
　　Since　I　have　been　in　the　detective　business　for　over　ten　years　and　have　done　a　lot　of　leg　work；　naturally　I　have　both　tailed　and　been　tailed　many　times；　and　when　I'm　on　a　case　and　on　the　move　outdoors　it　is　almost　as　automatic　with　me　to　keep　aware　of　my　rear　as　！t　is　for　everybody　to　glance　in　the　traffic　direction　before　stepping　down　from　a　curb。　It　rarely　happens　that　I　have　a　tail　without　knowing　it；　but　it　did　that　time。　She　must　have　been　in　ambush　in　the　downstairs　lobby　with　an　eye　on　the　elevators；　and　followed　me　crosstown。　I　am　not　a　loiterer；　so　she　had　probably　had　to　trot　to　keep　up。　The　first　I　knew　of　it；　there　in　the　home…going　throng　on　the　sidewalk；　I　felt　a　contact　that　was　not　merely　a　bump　or　a　jostle；　it　was　a　firm　and　deliberate　grip　on　my　arm。
　　I　stopped　and　looked　down　at　her。　She　was　at　least　nine　inches　below　me。　She　kept　the　arm。
　　〃You　brute；〃　I　said。　〃You're　hurting　me。〃　She　looked　good　enough　to　eat。
　　
　　Chapter　Twelve
　　〃You　don't　know　me；　Mr。　Truett；〃　she　said。　〃You　didn't　notice　me　today。〃
　　〃I'm　noticing　you　now；〃　I　told　her。　〃Let　go　my　arm。　People　will　think　I'm　the　father　of　your　children　or　I　owe　you　alimony。〃
　　That　may　have　been　a　mistake。　It　set　the　tone　for　my　association　with　her；　or　at　least　the　beginning　of　it；　and　the　good　view　I　was　having　of　her　made　it　my　responsibility。　With　her　black　eyes　saying　plainly　that　they　ad　never　concealed　anything　and　didn't　intend　to；　her　lips　confirming　it　and　approving　of　it；　and　all　of　her　making　the　ment　on　geometry　that　a　straight　line　is　the　shortest　distance　between　two　points　but　you　can't　prove　it　by　me；　she　was　obviously　the　kind　of　female　that　gets　nicknamed。　In　Spain　or　Italy　it　would　be　something　like　The　Rose　Petal；　and　where　I　live　it　would　be　something　like　The　Curves；　but　the　basic　idea　is　the　same。　That　kind　is　often　found　in　the　neighborhood　of　trouble；　or　vice　versa；　and　perhaps　I　should　have　given　that　a　thought　before　setting　the　tone。
　　Passers…by　glancing　at　us　meant　nothing　to　her。　The　only　passer…by　she　would　have　been　interested　in　was　one　she　didn't　intend　to　let　pass。
　　〃I　want　to　talk　to　you；〃　she　stated。　She　had　dimples；　so　tiny　that　the　angle　of　light　had　to　be　just　right　to　see　them。
　　〃Not　here；〃　I　said。　〃e　on。〃　We　moved　together。　〃Did　you　ever　ride　on　the　subway？〃
　　〃Only　twice　a　day。　Where　are　we　going？〃
　　〃How　do　I　know？　I　didn't　know　we　were　going　anywhere　until　you　just　told　me。　Maybe　ladies'　night　at　one　of　my　clubs。〃　I　came　to　a　sudden　halt。　〃Wait　here　a　minute。　I　have　to　make　a　phone　call。〃
　　I　stepped　into　a　cigar　store；　waited　a　minute　or　two　for　a　phone　booth　to　be　vacated；　slid　in；　and　dialed　the　number　I　knew　best。　I　knew　it　wouldn't　be　answered　by　Wolfe　himself；　since　four　to　six　in　the　afternoon　was　always　reserved　for　his　visit　with　the　orchids　up　in　the　plant　rooms。　It　wasn't。　〃Fritz？　Archie。　Tell　Mr。　Wolfe　I　won't　be　home　to　dinner　because　I'm　detained　at　the　office。〃
　　〃Detained…what？〃
　　〃At　the　office。　Tell　him　just　like　that；　he'll　understand。〃
　　I　went　back　to　the　sidewalk　and　asked　The　Curves；　〃About　how　long　a　talk　do　you　think　we　ought　to　have？〃
　　〃As　long　as　you'll　listen；　Mr。　Truett。　I　have　a　lot　to　tell　you。〃
　　〃Good。　Dinner？　If　we　eat　together　I'll　see　that　it　gets　paid　for。〃
　　〃All　right；　that　would　be　nice；　but　it's　early。〃
　　I　waved　that　aside　and　we　aimed　for　the　subway。
　　I　took　her　to　Rusterman's。　For　one　thing；　it　was　the　best　grub　in　New　York　outside　of　Wolfe's　own　dining…room。　For　another；　the　booths　along　the　left　wall　upstairs　at　Rusterman's　were　so　well　partitioned　that　they　were　practically　private　rooms。　For　another；　Rusterman's　was　owned　and　bossed　by　Wolfe's　old　friend；　Marko　Vukcic；　and　I　could　sign　the　check　there；　whereas　if　I　took　her　where　I　must　part　with　cash　Wolfe　would　have　been　capable　of　refusing　to　okay　it　as　expense　on　the　ground　that　I　should　have　taken　her　home　to　eat　at　his　table。
　　By　the　time　we　were　seated　in　the　booth　I　had　collected　bits　of　preliminary　information；　such　as　that　her　name　was　Rosa　Bendini　and　she　was　assistant　chief　filer　in　the　Machinery　and　Parts　Section。　I　had　also　reached　certain　conclusions；　among　them　being　that　she　was　twenty…four　years　old；　that　she　had　never　been　at　a　loss　in　any　environment　or　circumstances；　and　that　she　was　eligible　as　evidence　in　support　of　Kerr　Naylor's　remark　about　virgins。
　　She　said　she　didn't　care　for　cocktails　but　loved　wine；　which　of　course　got　her　an　approving　glance　from　Vukcic；　who　had　spotted　me　entering　and　had　himself　escorted　us　upstairs…honoring　not　me；　but　his　old　friend　Wolfe。　Then　she　evened　up　by　turning　him　down　flat　on　Shad　Roe　Mousse　Pocahontas　and　preferring　a　steak。　I　trailed　along　with　her　to　be　sociable。　When　we　had　been　left　to　ourselves　she　lost　no　time　opening　up。
　　〃Are　you　a　cop；　Mr。　Truett？〃
　　I　grinned　at　her。　〃Now　listen；　girlie。　I'm　easy　to　pick　up；　as　you　discovered；　but　I'm　hard　to　take　apart。　You　said　you　had　a　lot　to　tell　me。　Then　we'll　see　what　I　have　to　tell　you。　What　makes　you　think　I　might　be　a　cop？〃
　　〃Because　you　asked　about　Waldo　Moore；　and　the　only　thing　about　him　any　more　is　how　he　got　killed；　and　that's　a　thing　for　a　cop；　isn't　it？〃
　　〃Sure。　It's　also　a　thing　for　anyone　who　is　interested。　Let's　put　it　that　I'm　interested。　Are　you？〃
　　〃You　bet　I　am。〃
　　〃In　what　way？〃
　　〃I'm　just　interested。　I　don't　want　to　see　anybody　get　away　with　murder！〃　There　was　a　quick　blaze　in　her　eyes；　one　flash；　up　and　out。　She　added；　〃He　was　a　friend　of　mine。〃
　　〃Oh；　was　he　murdered？〃
　　〃Certainly　he　was！〃
　　〃By　whom？〃
　　〃I　don't　know。〃　With　sudden　accurate　movement；　but　nothing　impetuous　about　it；　she　covered　my　hand；　there　on　the　tablecloth；　with　both　of　hers。　Her　fingers　and　palms　were　warm　and　firm；　and　neither　too　moist　nor　too　dry。　〃Or　maybe　I　do。　What　if　I　do　know？〃
　　〃Well；　considering　your　character　as　I　know　it？　I　suppose　you'd　be　a　good　little　girl　and　tell　papa。〃
　　She　kept　my　hand　covered。　〃I　wish；〃　she　said；　〃you　had　taken　me　where　we　could　be　alone。　I　don't　know　how　to　talk　to　a　man　until　after　he　has　had　his　arms　around　me　and　kissed　me。　Then　I　know　what　he's　like。　I　could　tell　you　anything　then。〃
　　I　sized　her　up。　If　I　had　let　myself　get　cooped　up　in　a　booth　at　Rusterman's　with　a　chronic　nymph　and　that　was　all　there　was　to　it；　at　least　I　could　preserve　my　dignity　by　not　letting　it　cost　me　anything　but　twenty　bucks　or　so　of　Wolfe's　money。　But　I　doubted　if　that　was　it。　My　analysis　indicated　that　she　simply　had　her　own　definite　opinion　of　what　constituted　human　panionship；　and　I　wasn't　prepared　to　argue　with　her。
　　I　slid　out　clear　of　the　table；　got　upright；　drew　the　curtain　across　the　entrance　to　the　booth；　got　on　my　knees　on　the　seat　beside　her；　and　enfolded　her　good。　Her　lips；　like　her　hands；　were　warm　and　firm；　and　neither　too　moist　nor　too　dry。　She　not　only　had　her　theory　about　panionship；　she　was　willing　to　submit　it　to　a　thorough　test；　which　is　more　than　some　people　will　do　with　their　theories。　When　it　was　obviously　time　to　go　I　backed　off；　went　and　pulled　the　curtain　open；　and　got　back　into　my　seat。　As　I　did　so　the　waiter　entered　with　our　baked　grapefruit。　When　he　had　it　arranged　and　left　us　she　asked：
　　〃What　were　you　doing　in　Hester　Livsey's　room？　What　you　just　did　with　me？〃
　　〃There　you　go　again；〃　I　protested。　〃You　said　you　had　a　lot　to　tell　me；　not　to　ask　me。　How　do　you　know　Moore　was　murdered？〃
　　She　swallowed　some　grapefruit。　〃How　did　I　know　it　would　be　all　right　if　you　held　me　and　kissed　me？〃
　　〃Anybody　would　know　that　from　looking　at　me