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！
Rackham was living at the Churchill； in an air…conditioned suite in the tower。 During the first week we piled quite a biography of him。 He never stuck his nose outside before one o'clock； and once not until four。
His ports of call included two banks； a law office； nine bars； two clubs； a barber shop； seven other shops and stores； three restaurants； three theaters； two night spots； and miscellaneous。 He usually ate lunch with a man or men； and dinner with a woman。 Not the same woman； three different ones during the week。 As described by my operatives； they were a credit to their sex； to the American way of life； and to the International Ladie's Garment Worker's Union。
I took on a little of it myself； but mostly I left it to the help。 Not that I loafed。 There were quite a few hours with Lily Rowan； off and on； both as a substitute for the trip to Norway； indefinitely postponed； and as a check on the soundness of the estimate of her I had given Wolfe。 She caused me no qualms。 Once when we were dancing she sighed for Pete； and once at her apartment she said she would love to help some more with my work； but when I tactfully made it plain that the detective business was not on our agenda she took it nicely and let it lay。
There were other things； including the reports on Rackham to be typed。
Late every afternoon Max Christy called at my office to get the report of the day before； and he would sit and read it and ask questions。 When he got critical； I would explain patiently that I couldn't very well post a man at the door of Rackham's suite to take pictures of all the ers and goers； and that we were scoring better than eighty per cent on all his hours outside； which was exceptional for New York tailing。
I had the advantage； of course； of having had the situation described to me by their Pete Roeder。 They were worried a little about Westchester； but more about the city。 Shortly after he had bee a millionaire by way of a steak knife； whoever had used it； Rackham had got word to Zeck that he was no longer available for contacts。 Brownie Costigan had got to Rackham； thinking to put the bee on him； and had been tossed out on his ear。 The stink being raised in Washington on gambling and rackets； and the resulting enthusiasm in the office of the New York County District Attorney； had started an epidemic of jitters； and it was quite possible that if one of my typed reports had told of a visit by Rackham to the DA's office； or of one by an assistant DA to Rackham's suite； Rackham would have had a bad accident； like getting run over or falling into the river with lead in him。 That was why Wolfe had given me careful and explicit instructions about what I should report and what I shouldn't。
I had no sight or sound of Wolfe。 He was to let me know if and when there was something stirring； and I had been told how to reach him if I had to。
Meanwhile I had my schedule； and on the ninth day； a Friday； the first of September； it called for a move。 Things looked right for it。 Saul； on instructions； had let himself get spotted once； and Orrie twice； and Fred； without instructions； at least three times。 I too had cooperated by letting myself be seen at the entrance of the Crooked Circle one night as Rackham emerged with panions。 So Friday at five o'clock； when Saul phoned that the subject had entered the Romance Bar on 49th Street； I went for a walk； found Saul window…shopping； told him to go home to his wife and children； moseyed along to the Romance Bar entrance； and went on in。
Business was rushing； with as many as five at a table the size of a dishpan。
Making no survey； I found a place at the long bar where two customers were carelessly leaving enough room for a guy to get an elbow through； and took the opening。 After a while the bartender admitted I was there and let me buy a highball。 I took a casual look around； saw Rackham at a table with a pair of males； turned my back that way； and got his range in the mirror。
I did not really expect a bite at the very first try； I thought it might take two or three exposures。 But evidently he was ripe。 I was in the middle of my second highball when my mirror view showed me the trio getting up and squeezing through the mob to the clear。 I dropped my chin and looked at my thumb。 They went on by； toward the door； and I turned to watch their manly backs。 As soon as they were out I followed； and； on the sidewalk； immediately turned right； thinking to reconnoiter from the shop entrance next door。 But I was still two paces from it when there was a voice at my elbow。
〃Here I am； Goodwin。〃
I turned to face him； looking mildly startled。 〃Oh； hello。〃
〃What's the idea？〃 he demanded。
〃Which one？〃 I asked politely。 〃There's so many around。〃
〃There are indeed。 You and three others that I know of。 Who wants to know so much about me？〃
〃Search me。〃 I was sympathetic。 〃Why； are you being harassed？〃
Color had started to show in his face； and the muscles of his jaw were called upon。 His right shoulder twitched。
〃Not here on the street；〃 I suggested。 〃A crowd will collect； especially after I react。 See that man turning to look？ You're standing like Jack Dempsey。〃
He relaxed a little。 〃I think I know；〃 he said。
〃Good for you。 Then I'm not needed。〃
〃I want to have a talk with you。〃
〃Go ahead。〃
〃Not here。 At my place…the Churchill。〃
〃I think I have a free hour next Tuesday。〃
〃Now。 We'll go there now。〃
I shrugged。 〃Not together。 You lead the way； and I'll tag along。〃
He turned and marched。 I gave him twenty paces and then followed。 It takes the strain off of tailing a man to have a date with him； and since we had only a few blocks to go it would have been merely a pleasant little stroll if he hadn't been in such a hurry。 I had to use my full stride to keep my distance。 As we neared the Churchill I closed in a little； and when he entered an elevator I was there ready for the next one。
He had a er suite at the setback； which gave him a terrace and also a soundbreak for the street noises。 It was cool and quiet in his big sitting room； with light blue summer rugs and pretty pictures and light blue slipcovers on the furniture。 While he adjusted Venetian blinds I glanced around； and when he was through I told him； 〃Very nice。 A good place for a heartto…heart talk。〃
〃What will you have to drink？〃
〃Nothing； thanks。 I had my share at the bar； and anyway I don't drink with people I'm tailing。〃
I was in a fortable chair； and he pulled a smaller one around to face me。 〃You've got your own office now；〃 he stated。
I nodded。 〃Doing pretty well。 Of course； summer's the slack season。 After Labor Day they'll start ing back and bringing their troubles along。〃
〃You didn't take on that job for Mrs。 Frey。〃
〃How could I？〃 I upturned a palm。 〃No one would speak to me。〃
〃You can't blame them。〃 He got out a cigarette and lit it； and his hands were almost steady but not quite。 〃Look； Goodwin。 There on the street I nearly lost my head for a second。 You're merely doing what you're paid for。〃
〃Right；〃 I said approvingly。 〃People resent detectives more than they do doctors or plumbers； I don't see why。 We're all trying to make it a better world。〃
〃Certainly。 Who are you working for？〃
〃Me。〃
〃Who pays you to work for you？〃
I shook my head。 〃Better start over。 Show a gun or a steak knife or something。 Even if I'm not hard to persuade； I must keep up appearances。〃
He licked his lips。 Apparently that was his substitute for counting ten； but if so it didn't work； for he sprang up； towering over me； making fists。
I moved nothing but my head； jerking it back to focus on his face。
〃It's a bad angle；〃 I assured him。 〃If you swing from up there I'll duck and hit your knees； and you'll lose your balance。〃
He held it a second； then his fists became hands； and he stooped to use one of them to recover the cigarette he had dropped on the rug。 He sat down； took a drag； inhaled； and let it out。
〃You talk too much； Goodwin。〃
〃No；〃 I disagreed； 〃not too much； but too rrankly； maybe。 Perhaps I shouldn't have mentioned a steak knife； but I was irritated。 I might name my client if you stuck needles under my nails or showed me a dollar bill； but your being so damn casual annoyed me。〃
〃I didn't kill my wife。〃
I smiled at him。 〃That's a straightforward categorical statement； and I appreciate it very much。 What else didn't you do？〃
He ignored it。 〃I know Annabel Prey thinks I did； and she would spend all the money my wife left her…well； say half of it…to prove it。 I don't mind your taking her money； that's your business； but I hate to see her waste it； and I don't like having someone always behind me。 There ought to be some way I can satisfy you and her that I didn't do it。 Can't you figure one out？ If it's arranged so you won't lose anything by it？〃
〃No；〃 I said flatly。
〃Why not？ I said satisfy you。〃
〃Because I'm getting irritated again。 You don't care a damn what Mrs。Frey thinks。 What's eating you is that you don't know who is curious enough about you to spend money on it； and you're trying to catch a fish without bait； which is unsportsmanlike。 I'll bet you a finif you can't worm it out of me。〃
He sat regarding me half a minute； then got up and crossed to a portable bar over by the wall and began assembling a drink。 He called to me； 〃Sure you won't have one？〃
I declined with thanks。 Soon he returned with a tall one； sat； took a couple of swallows； put the glass down； burped； and spoke。 〃A thousand dollars for the name。〃
〃Just the name； cold？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃It's a sale。〃 I extended a hand。 〃Gimme。〃
〃I like to get what I pay for； Goodwin。〃
〃Absolutely。 Guaranteed against defects。〃
He arose and left the room through a door toward the far end。 I decided I was thirsty and went to the bar for a glass of soda and ice； and was back in my chair when he re…entered and came to me。 I took his offering and counted it by flipping the edges： ten crackly new hundreds。
He picked up his glass； drank； and eyed me。 〃Well？〃
〃Arnold Zeck；〃 I said。
He made a little squeaking noise； went stiff for a short count； and hurled the tall glass against the wall； where it smacked into the middle of the glass of a picture； which improved the effect both for the ear and for the eye。
15
I ADMIT I was on my feet when it hit。 He was so slapdash that there was no certainty about his target； and a well…thrown heavy glass can make a bruise。
〃Now look what you've done；〃 I said reproachfully； and sat down again。
He glared at me a second； then went to the bar； and with slow precise movements of his hands mixed another long one。 I was pleased to note that the proportion of whisky was the same as before。 He returned to his chair and put the glass down without drinking。
〃I thought so； by God；〃 he said。
I merely nodded。
〃Who hired you？ Zeck himself？〃
〃Not in the contract；〃 I objected firmly。 〃You bought the name； and you've got it。〃
〃I'm in the market for more。 I'll take it all。〃
I frowned at him。 〃Now I guess I'll have to do some talking。 You fortable？〃 〃No。〃
〃Listen anyway。 I'm taking Zeck's money and I'm crossing him。 How do you know I won't cross you？〃
〃I don't。 But I'll top him。〃
〃That's the point exactly； you don't。 Who is Zeck and who are you？ You know the answer to that。 You were taking his money too； up to five months ago； and you know for what。 When your wife hired Nero Wolfe to take the lid off of you for a look； you yapped to Zeck and he took aim at Wolfe； and when your wife got it with that steak knife Wolfe took a powder； and for all I know he is now in Egypt； where he owns a house； talking it over with the Sphinx。 It was Zeck and you； between you； that broke up our happy home on Thirty…fifth Street； and you can have three guesses how I feel about it。 I may like it fine this way； with my own office and my time my own。 I may figure to work close to Zeck and get in the big dough； which would mean I'm poison to you； or I may be loving a chance to stick one between Zeck's ribs and incidentally get a nice helping from your pile； or I may even be kidding both of you along w