rs.inthebestfamelies-第22节

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tive　is　no　help；　with　four　of　you　inheriting　piles　from　two　hundred　grand　up；　and　the　other　two　possibly　counting　on　marrying　one　of　the　piles。　Only　I　must　say；　in　the　atmosphere　here　tonight；　courtship　doesn't　seem　to　be　on　the　program。〃
　　〃It　isn't；〃　Annabel　asserted。
　　I　glanced　at　Hammond　and　Pierce；　but　neither　of　them　seemed　to　want　the　floor。
　　〃So；〃　I　continued；　〃unless　the　cops　have　got　a　trap　set　that　you　don't　know　about；　it's　one　of　those　things。　You　never　can　tell。　It　would　be　a　waste　of　money　to　pay　me　to　go　over　the　ground　the　cops　have　covered…or　any　other　detective　except　Nero　Wolfe；　and　he's　not　around。　There's　only　one　way　to　use　me；　or　anyhow　only　one　way　to　start；　and　stand　a　chance　of　getting　your　money's　worth；　and　that　would　be　to　give　me　a　good　eight　or　ten　hours　with　each　of　you　six　people；　each　one　separately。　I　have　watched　and　listened　to　Nero　Wolfe　a　good　many　years　and　I　can　now　do　a　fair　imitation。　It　might　possibly　rum　out　to　be　worth　it　to　all　of　you…except　one；　as　Mr。　Pierce　would　say。〃
　　I　flipped　a　hand。　〃That's　the　best　suggestion　I　can　offer。　With　nothing　like　a　guarantee。〃
　　Annabel　said；　〃No　one　would　tell　you　everything　you　asked。　I　haven't　myself；　to　the　police。〃
　　〃Sure。　I　understand　that。　That's　part　of　it。〃
　　〃You　would　be　working　for　me…for　us。　It　would　be　confidential。〃
　　〃Things　that　weren't　used　would　be　confidential。　Nothing　that　was　evidence　would　be。〃
　　Annabel　sat　and　regarded　me。　She　had　had　her　fingers　twisted　tight　together；　and　now　she　loosened　them　and　then　they　twisted　again。　〃I　want　to　ask　you　something；　Mr。　Goodwin。　Do　you　think　one　of　us　killed　Mrs。Rackham？〃
　　〃I　do　now。　I　don't　know　what　I　would　think　after　I　had　worked　at　it。〃
　　〃Do　you　think　you　know　which　one？〃
　　〃Nope。　I'm　impartial。〃
　　〃All　right。　You　can　start　with　me。〃　She　turned　her　head。　〃Unless　one　of　you　would　rather　first？〃
　　No　one　moved　or　spoke。　Then　Calvin　Leeds：　〃Count　me　out；　Annabel。　Not　with　Goodwin。　Let　him　tell　us　first　where　Nero　Wolfe　is　and　why。〃
　　〃But　Cal…you　won't？〃
　　〃Not　with　him　I　won't。〃
　　〃Dana？〃
　　Hammond　looked　unhappy。　He　got　up　and　went　to　her。　〃Annabel；　this　was　a　mistake。　The　whole　idea　was　no　good。　What　can　Goodwin　do　that　the　police　couldn't　do？　I　doubt　i￡　you　have　any　conception　of　how　a　private　detective　works。〃
　　〃He　can　try。　Will　you　help；　Dana？〃
　　〃No。　I　hate　to　refuse；　but　I　must〃
　　〃Oliver？　Will　you？〃
　　〃Well。〃　The　statesman　was　frowning；　not　at　her；　at　me。　〃This　seems　to　me　to　be　a　case　of　all　or　none。　I　don't　see　how　anything　could　be　acplished…〃
　　〃Then　you　refuse　me　too？〃
　　〃Under　the　circumstances　I　have　no　other　course。〃
　　〃I　see。　You　won't　even　give　me　a　straight　no。　Barry？〃
　　〃Certainly　not。　Goodwin　has　lied　to　the　police　about　my　wife's　visit　to　Wolfe。　I　wouldn't　give　him　eight　seconds；　let　alone　eight　hours。〃
　　Annabel　left　her　chair　and　went　toward　the　couch。　〃Lina；　I　guess　it's　up　to　the　women。　You　and　me。　She　was　darned　good　to　us；　Lina…both　of　us。　What　about　it？〃
　　〃Darling；〃　Lina　Darrow　said。　She　sat　up。　〃Darling　Annabel。　You　know　you　don't　like　me。〃
　　That　isn't　true；〃　Annabel　protested。　〃Just　because…〃
　　〃Of　course　it's　true。　You　thought　I　was　trying　to　squeeze　you　out。　You　thought　I　was　making　a　play　for　Barry　merely　because　I　was　willing　to　admit　he　might　be　human；　so　wait　and　see。　You　thought　I　was　trying　to　snatch　Oilie　from　you；　when　as　a　matter　of　fact…〃
　　〃Lina；　for　God's　sake；〃　Pierce　implored　her。
　　Her　fine　dark　eyes　flashed　at　him。　〃She　did；　Oilie！　When　as　a　matter　of　fact　she　got　bored　with　you；　and　I　happened　to　be　near。〃　The　eyes　darted　right　to　left；　sweeping　them。　〃And　look　at　you　now；　all　of　you；　and　listen　to　you！　You　all　think　Barry　killed　her…all　except　one；　you　would　say；　Oilie。　But　you　haven't　got　the　guts　to　say　so。　And　this　Mr。　Goodwin　of　yours；　darling　Annabel；　have　you　told　him　that　what　you　really　want　him　for　is　to　find　some　kind　of　proof　that　Barry　did　it？　No；　I　suppose　you're　saving　that　for　later。〃
　　Lina　arose；　in　no　hurry；　and　confronted　Annabel　from　springing　distance。
　　〃I　thought　it　would　be　something　like　this；〃　she　said；　and　left　us；　detouring　around　Leed's　chair　and　heading　for　the　door　to　the　reception　hall。　Eyes　followed　her；　but　no　one　said　anything；　then；　as　she　passed　out　of　sight；　Barry　Rackham　got　up　and；　without　a　glance　for　any　of　us；　including　his　hostess；　tramped　from　the　room。
　　The　remaining　three　guests　exchanged　looks。　Leeds　and　Pierce　left　their　chairs。
　　〃I'm　sorry；　Annabel；〃　Leeds　said　gruffly。　〃But　didn't　I　tell　you　about　Goodwin？〃
　　She　didn't　reply。　She　only　stood　and　breathed。　Leeds　went；　with　not　as　much　spring　to　his　step　as　I　had　seen；　and　Pierce；　mumbling　a　good　night；　followed。　Dana　Hammond　went　to　Annabel；　had　a　hand　out　to　touch　her　arm；　and　then　let　it　drop。
　　〃My　dear；〃　he　said；　appealing　to　her；　〃it　was　no　good。　It　couldn't　be。　If　you　had　consulted　me…〃
　　〃I'll　remember　next　time；　Dana。　Good　night。〃
　　〃I　want　to　talk　with　you；　Annabel。　I　want　to…〃
　　〃Tor　God's　sake；　let　me　alone！　Go！〃
　　He　backed　up　a　step　and　scowled　at　me；　as　if　I　were　to　blame　for　everything。　I　lifted　my　right　brow　at　him。　It's　one　of　my　few　outstanding　talents；　lifting　one　brow；　and　I　save　it　for　occasions　when　nothing　else　would　quite　serve　the　purpose。
　　He　walked　out　of　the　room　without　another　word。
　　Annabel　dropped　onto　the　nearest　chair；　put　her　elbows　on　her　knees；　and　buried　her　face　in　her　hands。
　　I　stood　looking　down　at　her。　〃It　was　not；〃　I　told　her　sympathetically；　〃what　I　would　call　a　success；　but　anyhow　you　tried。　Not　to　try　to　make　you　feel　better；　but　for　future　guidance；　it　might　have　been　wiser；　instead　of　calling　a　convention；　to　tackle　them　one　at　a　dme。　And　it　was　too　bad　you　picked　Leeds　to　sell　first；　since　he　has　a　grudge　against　me。　But　the　truth　is　you　were　licked　before　you　started。　The　shape　their　nerves　are　in；　touching　them　with　a　feather　wouldn't　tickle　them；　it　would　give　them　a　stroke。　Thanks　all　the　same　for　asking　me。〃
　　I　left　her。　By　the　time　I　got　out　to　the　parking　space　the　cars　of　the　other　guests　were　gone。　Rolling　down　the　curving　driveway；　I　was　thinking　that　my　first　ining　phone　call　hadn't　been　so　damned　magnificent　after　all。
　　
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　　ONE　or　two　of　my　friends　have　tried　to　tell　me　that　some　of　my　experiences　that　summer　are　worth　telling　about；　but　even　taking　them　at　their　word；　I'm　not　going　to　drag　it　in　here。　However；　it　is　true　that　after　I　ran　an　ad　in　the　Gazette　and　word　got　around　I　soon　quit　keeping　count　of　the　ining　calls。　All　I'll　do　here　is　summarize　it　by　months；　May。　Woman　with　pet　cat　stolen。　Got　it　back；　fifty　dollars　and　expenses。
　　Guy　who　got　rolled　in　a　joint　on　Eighth　Avenue　and　didn't　want　to　call　the　cops。　Found　her　and　scared　most　of　it　out　of　her。　Two　Cs　for　me。　Man　who　wanted　his　son　pried　loose　from　a　blond　sharpie。　Shouldn't　have　tried　it；　fell　on　my　nose；　took　a　C　above　expenses　anyhow。　Restaurant　with　a　dumb　cashier　with　sticky　fingers；　took　only　one　afternoon　to　hook　her；　client　beefed　about　my　request　for　sixty…five　dollars　but　paid　it。
　　June。　Spent　two　full　weeks　handling　a　hot　insurance　case　for　Del　Bas　and　damn　near　got　my　skull　cracked　for　good。　Cleaned　it　up。　Del　had　the　nerve　to　offer　me　three　Cs；　demanded　a　grand　and　got　it。　My　idea　was　to　net　more　per　week　than　I　had　been　getting　from　Wolfe；　not　that　I　cared　for　the　money；　but　as　a　matter　of　principle。　Found　a　crooked　bookie　for　a　man　from　Meadville；　Pa。　A　hundred　and　fifty　dollars。　Man　wanted　me　to　find　his　vanished　wife；　but　it　looked　dim　and　he　could　pay　only　twenty　bucks　a　day；　so　I　passed　it。　Girl　unjustly　accused；　she　said；　of　giving　secret　business　dope　to　a　rival　firm；　and　fired　from　her　job；　pestered　me　into　tackling　it。　Proved　she　was　right　and　got　her　job　back；　doing　five　hundred　dollars'　worth　of　work　for　a　measly　hundred　and　twenty；　paid　in　installments。　Her　face　wasn't　much；　but　she　had　a　nice　voice　and　good　legs。　Got　an　offer　of　a　job　from　the　FBI；　my　ninth　offer　from　various　sources　in　six　weeks；　and　turned　it　down。
　　July。　Took　a　whirl　at　supervising　ten　men　for　a　bunch　of　concessionaires　at　Coney　Island；　caught　one　of　them　taking　a　cut　from　doobey　stands；　he　jumped　me　with　a　cooler　and　I　broke　his　arm。　Got　tired　of　looking　at　a　thousand　acres　of　bare　skin；　mostly　peeling；　practically　all　nonseductive；　and　quit。　Eight　fifty　for　seventeen　days。　Had　passed　up　at　least　two　thousand　worth　of　little　chores。　Screwball　woman　on　Long　Island　had　had　jewelry　stolen；　uninsured；　thought　cops　were　in　on　it　and　stalling。　Two　things　happened；　I　got　some　breaks；　and　I　did　a　damn　good　piece　of　work。
　　It　took　me　into　August。　I　got　all　the　jewelry　back；　hung　it　on　an　interior　decorator's　assistant　with　proof；　billed　her　for　thirty…five　hundred　gross；　and　collected。
　　August。　I　had　drawn　no　pay　from　Wolfe's　checkbook　since　May　sixth；　I　had　not　gone　near　my　personal　safe　deposit　box；　and　my　personal　bank　balance　had　not　only　not　sunk；　it　had　lifted。　I　decided　I　had　a　vacation　ing。　The　most　I　had　ever　been　able　to　talk　Wolfe　out　of　was　two　weeks；　and　I　thought　I　should　double　that　at　least。　A　friend　of　mine；　whose　name　has　ap