rs.inthebestfamelies-第35部分

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　though　you　might　be　useful。〃
　　〃I　hate　him；〃　Rackham　said　hoarsely。　〃I'm　afraid　of　him　and　I　hate　him！〃
　　〃I　don't　like　him　myself。　I　told　him　so。　What　about　tomorrow？　Say　four　o'clock　tomorrow；　call　for　you　here　at　a　quarter　to　three？〃
　　〃I　don't…not　tomorrow…〃
　　〃Get　it　over　with！　Would　you　rather　keep　on　listening　for　the　phone　and　the　doorbell？　Get　it　over　with！〃
　　He　reached　for　his　straight　drink；　which　he　hadn't　touched；　swallowed　it　at　a　gulp；　shuddered　all　over；　and　wiped　his　mouth　with　the　back　of　his　hand。
　　〃I'll　ring　you　around　noon　to　confirm　it；〃　I　said；　and　stood　up　to　go。　He　didn't　e　with　me　to　the　door；　but　under　the　circumstances　I　didn't　hold　it　against　him。
　　So　that　evening　when　Wolfe　came　to　1019　it　appeared　to　be　high　rime　for　getting　the　false　bottom　in　the　brief　case　ready；　and　we　went　on　until　midnight；　discussing　the　program　from　every　angle　and　trying　to　cover　every　contingency。　It's　always　worth　trying；　though　it　can　never　be　done；　especially　not　with　a　layout　as　tricky　as　that　one。　Then　the　next　morning；　Tuesday；　a　monkey　wrench；　thrown　all　the　way　from　White　Plains；　flew　into　the　machinery　and　stopped　it。　I　had　just　finished　breakfast；　with　Fritz；　when　the　phone　rang　and　I　went　to　the　office　to　get　it。　It　was　the　Westchester　DA's　office。
　　The　talk　was　brief。　When　I　had　hung　up　I　sat　a　while；　glaring　at　the　phone；　then　with　an　exasperated　finger　dialed　the　Churchill's　number。　That　talk　was　brief　too。　Finished　with　it；　I　held　the　button　down　for　a　moment　and　dialed　another　number。
　　There　had　been　only　two　buzzes　when　a　voice　came　through　a　nose　to　me。
　　〃Yes？〃
　　〃I'd　like　to　speak　to　Mr。　Boeder。〃
　　〃Talking。〃
　　〃This　is　Goodwin。　I've　just　had　a　call　from　White　Plains　to　e　to　the　DA's　office　at　once。　I　asked　if　I　could　count　on　keeping　a　two　o'clock　appointment　and　was　told　no。　I　phoned　the　Churchill　and　left　a　message　that　I　had　been　called　out　of　town　for　the　day。　I　hope　it　can　be　tomorrow。　I'll　let　you　know　as　soon　as　I　can。〃
　　Silence。
　　〃Did　you　hear　me？〃
　　〃Yes。　Good　luck；　Goodwin。〃
　　The　connection　went。
　　
　　18
　　I　HAD　once　sat　and　cooled　my　heels　for　three　hours　on　one　of　the　wooden　benches　in　the　big　anteroom　of　the　DA's　office　in　the　White　Plains　courthouse；　but　this　time　I　didn't　sit　at　all。　I　didn't　even　give　my　name。　I　entered　and　was　crossing　to　the　table　in　the　fenced…off　er　when　a　man　with　a　limp　intercepted　me　and　said；　〃e　with　me；　Mr。　Goodwin。〃
　　He　took　me　down　a　long　corridor；　past　rows　of　doors　on　either　side；　and　into　a　room　that　I　was　acquainted　with。　I　had　been　entertained　there　for　an　hour　or　so　the　evening　of　Sunday；　April　ninth。　No　one　was　in　it。　It　had　two　big　windows　for　the　morning　sun；　and　I　sat　and　watched　the　dust　dance。　I　was　blowing　at　it；　seeing　what　patterns　I　could　make；　when　the　door　opened　and　Cleveland　Archer；　the　DA　himself；　appeared；　followed　by　Ben　Dykes。　I　have　never　glanced　at　faces　with　a　deeper　interest。　If　they　had　looked　pleased　and　cocky　it　would　probably　have　meant　that　they　had　cracked　the　case；　and　in　that　event　all　our　nifty　plans　for　taking　care　of　Arnold　Zeck　were　up　the　flue　and　God　help　us。
　　I　was　so　glad　to　see　that　they　were　far　from　cocky　that　I　had　to　see　to　it　that　my　face　didn't　beam。　I　responded　to　their　curt　greeting　in　kind；　and　when　they　arranged　the　seating　with　me　across　a　table　from　them　I　said　grumpily　as　I　sat；　〃I　hope　this　is　going　to　get　somebody　something。　I　had　a　full　day　ahead；　and　now　look　at　it。〃
　　Dykes　grunted；　not　with　sympathy　and　not　with　enmity；　just　a　grunt。
　　Archer　opened　a　folder　he　had　brought；　selected　from　its　contents　some　sheets　of　paper　stapled　in　a　er；　glanced　at　the　top　sheet；　and　gave　me　his　eyes；　which　had　swollen　lids。
　　〃This　is　that　statement　you　made；　Goodwin。〃
　　〃About　what？　Oh；　the　Rackham　case？〃
　　〃For　God's　sake；〃　Dykes　said　gloomily；　〃forget　to　try　to　be　cute　just　once。　I've　been　up　all　night。〃
　　〃It　was　so　long　ago；〃　I　said　apologetically；　〃and　I've　been　pretty　busy。〃
　　Archer　slid　the　statement　across　the　table　to　me。　〃I　think　you　had　better　read　it　over。　I　want　to　ask　some　questions　about　it。〃
　　I　couldn't　have　asked　for　a　better　chance　to　get　my　mind　arranged；　but　I　didn't　see　that　that　would　help　matters　any；　since　I　hadn't　the　vaguest　notion　from　which　direction　the　blow　was　ing。
　　〃May　I　save　it　for　later？〃　I　inquired。　〃If　you　get　me　up　a　tree　and　I　need　time　out　for　study；　I　can　pretend　I　want　to　check　with　what　I　said　here。〃　I　tapped　the　statement　with　a　forefinger。
　　〃I　would　prefer　that　you　read　it。〃
　　〃I　don't　need　to；　really。　I　know　what　I　said　and　what　I　signed。〃　I　slid　it　back　to　him。　〃Yest　me　on　any　part　of　it。〃
　　Archer　closed　the　folder　and　rested　his　clasped　hands　on　it。　〃I'm　not　as　interested　in　what　is　in　that　statement　as　I　am　in　what　isn't　in　it。　I　think　you　ought　to　read　it　because　I　want　to　ask　you　what　you　left　out…of　the　happenings　of　that　day；　Saturday；　April　eighth。〃
　　〃I　can　answer　that　without　reading　it。　I　left　nothing　out　that　was　connected　with　Mrs。　Rackham。〃
　　〃I　want　you　to　read　what　you　said　and　signed　and　then　repeat　that　statement。〃
　　〃I　don't　need　to　read　it。　I　left　out　nothing。〃
　　Archer　and　Dykes　exchanged　looks；　and　then　Dykes　spoke。　〃Look；　Goodwin；　we're　not　trying　to　sneak　up　on　you。　We've　got　something；　that's　all。　Someone　has　loosened　up。　It　looks　like　this　is　the　day　for　it。〃
　　〃Not　for　me。〃　I　was　firm。　〃I　loosened　up　long　ago。〃
　　Archer　told　Dykes；　〃Bring　her　in。〃　Dykes　arose　and　left　the　room。　Archer　took　the　statement　and　returned　it　to　the　folder　and　pushed　the　folder　to　one　side；　then　pressed　the　heels　of　his　palms　to　his　eyes　and　took　a　couple　of　deep　breaths。　The　door　opened　and　Dykes　escorted　Una　Darrow　in。　He　pulled　a　chair　up　to　the　end　of　the　table　for　her；　to　my　left　and　Archer's　right；　so　that　the　window　was　at　her　back。　She　looked　as　if　she　might　have　spent　the　night　in　jail；　with　red　eyes　and　a　general　air　of　being　pooped；　but　judging　from　the　damp　she　had　on　her　jaw；　she　was　darned　determined　about　something。　I　got　a　glance　from　her　but　nothing　more；　not　even　a　nod；　as　she　took　the　chair　Dykes　pulled　up。
　　〃Miss　Darrow；〃　Archer　told　her；　gently　but　firmly；　〃you　understand　that　there　is　probably　no　chance　of　getting　your　story　corroborated　except　through　Mr。　Goodwin。　You　haven't　been　brought　in　here　to　face　him　for　the　purpose　of　disconcerting　or　discrediting　him；　but　merely　so　he　can　be　informed　first…hand。〃　Archer　turned　to　me。　〃Miss　Darrow　came　to　us　last　evening　or　her　own　accord。　No　pressure　of　any　kind　has　been　used　with　her。　Is　that　correct；　Miss　Darrow？　I　wish　you　would　confirm　that　to　Mr。　Goodwin。〃
　　〃Yes。〃　She　lifted　her　eyes　to　me；　and　though　they　had　obviously　had　a　hard　night；　I　still　insist　they　were　fine。　She　went　on；　〃I　came　voluntarily。　I　came　because…the　way　Barry　Rackham　treated　me。　He　refused　to　marry　me。　He　treated　me　very　badly。　Finally…yesterday　it　was　too　much。〃
　　Archer　and　Dykes　were　both　gazing　at　her　fixedly。　Archer　prodded　her。
　　〃Go　on；　please。　Miss　Darrow。　Tell　him　the　main　facts。〃
　　She　was　trying　the　clamp　on　her　jaw　to　make　sure　it　was　working　right。
　　Satisfied；　she　released　it。　〃Barry　and　I　had　been　friendly；　a　little；　before　Mrs。Rackham's　death。　Nothing　but　just　a　little　friendly。　That's　all　it　meant　to　me；　or　I　thought　it　was；　and　I　thought　it　was　the　same　with　him。　That's　how　it　was　when　we　went　to　the　country　for　the　Easter　weekend。　She　had　told　me　we　wouldn't　do　any　work　there；　answer　any　mail　or　anything；　but　Saturday　at　noon　she　sent　for　me　to　e　to　her　room。　She　was　crying　and　was　so　distressed　she　could　hardly　talk。〃
　　Lina　paused。　She　was　keeping　her　eyes　straight　at　mine。　〃I　can　rattle　this　off　now；　Mr。　Goodwin。　I've　already　told　it　now。〃
　　〃That　always　makes　it　easier；〃　I　agreed。　〃Go　right　ahead。〃
　　She　did。　〃Mrs。　Rackham　said　she　had　to　talk　about　it　with　someone；　and　she　wanted　to　with　her　daughter…in…law；　Mrs。　Frey；　but　she　just　couldn't；　so　there　was　only　me。　She　said　she　had　gone　to　see　Nero　Wolfe　the　day　before；　to　ask　him　to　find　out　where　her　husband　was　getting　money　from；　and　he　had　agreed　to　do　it。　Mr。　Wolfe　had　phoned　her　that　evening。　Friday　evening；　and　told　her　that　he　had　already　partly　succeeded。　He　had　learned　that　her　husband　was　connected　with　something　that　was　criminal。　He　was　helping　somebody　with　things　that　were　against　the　law；　and　he　was　getting　well　paid　for　it。　Mr。　Wolfe　advised　her　to　keep　it　to　herself　until　he　had　more　details。　He　said　his　assistant；　Mr。　Goodwin；　would　e　up　Saturday　afternoon；　and　might　have　more　to　report　then。〃
　　〃And　that　Goodwin　knew　all　about　it？〃　Archer　asked。
　　〃Well；　naturally　she　took　that　for　granted。　She　didn't　say　that　Mr。　Wolfe　told　her　in　so　many　words　that　Mr。　Goodwin　knew　all　about　it；　but　if　he　was　his　assistant　and　helping　with　it；　naturally　she　would　think　so。　Anyway　that　didn't　seem　to　be　important　then；　because　she　had　told　it　all　to　her　husband。　They　used　the　same　bedroom　at　Birchvale；　and　she　said　that　after　they　had　gone　to　bed　she　simply　couldn't　help　it。　She　didn't　tell　me　their　conversation；　what　they　said　to　each　other；　but　they　had　had　a　violent　quarrel。　She　had