rs.inthebestfamelies-第40部分

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ately　by　another。
　　As　I　got　the　cord　off　and　jammed　it　in　my　pocket；　Zeck's　torso　slumped　sideways　and　then　forward。　Flat　on　the　floor；　I　slewed　around；　saw　Zeck's　contorted　face　right　above　my　eyes；　pulled　the　handkerchief　out　of　his　mouth　and　stuffed　it　in　my　pocket　with　the　cord；　slid　forward　under　the　desk；　and　reached　for　one　of　the　signal　buttons。
　　I　didn't　know；　and　don't　know　yet；　whether　the　noise　of　the　shots　had　got　through　the　soundproof　door　or　whether　it　was　my　push　on　the　button　that　brought　them。　I　didn't　hear　the　door　open；　but　the　next　shots　I　heard　were　a　fusillade　that　came　from　no　Carson；　so　I　came　back　out　from　under　the　desk　and　on　up　to　my　feet。　Schwartz　and　his　buddy　were　standing　just　inside　the　door；　one　with　two　guns　and　one　with　one。　Rackham　was　stretched　out　on　the　floor；　flat　on　his　face。　Wolfe　was　standing　at　the　end　of　the　desk；　facing　the　door；　scowling　as　I　had　never　seen　him　scowl　before。
　　〃The　dirty　bastard；〃　I　said　bitterly；　and　I　admit　my　voice　might　have　trembled　even　if　I　hadn't　told　it　to。
　　〃Reach　up；〃　Schwartz　said；　advancing。
　　Neither　Wolfe　nor　I　moved　a　muscle。　But　Wolfe　spoke。　'〃What　for？〃　He　was　even　bitterer　than　me；　and　contemptuous。　〃They　let　him　in　armed；　not　us。〃
　　〃Watch　'em；　Harry；〃　Schwartz　said；　and　came　forward　and　on　around　behind　the　desk　where　I　was。　Ignoring　me；　he　bent　over　Zeck's　collapsed　body；　spent　half　a　minute　with　it；　and　then　straightened　and　turned。
　　〃He's　gone；〃　he　said。
　　Harry；　from　near　the　door；　squealed　incredulously。　〃He's　gone？〃
　　〃He's　gone；〃　Schwartz　said。
　　Harry　wheeled；　pushed　the　door　open；　and　was　gone　too。
　　Schwartz　stared　after　him　three　seconds；　not　more　than　that；　then　jumped　as　if　I　had　pinched　him；　made　for　the　door；　and　on　through。
　　I　went　and　took　a　look　at　Rackham；　found　he　was　even　deader　than　Zeck；　and　turned　to　Wolfe。　〃Okay；　that's　enough。　e　on。〃
　　〃No。〃　He　was　grim。　〃It　will　be　safer　when　they've　all　skedaddled。　Phone　the　police。〃
　　〃From　here？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　I　went　to　Zeck's　desk　and　pulled　one　of　the　phones　to　me。
　　〃Wait。〃　I　had　never　heard　him　so　grim。　〃First　get　Marko's　number。　I　want　to　speak　to　Fritz。〃　〃Now？　For　God's　sake；　now？〃
　　〃Yes。　Now。　A　man　has　a　right　to　have　his　satisfactions　match　his　pains。　I　wish　to　use　Mr。　Zeck's　phone　to　tell　Fritz　to　go　home　and　get　dinner　ready。〃
　　I　dialed　the　operator。
　　
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　　THREE　days　later；　Friday　afternoon；　1　said　to　Wolfe；　〃Anyway；　it's　all　over　now；　isn't　it？〃
　　〃No；　confound　it；〃　he　said　peevishly。　〃I　still　have　to　earn　that　fee。〃
　　It　was　six　o'clock；　and　he　had　e　down　from　the　plant　rooms　with　some　more　pointed　remarks　about　the　treatment　the　plants　had　got　at　Hewitt's　place。　The　remarks　were　pletely　uncalled　for。　Considering　the　two　journeys　they　had　taken；　out　to　Long　Island　and　then　hack　again；　the　plants　were　in　splendid　shape；　especially　those　hard　to　handle　like　the　Miltonias　and　Phalaenopsis。　Wolfe　was　merely　trying　to　sell　the　idea；　at　least　to　himself；　that　the　orchids　had　missed　him。
　　Fritz　might　have　been　a　mother　whose　lost　little　boy　has　been　brought　home　after　wandering　in　the　desert　for　days；　living　on　cactus　pulp　and　lizard's　tails。　Wolfe　had　gained　not　an　ounce　less　than　ten　pounds　in　seventy…two　hours；　in　spite　of　all　the　activity　of　getting　resettled；　and　at　the　rate　he　was　going　he　would　be　back　to　normal　long　before　Thanksgiving。
　　The　pleats　in　his　face　were　already　showing　a　tendency　to　spread　out；　and　of　course　the　beard　was　gone；　and　the　slick　had　been　shampooed　out　of　his　hair。　I　had　tried　to　persuade　him　to　stay　in　training；　but　he　wouldn't　even　bother　to　put　up　an　argument。　He　just　spent　more　time　than　ever　with　Fritz；　arranging　about　meals。
　　He　had　not　got　home　for　dinner　Tuesday　evening　after　all；　in　spite　of　the　satisfaction　he　had　got　by　putting　in　a　call　to　Fritz　on　Zeck's　phone。
　　We　were　now　cleaned　up　with　Westchester；　but　it　had　not　been　simple。
　　The　death　of　Arnold　Zeck　had　of　course　started　a　chain　reaction　that　went　both　deep　and　wide；　and　naturally　there　had　been　an　earnest　desire　to　make　goats　out　of　Wolfe　and　me；　but　they　didn't　have　a　damn　thing　on　us；　and　when　word　came　from　somewhere　that　Wolfe；　during　his　association　with　Zeck；　might　have　collected　some　facts　that　could　be　embarrassing　to　people　who　shouldn't　be　embarrassed；　the　attitude　toward　us　changed　for　the　better　right　away。
　　As　for　the　scene　that　ended　with　the　death　of　Zeck　and　Rackham；　we　were　clean　as　a　whistle。　The　papers　in　Roeder's　brief　case；　which　of　course　the　cops　took；　proved　nothing　on　anybody。　By　the　time　the　cops　arrived　there　had　been　no　one　on　the　premises　but　Wolfe　and　me　and　the　two　corpses。　A　hot　search　was　on；　especially　for　Schwartz　and　Harry；　but　so　far　no　take。　No　elaborate　lying　was　required；　our　basic　story　was　that　Wolfe；　in　his　disguise　as　Roeder；　had　got　in　with　Zeck　in　order　to　solve　the　murder　of　Mrs。　Rackham；　and　the　climax　had　e　that　afternoon　when　Zeck　had　put　the　screws　on　Rackham　by　saying　that　he　had　evidence　that　would　convict　him　for　killing　his　wife；　and　Rackham　had　pulled　a　gun；　smuggled　somehow　past　the　sentinels；　and　had　shot　Zeck；　and　Schwartz　and　Harry　had　rushed　in　and　drilled　Rackham。　It　was　surprising　and　gratifying　to　note　how　much　of　it　was　stricdy　true。
　　So　by　Friday　afternoon　we　were　cleaned　up　with　Westchester；　as　I　thought；　and　therefore　it　was　a　minor　shock　when　Wolfe　said；　〃No；　confound　it；　I　still　have　to　earn　that　fee。〃
　　I　was　opening　my　mouth　to　ask　him　how　e；　when　the　phone　rang。
　　I　got　it。　It　was　Annabel　Frey。　She　wanted　to　speak　to　Wolfe。　I　told　him　so。　He　frowned　and　reached　for　his　phone；　and　I　stayed　on。
　　〃Yes；　Mrs。　Frey？　This　is　Nero　Wolfe。〃
　　〃I　want　to　ask　you　a　favor；　Mr。　Wolfe；　That　is；　I　expect　to　pay　for　it　of　course；　but　still　it's　a　favor。　Could　you　and　Mr。　Goodwin　e　up　here　this　evening？　To　my　home；　Birchvale？〃
　　〃I'm　sorry；　Mrs。　Frey；　but　it's　out　of　the　question。　I　transact　business　only　in　my　office。　I　never　leave　it。〃
　　That　was　a　little　thick；　I　thought；　from　a　guy　who　had　just　spent　five　months　the　way　he　had。　And　if　she　read　newspapers　she　knew　all　about　it…or　anyhow　some。
　　〃I'm　sorry；〃　she　said；　〃because　we　must　see　you。　Mr。　Archer　is　here；　the　District　Attorney；　and　I'm　calling　at　his　suggestion。　We　have　a　problemtwo　problems；　really。〃
　　〃By　'we'　do　you　mean　you　and　Mr。　Archer？〃
　　〃No；　I　mean　all　of　us…all　of　us　who　inherited　property　from　Mrs。　Rackham；　and　all　of　us　who　were　here　the　night　she　was　killed。　Our　problem　is　about　evidence　that　her　husband　killed　her。　Mr。　Archer　says　he　has　none；　none　that　is　conclusive…and　perhaps　you　know　what　people　are　saying；　and　the　newspapers。　That's　what　we　want　to　consult　you　about…the　evidence。〃
　　〃Well。〃　A　pause。　〃I'm　trying　to　get　a　little　rest　after　a　long　period　or　overexertion。　But…very　well。　Who　is　there？〃
　　〃We　all　are。　We　met　to　discuss　this。　You'll　e？　Wonderful！　If　you…〃
　　〃I　didn't　say　I'll　e。　All　five　of　you　are　there？〃
　　〃Yes…and　Mr。　Archer…〃
　　〃Be　at　my　office；　all　of　you；　at　nine　o'clock　this　evening。　Including　Mr。　Archer。〃
　　〃But　I　don't　know　if　he　will…〃
　　〃I　think　he　will。　Tell　him　I'll　be　ready　then　to　produce　the　evidence。〃
　　〃Oh；　you　will？　Then　you　can　tell　me　now…〃
　　〃Not　on　the　phone；　Mrs。　Frey。　I'll　be　expecting　you　at　nine。〃
　　When　we　had　hung　up　I　lifted　the　brows　at　him。　〃So　that's　what　you　meant　about　earning　that　fee？　Maybe？〃
　　He　grunted；　irritated　that　he　had　to　interrupt　his　convalescence　for　a　job　of　work；　sat　a　moment；　reached　for　a　bottle　of　the　beer　Fritz　had　brought；　grunted　again；　this　time　with　satisfaction；　and　poured　a　glass　with　plenty　of　foam。
　　I　got　up　to　go　Eo　the　kitchen；　to　tell　Fritz　we　were　having　pany　and　that　refreshments　might　be　required。
　　
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　　I　WAS　mildly　interested　when　the　six　guests　arrived…a　little　early；　five　to　nine…in　such　minor　issues　as　the　present　state　of　relations　between　Annabel　Frey　and　the　banker；　Dana　Hammond；　and　between　Una　Darrow　and　the　statesman；　Oliver　Pierce；　and　whether　Calvin　Leeds　would　see　fit　to　apologize　for　his　unjust　suspicions　about　Wolfe　and　me。
　　To　take　the　last　first；　Leeds　was　all　out　of　apologies。　The　spring　was　in　his　step　all　right；　but　not　in　his　manners。　First　to　enter　the　office；　he　plumped　himself　down　in　the　red　leather　chair；　but　I　figured　that　Archer　rated　it　ex　officio　and　asked　him　to　move；　which　he　did　without　grace。　As　for　the　others；　there　was　too　much　atmosphere　to　get　any　clear　idea。　They　were　all　on　speaking　terms；　but　the　problem　that　brought　them　there　was　in　the　front　of　their　minds；　so　much　so　that　no　one　was　interested　in　the　array　of　liquids　and　accessories　that　Fritz　and　I　had　arranged　on　the　table　over　by　the　big　globe。　Annabel　was　in　the　most　fortable　of　the　yellow　chairs；　to　Archer's　left；　then；　working　toward　me　at　my　desk；　Leeds　and　Lina　Darrow；　and　Hammond　and　Pierce　closest　to　me。
　　Wolfe's　eyes　swept　the　arc。
　　〃This；〃　he　said；　〃is　a　little　awkward　for　me。　I　have　met　none　of　you　before　except　Mr。　Leeds。　I　must　be　sure　I　have　you　straight。〃　His　eyes　went　along　the　line　again。　〃I　think　I　have。　Now　if　you'll　tell　me　what　you　want…you；　Mrs。　Frey；　it　was　yo