Рекс Стаут - The Father Hunt

“No. I was hoping for something useful, and apparently I’ll have to accept defeat. But I am obliged to you. Sincerely obliged.”

“ That’s a line to hang up on,” Cramer said, and hung up.

Wolfe took a deep breath and a corner of his mouth went up a full quarter of an inch. He looked at me and said, “Satisfactory.”

“Satisfactory hell,” I said, “it’s perfect. Simply marvelous. Do I make out a check for Miss Denovo for twenty grand?”

“Not now. That may come later.” He looked at the clock. “Get Mr. Jarrett. I’ll talk.”

My brows went up. “Father or son?”

“Mr. Cyrus M. Jarrett.”

I nodded. “Yeah. I admit I’m fairly good at filling orders, but this time I need specifications. My batting record for getting Cyrus M. Jarrett to the phone is nothing for two. I think the person I get is named Oscar.”

“I’ll speak with Oscar.”

My brows went up again as I swiveled, got the phone, and dialed area code 914 and a number. Wolfe had his receiver to his ear, so all my part needed was a finger, but I stayed on. After four rings the remembered male voice said, “Mr. Jarrett’s residence.”

“My name is Nero Wolfe. I am calling from New York. I wish to speak to Mr. Jarrett. Tell him — don’t interrupt me. Tell him that I wish to speak with him about Floyd Vance. Repeat that name.”

“But Mr. Jarrett is eating—”

“I told you to repeat that name. Floyd Vance.”

“Floyd Vance.”

“Good. Mr. Jarrett will be able to hear you. He doesn’t eat with his ears. Tell him that I must speak with him now about Floyd Vance. You have my name?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I’ll hold the wire, but don’t keep me waiting.”

I probably wasn’t breathing. It was a king-size gamble, and I was posting no odds. Too much depended on it. So the obvious step was drawing to what could be an inside straight. Not only was it possible that there was no close connection between Jarrett and Floyd Vance, and there was some other explanation for the checks Jarrett had sent, it was even conceivable that he had never heard of Floyd Vance. It could be that the next thing we would hear would be Oscar, if it was Oscar, hanging up.

But it wasn’t. I didn’t time it because I was hanging on a cliff, but I think it was about three hours. I mean three minutes.

“You’re interrupting my dinner.”

I nodded at Wolfe. It was him.

“Mr. Jarrett?”

“Yes.”

“My name is Nero Wolfe. I don’t like to interrupt any man’s meal, but it’s urgent. I have a decision to make that can’t be delayed. I just now conversed with the police officer who is in charge of the investigation of the murder of Elinor Denovo, and I can tell you in confidence that Mr. Archie Goodwin, who has been to see you twice, and I are responsible for the arrest of Floyd Vance as the culprit. To justify a charge of first-degree murder the police wish to establish a motive, and it is manifest that it would help them to have your name so they can ask you about the association of Floyd Vance and Elinor Denovo twenty-three years ago. That would inevitably lead to your appearance on the witness stand at the trial of Floyd Vance, and I am reluctant to take the responsibility for exposing a man of your standing to such an ordeal. Before disclosing your name I would like to discuss the situation with you, and I’ll expect you here, at my office, at eleven o’clock tomorrow morning.”

“Was my name mentioned in your talk with the police officer?”

“No.”

“I know nothing about the association of Floyd Vance and Elinor Denovo twenty-three years ago.”

“Pfui. I’ll call Mr. McCray at once and advise him to make sure that certain checks in the files of the Seaboard Bank and Trust Company are not disturbed. If the police want them they can get a court order.”

“Why should the police want them?”

“They customarily want everything that is, or may be, relevant to a murder investigation. I can ask Inspector Cramer’s opinion after I have explained their significance. Do you want me to do that?”

“No. If I had known the day Goodwin came...” He decided to let the if go. “I’ll expect you here in the morning.”

“I handle business only in my office. I am showing you more consideration than you deserve, sir. Will you be here tomorrow at eleven or not?”

“In the afternoon. Late afternoon.”

“No. At eleven or not at all.”

“At my age mornings are often difficult.”

“Start it earlier. Rise earlier. At eleven or don’t come.”

“Damn you. I’ll be there.”

The connection went. I pushed the phone back, turned, and said, “I suppose you didn’t lose an ounce. I lost ten pounds.”

He grunted. “I’m not as phlegmatic as you think I am. It was that or nothing.”

“Well, it’s that. He’s not only hooked, he’s boated. Have you decided what the tie is? Him and Vance?”

“No.”

“He’s Vance’s father.”

He nodded. “That would be the most serviceable, for our purpose. Is there a noticeable resemblance?”

“Noticeable, no.”

“That point isn’t vital, but it would help to know. We will. On another point I need your opinion. Should Miss Denovo be here?”

“That is a point. She has been on my mind the last two days. I want to make a speech.”

“Go ahead.”

“She’s a nice girl and a good client, and for a week I’ve been sorry we were going to have to tell her that Floyd Vance is her father. And since Tuesday morning I have been even sorrier. It’s a damn shame that she has to know not only that such a character as Vance is her father but also that he killed her mother. I have thought of three possible ways to handle it without telling her, but none of them is really neat. I invite suggestions.”

“I have none. I have an argument.”

“Go ahead.”

“I too have had reflections, if not identical with yours at least similar. It’s desirable for a client to be satisfied not only with our performance but also with its result. With Miss Denovo that’s impossible. Circumstances forbid it. So the question is, What will dissatisfy her least? There are very few questions about any woman that I would undertake to answer with confidence, but you don’t have that restraint and you know Miss Denovo. If she were offered the alternative, which would she choose? To know definitely that Floyd Vance, with all his grievous flaws, is her father? Or to remain all her life in the state of ignorance that brought her here three weeks ago with that money? Not how do you feel about her, but how would she feel?”

I didn’t need to take a full minute to look at it, but I did, for the sake of appearances. “She would rather know,” I said.

“Then she should be here tomorrow morning. In the alcove. Arrange it. Make certain that she will not intrude, no matter what she hears. You know her. Perhaps Saul should come to be with her. You will see him this evening?”

“I hope to. Depending on how long it takes to get her. She’s loose now.” I swung around to get the phone.

That was why I was late for poker. It was going on ten o’clock when I finally got Amy, at her apartment. Again I couldn’t tell her anything, except to be at the office at half past ten in the morning, but at least that indicated that something was stirring. I told Saul ten-thirty too. The shape New York is in, you had better allow half an hour even with a Saul Panzer if you want to be sure.

I took it up once. To eavesdrop means to stand under the eaves to listen to what is said inside a house. But to listen to what is said inside Wolfe’s office you don’t stand under the eaves; you stand in the alcove, which is at the rear end of the hall, to the left as you approach the kitchen. At eye level, if you are about the height of Wolfe or me, there is a rectangular hole in the wall, seven inches high and twelve inches wide. On the alcove side of the hole there is a panel which slides open silently, and on the office side there is a trick picture of a waterfall; “trick” because through the one-way picture you can not only eaves-hear from the alcove but also eaves-see nearly all of the office.