Rex Stout: The Rodeo Murder

“I want to see him. Come on, Nan. You come along. We’re not going to get—”

The doorbell rang. Mel had Nan under control, so I went. A glance through the glass of the front door showed me a hundred and ninety pounds of sergeant out on the stoop — Sergeant Purley Stebbins of Homicide. I proceeded, put the chain bolt on, opened the door to the two-inch crack the chain permitted, and said politely, “No clues today. Out of stock.”

“Open up, Goodwin.” Like a sergeant. “I want Nan Karlin.”

“I don’t blame you. She’s very attractive—”

“Can it. Open up. I’ve got a warrant for her and I know she’s here.”

There was no use making an issue of it, since there had probably been an eye on the house ever since Cramer left. As for the warrant, of course the prints she had left at Eisler’s apartment had caught up with her. But Wolfe doesn’t approve of cops taking anyone in his house, no matter who. “What if you brought the wrong warrant?” I asked.

He got it from a pocket and stuck it through the crack, and I took it and looked it over. “Okay,” I said, “but watch her, she might bite.” Removing the chain, swinging the door open, and handing him the warrant as he crossed the sill, I followed him to the office. He didn’t make a ceremony of it. He marched across to Nan, displayed the paper, and spoke. “Warrant to take you as a material witness in the murder of Wade Eisler. You’re under arrest. Come along.”

My concern was Laura. As like as not, she would blurt out that he should take Mel too because she had told him about it, so I lost no time getting to her, but she didn’t utter a peep. She stood stiff, her teeth clamped on her lip. Wolfe let out a growl, but no words. Nan gripped Mel’s arm. Mel took the warrant, read it through, and told Stebbins, “This don’t say what for.”

“Information received.”

“Where you going to take her?”

“Ask the District Attorney’s office.”

“I’m getting a lawyer for her.”

“Sure. Everybody ought to have a lawyer.”

“I’m going along.”

“Not with us. Come on, Miss Karlin.”

Wolfe spoke. “Miss Karlin. You will of course be guided by your own judgment and discretion. I make no suggestion. I merely inform you that you are under no compulsion to speak until you have consulted an attorney.”

Stebbins and Mel Fox both spoke at once. Stebbins said, “She didn’t ask you anything.” Mel said, “You goddam snake.” Stebbins touched Nan’s elbow and she moved. I stayed with Laura as they headed out, Nan and Stebbins in front and Mel and Roger following; seeing them go might touch her off. She still had teeth on her lip. When I heard the front door close I went and took a look and came back.

I expected to find Wolfe scowling at her, but he wasn’t. He was leaning back with his eyes closed and his lips moving. He was pushing out his lips, puckered, and then drawing them in — out and in, out and in. He only does that, and always does it, when he has found a crack somewhere, or thinks he has, and is trying to see through. I am not supposed to interrupt the process, so I crossed to my desk, but didn’t sit, because Laura was still on her feet, and a gentleman should not seat himself when a lady or a wildcat is standing.

Wolfe opened his eyes. “Archie.”

“Yes, sir.”

“It would help to know whether Miss Jay had told Mr. Fox or not. Is there any conceivable way of finding out?”

I raised a brow. If that was the crack he had been trying to see through he was certainly hard up for cracks. “Not bare-handed,” I said. “It would take a scientist. I know where you can get one with a lie detector. Or you might try a hypnotist.”

“Pfui. Miss Jay, which is it now, now that Miss Karlin is in custody? Had you told Mr. Fox?”

“Yes.”

“Yesterday morning in the hotel lobby?”

“Yes.”

“I suppose you understand what that will let you in for — or rather, I suppose you don’t. You will be—”

The phone rang. I got it. “Nero Wolfe’s office, Archie Goodwin speaking.”

“This is Cal, Archie. Do you know where Laura is?”

“I might have an idea. Where are you?”

“I’m at the hotel. I’m out on bail. They say she went out this morning and she hasn’t been back, and she’s not at the Garden. I thought maybe she might have been to see you.”

“Hold the wire a minute. I’ll go to another phone.”

I got my memo pad, wrote on it, Cal Barrow out on bail looking for Laura, get him here & you can check her , tore off the sheet, and handed it to Wolfe. He read it and looked up at the clock. His afternoon date with the orchids was at four.

“No,” he said. “You can. Get her out of here. Of course you must see him first.”

I resumed at the phone. “I think I know where to find her. It’s a little complicated, and the best way—”

“Where is she?”

“I’ll bring her. What’s your room number?”

“Five-twenty-two. Where is she?”

“I’ll have her there in half an hour, maybe less. Stay in your room.”

I hung up and faced Laura. “That was Cal. He’s out on bail and he wants to see you. I’ll take—”

“Cal! Where is he?”

“I’ll take you to him, but I’m going to see him first. I don’t ask you to promise because you’d promise anything, but if you try any tricks I’ll show you a new way to handle a calf. Where’s your jacket?”

“It’s upstairs.”

“Go get it. If I went for it you might not be here when I came back.”

The Paragon Hotel, around the corner from Eighth Avenue on 54th Street, not exactly a dump but by no means a Waldorf, is convenient for performers at the Garden — of course not including the stars. When Laura and I entered there were twenty or more cow-persons in the lobby, both male and female, some in costume and some not. We went to the elevator, and to my surprise she stuck to the program as agreed upon in the taxi, getting out at the fourth floor to go to her room. I stayed in, left at the fifth, found Room 522 and knocked on the door, and it opened before I was through knocking.

“Oh,” Cal said. “Where is she?”

He was still in the same outfit he had worn yesterday — bright blue shirt, blue jeans, and fancy boots. His face wasn’t any fresher than his clothes.

“She’s in her room,” I said. “She wanted to fix her hair. Before she joins us I want to ask you something. Do I see a chair in there?”

“Why, sure. Come on in and sit.” He gave me room and I entered. There were two chairs, about all there was space for, what with the bed and chest of drawers and a little table. I took one. Cal stood and yawned, wide.

“Excuse me,” he said. “I’m a little short on sleep.”

“So am I. Some things have been happening, but Laura can tell you about them. Miss Rowan has hired Nero Wolfe to investigate, and he knows about what you told me yesterday. Laura can tell you how he found out. I haven’t told the cops or anyone else.”

He nodded. “I figured you hadn’t or they would have asked me. I guess you’ve got your tongue in straight. I’m mighty glad. I guess I picked the right man to tell.”

“Frankly, you could have done worse. Now you can tell me something else. Yesterday morning you met Laura downstairs and had breakfast with her. Remember?”

“Sure I remember.”

“Mel Fox says that when you and Laura went into the lobby after breakfast you left her and went to the cigar counter to buy cigarettes, and he went and had a little talk with you. Remember that?”

“I don’t seem to.” He frowned. “I didn’t buy no cigarettes. I got a carton here in my room. Mel must of got mixed up.”