Rex Stout - The Second Confesion

I complained. “What for?” I demanded. “All I said was hello. Why the scratching and shooting?” “He didn't shoot,” Mrs Sperling said indignantly.

I waved it aside. “Well, you sure scratched. Now we've got a problem. We can search your son all right, that's easy, but how are we going to search you?” “Try searching me,” Jimmy said. His voice was mean and his face was mean. I had tagged him as the one member of the family who didn't count one way or another, but now I wasn't so sure.

“Nuts,” I told him. “You're sore because you didn't have the guts to shoot, which shows how thick you are. Sit down on that couch, both of you.” I used the damp towel on my face. They didn't move. “Will I have to come and sit you?” Mom pulled at his arm and they went to the couch, sidewise, and sat. Saul dropped the gun in his pocket and took a chair.

“You startled us, Andy,” Mom said. “That was all. I was so startled I didn't recognize you.” It was a nice little touch that no man would ever have thought of. She was putting us back on our original basis, when I had been merely a welcome guest at her home.

I refused to revert. “My name's Archie now, remember? And you've' fixed me so that no one will recognize me. You certainly react strong to being startled.” I moved a chair and sat. “How did you get in here?” “Why, with a key!” “Where did you get it?” “Why, we-we had one-” “How did you get in?” Jimmy demanded.

I shook my head at him. “That won't get you anywhere. I suppose you know that your father fired Mr Wolfe. We now have another client, one of Rony's associates. Do you want to make a point of this? Like calling a cop? I thought not. Where did you get the key?” “None of your damn business!” “I just told you,” Mom said reproachfully, “we had one.” Having quit using logic on women the day I graduated from high school, I skipped that. “We have a choice,” I informed them. “I can phone the precinct and get a pair of city detectives here, a male and a female, to go over you and see what you came after, which would take time and make a stink, or you can tell us-by the way, I believe you haven't met my friend and colleague, Mr Saul Panzer.

That's him on the chair. Also by the way, don't you ever go to the movies? Why don't you wear gloves? You've left ten thousand prints all over the place. Or you can tell us where you got the key and what you came for-only it will have to be good. One reason you might prefer us is that we don't really have to search you, because you were still looking, so you haven't found it.” They looked at each other.

“May I make a suggestion?” Saul inquired.

“Yes, indeed.” “Maybe they'd rather have us phone Mr Sperling, to ask-” “No!” Mom cried.

“Much obliged,” I thanked Saul. “You remind me of Mr Wolfe.” I returned to them.

“Now it will have to be even better. Where did you get the key?” “From Rony,” Jimmy muttered sullenly.

“When did he give it to you?” “A long while ago. I've had it-” “That's a swell start,” I said encouragingly. “He had something here, or you thought he had, which you wanted so much that you two came here to get it the first possible chance after he died, but he gave you a key long ago so you could drop in for it some day while he was at his office. Mr Panzer and I don't go for that. Try another one.” They exchanged glances.

“Why don't you try this?” I suggested. “That you borrowed it from your younger sister, and-” “You sonofabitch,” Jimmy growled, rising and taking a step. “No, I didn't shoot, but by God- “You shouldn't get nasty, Andy,” Mom protested.

“Then give us something better.” I had drawn my feet back for leverage in case Jimmy kept coming, but he didn't. “Whatever it is, remember we can always check it with Mr Sperling.” “No you can't!” “Why not?” “Because he knows nothing about it! I'm just going to tell you the truth! We persuaded the janitor to lend us a key.” “How much did it take to persuade him?” “I offered-I gave him a hundred dollars. He'll be downstairs in the hall when we go out, to see that we don't take anything.” “You got a bargain,” I declared, “unless he intends to frisk you. Don't you think we ought to meet him, Saul?” “Yes.” “Then get him. Bring him up here.

Saul went. As the three of them sat and waited Mom suddenly asked, “Does your face hurt, Andy?” I thought of three replies, all good, but settled for a fourth because it was shortest.

“Yes,” I said.

When the outside door opened again I stood up, thinking that the janitor's arrival would make it two to two, even not counting Mom, and he might be an athlete. But as soon as I saw him I sat down again. He was a welterweight, his expansion would have been not more than half of Madeline's, and his eyes refused to lift higher than a man's knees.

“His name's Tom Fenner,” Saul informed me. “I had to take hold of him.” I eyed him. He eyed my ankles. “Look,” I told him, “this can be short and simple. I represent an associate of Mr Rony. As far as I know these people have done no harm here, and I'll see that they don't. I don't like to get people into trouble if I don't have to. Just show me the hundred bucks they gave you.” “Jeez, I never saw a hundred bucks,” Fenner squeaked. “Why would they give me a hundred bucks?” “To get a key to this apartment. Come on, let's see it.” “They never got a key from me. I'm in charge here. I'm responsible.” “Quit lying,” Jimmy snapped.

“Here's the key,” Mom said, displaying it. “You see, that proves it!” “Give it here.” Fenner took a step. “Let me take a look at it.” I reached for his arm and swivelled him. “Why drag it out? No matter how brave and strong you are, three of us could probably hold you while the lady goes through your pockets. Save time and energy, Mac. Maybe they planted it on you when you weren't looking.” He was so stubborn and game that his eyes got nearly as high as my knees before he surrendered. Then they dropped again, and his hand went into his pants pocket and emerged with a tight little roll between his fingers. I took it and unrolled it enough to see a fifty, two twenties, and a ten, and offered it back. That was the only time his eyes got higher; they came clear up to mine, wildly astonished.

“Take it and beat it,” I told him. “I just wanted a look. Wait a minute.” I went to get the key from Mom and handed that to him too. “Don't lend it again without phoning me first. I'll lock up when I leave.” He was speechless. The poor goof didn't have enough wits left even to ask my name.

When he had gone Saul and I sat down again. “You see,” I said genially, “we're easily satisfied as long as we get the truth. Now we know how you got in. What did you come for?” Mom had it ready and waiting, having been warned it was going to be required.

“You remember,” she said, “that my husband thought Louis was a Communist?” I said I did.

“Well, we still thought so-I mean, after what Mr Wolfe told us Monday afternoon.

We still thought so.” “Who is we?” “My son and I. We talked it over and we still thought so. Today when my husband told us that Mr Wolfe didn't believe what Webster said in his statement and it might mean more trouble about it, we thought if we came here and found something to prove that Louis was a Communist and showed it to Mr Wolfe, then it would be all right.” “It would be all right,” I asked, “because if he was a Communist Mr Wolfe wouldn't care who or what killed him? Is that it?” “Of course, don't you see?” I asked Saul, “Do you want it?” “Not even as a gift,” he said emphatically.