Rex Stout - In the Best Families

“Because it was Rackham. I'm interested in him. I was glad to know someone else was. I would like to have a hand in his future.

No blink. “You think you know, I suppose, the nature of my own interests and activities.

“I know what is said around. I know that a New York police inspector told me that you're out of reach.

“Name him.

“Cramer. Manhattan Homicide.

“Oh, him. Zeck made his first gesture: a forefinger straightened and curved again. “What was the occasion?

“He wouldn't believe me when I said I didn't know where Wolfe was. He thought

Wolfe and I were fixing to try to bring you down, and he was just telling me. I told him that maybe he would like to pull us off because he was personally interested, but that since Wolfe had scooted he was wasting it.

“That was injudicious, wasn't it?

“All of that. I was in a bad humour.

Zeck blinked; I saw him. “I wanted to meet you, Goodwin. I've allowed some time for this because I want to look at you and hear you talk. Your idea of my interests and activities probably has some relation to the facts, and if so you may know that my chief problem is men. I could use ten times as many good men as

I can find. I judge men partly by their record and partly by report, but mainly by my first-hand appraisal. You have disappointed me in one respect. Your conclusion that I want to use you to find Nero Wolfe is not intelligent. I do not pursue an opponent who has fled the field; it would not be profitable. If he reappears and gets in my path again, I'll crush him. I do want to suck you in, as you put it. I need good men now more than ever. Many people get money from me, indirectly, whom I never see and have no wish to see; but there must be some whom I do see and work through. You might be one. I would like to try. You must know one thing: if you once say yes it becomes impractical to change your mind.

It can't be done.

“You said, I objected, “you would like to try. How about my liking to try?

“I've answered that. It can't be done.

“It's already being done. I'm tailing Rackham for you. When he approached me I took it on myself to chat with him and report it. Did you like that or not? If not, I'm not your type. If so, let's go on with that until you know me better.

Hell, we never saw each other before. You can let me know a day in advance when

I'm to lose the right to change my mind, and we'll see. Regarding my notion that you want to use me to find Nero Wolfe, skip it. You couldn't anyway, since I don't know whether he went north, east, south, or west.

I had once remarked to Wolfe, when X (our name then for Zeck) had brought a phone call to a sudden end, that he was an abrupt bastard. He now abruptly turned the shark eyes from me, which was a relief, to reach for the switch on an intercom box on his desk, flip it, and speak to it. “Send Roeder in.

“Tell him to shave first, I suggested, thinking that if I had a reputation for a habit of speech I might as well live up to it. Zeck did not react. I was beginning to believe that he never had reacted to any thing and never would. I turned my head enough for the newcomer to have my profile when he entered, not to postpone his pleasure at seeing me.

It was a short wait till the door opened and Roeder appeared. The sentinel did not come in. Roeder crossed to us, stepping flat on the rugs so as not to slide.

His glance at me was fleeting and casual.

“Sit down, Zeck said. “You know Goodwin.

Roeder nodded and favoured me with a look. Sitting, he told me, “Your reports haven't been worth what they cost.

It gave me a slight shock, but I don't think I let it show. I had forgotten that

Roeder talked through his nose.

“Sorry, I said condescendingly. “I've been sticking to facts. If you want them dressed up, let me know what colour you like.

“You've been losing him.

I flared up quietly. “I used to think, I said, “that Nero Wolfe expected too much. But even he had brains enough to know that hotels have more than one exit.

“You're being paid enough to cover the exits to the Yankee Stadium.

Zeck said, in his hard, cold, precise voice that never went up or down, “These are trivialities. I've had a talk with Goodwin, Roeder, and I sent for you because we got to Rackham. We have to decide how it is to be handled and what part Goodwin is to play. I want your opinion on the effect of Goodwin's telling

Rackham that he is working for Mrs Frey.

Roeder shrugged. “I think it's unimportant. Goodwin's main purpose now is to get

Rackham scared. We've got to have him scared good before we can expect him to go along with us. If he killed his wife-

“He did, of course. Unquestionably.

“Then he might be more afraid of Mrs Frey than of you. We can see. If not, it will be simple for Goodwin to give him a new line. Roeder looked at me. “It's all open for you to Rackham now?

“I guess so. He told me he wanted to see me every day, but that was day before yesterday. What are we scaring him for? To see him throw glasses?

Zeck and Roeder exchanged glances. Zeck spoke to me. “I believe Roeder told you that he came here recently from the West Coast. He had a very successful operation there, a brilliant and profitable operation which he devised. It has some novel features and requires precise timing and expert handling. With one improvement it could be enormously profitable here in New York, and that one improvement is the co-operation of a wealthy and well-placed man. Rackham is ideal for it. We intend to use him. If you help materially in lining him up, as

I think you can, your share of the net will be five per cent. The net is expected to exceed half a million, and should be double that.

I was frowning sceptically. “You mean if I help scare him into it.

“Yes.

“And help with the operation too?

“No.

“What have I got to scare him with?

“His sense of guilt first. He escaped arrest and trial for the murder of his wife only because the police couldn't get enough evidence for a case. He is under the constant threat of the discovery of additional evidence, which for a murderer is a severe strain. If he believes we have such evidence he will be open to persuasion.

“Have we got it?

Zeck damn' near smiled. “I shouldn't think it will be needed. If it is needed we'll have it.

“Then why drag him in on a complicated operation? He's worth what, three million? Ask him for half of it, or even a third.

“No. You have much to learn, Goodwin. People must not be deprived of hope. If we take a large share of Rackham's fortune he will be convinced that we intend to wring him dry. People must be allowed to feel that if our demands are met the outlook is not intolerable. A basic requirement for continued success in illicit enterprises is a sympathetic understanding of the limitations of the human nervous system. Getting Rackham's help in Roeder's operation will leave plenty of room for future requests.