And Four To Go by Rex Stout Read Free Book Online Page B

bottle back in the drawer, and go out. That must have been when she did it, because Kurt always took a drink of Pernod when he came back from lunch.'
    Wolfe was rubbing his lip with a fingertip. 'I see,' he muttered.
    She wasn't through. 'He can say,' she went on, 'that he ran away because he was frightened and wanted to tell you about it first. I don't think they would do anything to him if he went to them tomorrow morning and told them all about it, would they'Just like me. I don't think they would do anything to me if I went to them tomorrow morning and told them I had remembered that Kurt told me that you were going to be Santa Claus, and this afternoon he told me you were in the dressing room putting on the costume. That would be the same kind of thing, wouldn't it?'
    Her little carved mouth thinned and widened with a smile. 'That's what I want,' she chirped. 'Did I say it so you understand it?'
    'You did indeed,' Wolfe assured her. 'You put it admirably.'
    'Would it be better, instead of him going to tell them, for you to have Inspector Cramer come here, and you tell him'You could have the man here. You see, I know how you do things, from all I have read.'
    'That might be better,' he allowed. His tone was dry but not hostile. I could see a muscle twitching beneath his right ear, but she couldn't. 'I suppose, Miss Quon, it is futile to advance the possibility that one of the others killed him, and if so it would be a pity-'
    'Excuse me. I interrupt.' The chirp was still a chirp, but it had hard steel in it. 'I know she killed him.'
    'I don't. And even if I bow to your conviction, before I could undertake the stratagem you propose I would have to make sure there are no facts that would scuttle it. It won't take me long. You'll hear from me tomorrow. I'll want-'
    She interrupted again. 'I can't wait longer than tomorrow morning to tell them what Kurt told me.'
    'Pfui. You can and will. The moment you disclose that, you no longer have a whip to dangle at me. You will hear from me tomorrow. Now I want to think. Archie?'
    I left my chair. She looked up at me and back at Wolfe. For some seconds she sat, considering, inscrutable of course, then stood up.
    'It was very exciting to be here,' she said, the steel gone, 'to see you here. You must forgive me for not phoning. I hope it will be early tomorrow.' She turned and headed for the door, and I followed.
    After I had helped her on with her hooded coat, and let her out, and watched her picking her way down the seven steps, I shut the door, put the chain-bolt on, returned to the office, and told Wolfe, 'It has stopped snowing. Who do you think will be best for it, Saul or Fred or Orrie or Bill?'
    'Sit down,' he growled. 'You see through women. Well?'
    'Not that one. I pass. I wouldn't bet a dime on her one way or the other. Would you?'
    'No. She is probably a liar and possibly a murderer. Sit down. I must have everything that happened there today after I left. Every word and gesture.'
    I sat and gave it to him. Including the question period, it took an hour and thirty-five minutes. It was after one o'clock when he pushed his chair back, levered his bulk upright, told me good night, and went up to bed.

Nero Wolfe 30 - And Four To Go
    Chapter 6
    AT HALF PAST TWO the following afternoon, Saturday, I sat in a room in a building on Leonard Street, the room where I had once swiped an assistant district attorney's lunch. There would be no need for me to repeat the performance, since I had just come back from Ost's restaurant, where I had put away a plateful of pig's knuckles and sauerkraut.
    As far as I knew, there had not only been no steps to frame Margot for murder; there had been no steps at all. Since Wolfe is up in the plant rooms every morning from nine to eleven, and since he breakfasts from a tray up in his room, and since I was expected downtown at ten o'clock, I had buzzed him on the house phone a little before nine to ask for instructions and had been told that he had none.