rs.toomanywomen-第29部分

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　　〃No？　What　did　I　get　wrong？〃
　　〃All　of　it's　wrong。　It　isn't　so。〃
　　〃You　didn't　see　Mr。　Naylor　after　office　hours　on　Friday？〃
　　〃No。　I　didn't。〃
　　So　far　so　good。　Obviously　her　talk　with　Naylor　had　been　about　something　she　didn't　want　to　broadcast；　and　naturally　she　would　deny　it　as　long　as　that　seemed　feasible。　I　had　not　yet　reported　to　Wolfe　on　her　awful　fumble　that　morning　in　her　office；　and　I　saw　no　need　for　it　now；　since　he　had　the　high　card　and　all　he　had　to　do　was　play　it。
　　〃It's　no　good；　Miss　Livsey；〃　Wolfe　said。　〃Abandon　it。　I　have　a　witness。〃
　　〃You　can't　have；〃　she　declared。　〃You　can't　have　a　witness　to　my　being　with　Mr。　Naylor　where　you　said；　because　I　couldn't　have　been　there；　because　I　was　somewhere　else。　Friday　afternoon　I　left　the　office　at　five　o'clock　and　went　to　Grand　Central　Station　and　went　to　the　soda　fountain　on　the　lower　level　and　had　a　sundae。　I　had　intended　to　catch　a　train　to　Westport；　but　at　the　office　that　day　Mr。　Hoff　had　said　he　wanted　to　talk　with　me　about　something　and　we　had　made　an　appointment。　We　met　there　at　the　soda　fountain　at　six　o'clock。　We　talked　there　a　while　and　then　went　upstairs　to　the　waiting…room　and　talked　some　more。　He　persuaded　me　to　go　to　the　theater　with　him　and　take　a　later　train　to　Westport。　By　that　time　it　was　too　late　to　eat　in　a　restaurant　and　make　it　to　the　theater；　so　we　ate　in　that　big　cafeteria　near　the　station　on　Forty…second　Street。　Then　we　had　bad　luck　and　couldn't　get　seats　for　the　show　we　wanted　to　see　and　we　went　to　a　movie　instead…The　Best　Years　of　Our　Lives。　Then　I　caught　the　eleven…fifty…six　to　Westport。　Then　the　next　day；　Saturday；　Mr。　Hoff…he　knew　where　I　was…he　came　to　Westport　and　said　it　was　my　duty　to　cooperate　with　the　authorities；　so　I　came　to　New　York　and　went　to　the　District　Attorney's　office　and　told　them　what　I　have　told　you　and　answered　their　questions。　So　when　you　say　you　have　a　witness…well；　I'd　like　to　know　who　the　witness　is。〃
　　I　was　thinking　to　myself　savagely；　you　will；　my　beautiful　little　liar；　you'll　know　all　right。　But　I　only　felt　it；　I　didn't　look　it。　I　kept　my　face　deadpan。
　　Wolfe　didn't。　He　looked　concerned　and　apologetic。　〃It　seems；〃　he　said；　〃that　you　had　facts　for　me；　not　me　for　you。　I　do　have　a　witness；　Miss　Livsey；　but　manifestly　a　mistaken　one。　Of　course　you　certify　all　this；　Mr。　Hoff？〃
　　〃I　do；〃　Hoff　said　emphatically。
　　〃Then　that　settles　it。　I　owe　you　an　apology；　Miss　Livsey；　which　is　a　rare　debt　for　me　to　incur。　As　for　my　witness…I　wonder　if　you'll　do　me　a　favor。　Will　you　send　me　a　photograph　of　yourself…a　good　one；　as　recent　as　possible？〃
　　〃Why…〃　Hester　hesitated。
　　〃Certainly；〃　Hoff　agreed　for　her。　〃I　don't　know　what　for；　but　certainly　she　will。〃
　　〃Good。　I'll　appreciate　it。　Today；　if　possible；　by　messenger　collect。　The　witness　may　have　an　idea　of　going　to　the　police　and　there's　no　use　getting　them　more　confused　than　they　are　already。〃　Wolfe　was　out　of　his　chair。　〃Good　day；　Miss　Livsey。　Good　day；　Mr。　Hoff。　Thank　you　for　ing。〃
　　I　went　to　the　hall　with　them。　At　the　door　Hester　told　me；　offering　a　hand；　〃I'm　sorry　if　I　was　impolite　this　morning；　Mr。　Goodwin。　I　guess　I　was　upset。〃
　　〃Don't　mention　it；〃　I　told　her　eyes。　〃You　were　nervous。　Everybody　in　the　neighborhood　of　a　murder　gets　nervous；　sometimes　even　the　murderer　himself。〃
　　I　returned　to　the　office；　resumed　my　chair；　and　sat　and　glared　at　Wolfe　as　he　opened　a　fresh　bottle；　poured；　waited　until　the　foam　was　exactly　a　quarter　of　an　inch　below　the　rim　of　the　glass；　and　drank。　He　put　the　glass　down　empty　and　used　his　tongue　on　his　upper　lip　first　and　then　his　handkerchief。　When　pany　was　present　he　omitted　the　tongue　part。
　　〃Superficially　neat；〃　he　muttered　at　me；　〃but　they're　a　pair　of　idiots。〃
　　〃Enravished；〃　I　said；　〃is　no　word　for　it。　I'm　absolutely　nuts　about　her。　Did　you　notice　that　she　even　named　the　movie　they　went　to？　She　left　out　the　kind　of　sundae　she　had。　That　was　an　oversight。　One　thing　you　didn't　know　about；　but　I　doubt　if　it　would　have　mattered；　all　I　told　her　was　that　you　had　a　fact　you　wanted　to　ask　her　about；　and　she　was　so　anxious　to　know　which　fact　that　she　nearly　lost　her　pants。　There　was　a　time　when　the　mere　thought　of　her　pants　would　have　made　my　heart　beat。　Anyhow；　our　fact　isn't　the　only　one；　I'll　guarantee　that。　What　do　we　do　now；　feed　her　to　the　animals？〃
　　〃No。〃　Wolfe　was　grim。　〃I　doubt　if　Mr。　Cramer　could　shake　them。　Even　if　he　could；　she　sat　there　and　told　me　that　preposterous　lie　and　I　will　not　tolerate　it。　What　about　Saul？　Did　he　look　twice？〃
　　〃No。　Not　a　chance。　He　spotted　her　himself　and　said　yes；　and　with　Saul　you　know　how　good　that　is。　Even　if　she　has　a　twin；　it　was　her。　Also；　as　I　told　you；　he　spotted　Sumner　Hoff。〃　I　snorted。　〃Protect　your　woman。〃
　　〃What？〃
　　〃Nothing。　It's　a　motto。　The　corny　performance　we　have　just　witnessed　has　got　me　voting　for　the　stock　department　again。　When　I　left　the　directors'　meeting　I　was　voting　for　the　thirty…sixth　floor；　murder　on　the　highest　executive　level；　but　not　now。　What　I　would　really　like　is　to　bine　the　two。　I　hate　to　leave　Emmet　Ferguson　out　of　it。〃
　　〃Tell　me　about　the　directors'　meeting。〃
　　I　did　so；　and　hoped　he　was　listening。　That　was　open　to　question　because　he　kept　his　eyes　open。　When　he　doesn't　close　his　eyes　while　I　am　making　a　report　it　usually　means　that　part　of　his　mind　is　on　something　else；　and　I　never　know　how　big　a　part。　On　that　occasion　I　suspected　it　was　more　than　half；　knowing　as　I　did　what　he　was　doing　with　it。　He　was　peeling　strips　of　hide　off　of　Hester　Livsey　and　sprinkling　salt　on　the　exposed　tissue。　She　had　diddled　him　good。　He　had　counted　on　getting　from　her；　at　a　minimum；　a　hint　as　to　where　the　path　either　entered　the　thicket　or　left　it；　and　all　he　had　got　was　a　barefaced　lie　with　Sumner　Hoff　to　back　it　up。
　　When　I　finished　the　report；　instead　of　asking　questions　or　making　ments；　he　muttered　that　he　wished　to　speak　to　Mr。　Cramer；　and　when　the　connection　was　made　he　told　Cramer　that　in　checking　alibis　and　tracing　movements　of　people　for　Friday　evening　a　special　effort　should　be　made　in　the　case　of　Sumner　Hoff　for　the　two　hours　from　six　to　eight。　Cramer　naturally　wanted　to　know　why；　since　the　hours　they　were　concentrating　on　were　from　ten　to　midnight；　and　Wolfe's　refusal　to　explain　naturally　got　growls。　Wolfe　hung　up；　sighed　deeply；　and　leaned　back　and　then　in　a　matter　of　seconds　had　to　straighten　up　again　when　a　call　came　from　Saul　Panzer。
　　Saul　made　a　report；　a　brief　one；　with　me　off　the　wire。　Wolfe　took　it　with　no　remarks　but　grunts；　told　Saul　to　e　to　the　office　at　six　that　afternoon；　and　added：
　　〃That　confounded　woman　is　a　ninpoop。　Has　Mr。　Cramer　reached　you？　Of　course　not。　Now　you　may　let　him。　Let　him　find　you。　Tell　him　about　Mr。　Naylor　but　make　no　reference　to　Miss　Livsey　or　Mr。　Hoff。　Leave　them　out。　They　have　concocted　a　story　that　can't　be　disproven　except　by　your　word。　It　would　be　two　to　one；　and　Mr。　Cramer　would　keep　you　for　hours　and　perhaps　days；　acplishing　nothing。　You'd　better　go　to　see　him　and　finish　with　him　so　you　can　be　here　at　six　o'clock。〃
　　Wolfe　hung　up　and　glowered　at　me。
　　〃Archie。　At　least　we've　been　hired　to　do　a　job　and　we　know　what　the　job　is。　After　lunch　go　back　down　there　and　use　your　eyes；　ears；　and　tongue　as　the　occasion　suggests　and　your　capacities　permit。〃　He　glanced　at　the　wall　clock。　〃Get　Durkin；　Gore；　Gather；　and　Keems。　I　want　them　all　here　at　six　o'clock。　If　they're　working　and　need　an　inducement　give　them　one。　That　woman　is　going　to　regret　this。〃
　　
　　Chapter　Twenty…Seven
　　A　week　went　by。　Seven　days　and　seven　nights。　They　brought　us　to　another　Monday；　the　last　day　of　March；　and　they　brought　us　nowhere　else　at　all。
　　It　was　the　longest　dry　spell　we　have　ever　had　on　a　murder　case。　When　I　finished　breakfast　that　second　Monday　morning　and　put　on　my　coat　and　hat　to　go　downtown　for　the　start　of　another　week　at　the　office　of　Naylor…Kerr；　Inc。；　if　Wolfe　had　intercepted　me　to　tell　me　to　type　for　him　a　summary　of　the　headway　made　during　the　week；　it　wouldn't　have　delayed　me　more　than　ten　seconds。　I　could　merely　have　stepped　into　the　office　for　a　blank　sheet　of　paper　and　handed　it　to　him…or；　if　he　wanted　it　in　triplicate；　three　sheets。　That　would　have　covered　the　acplishments　not　only　of　me；　but　of　everybody…Wolfe　himself；　Saul　Panzer；　Bill　Gore；　Orrie　Gather；　Fred　Durkin；　Johnny　Keems；　and　Inspector　Cramer　with　his　entire　army。
　　The　cops　had　done　everything　they　were　supposed　to　do　and　then　some。　Their　scientists；　with　microscopes　and　chemicals；　had　demonstrated　that　Naylor's　body　had　been　carried　in　the　tonneau；　on　the　floor；　of　the　car　that　had　run　over　him；　proving　that　he　had　been　either　killed　or　stunned　somewhere　else　and　transported　to　Thirty…ninth　Street　for　the　last　act。　The　theory　was　that　the　body　had　been　where　the　murderer　didn't　want　it　to　be；　so　he　had　needed　to　take　it　somewhere　else；　and　why　not　Thirty…ninth　Street　again　if　it　was　as　suitably　deserted　as　it　had　been　before？　He　could　choose　a　moment　when　no　one　was　in　sight　for　dumping　it　out　of　the　car；　and　if　someone　appeared　before　he　could　back　the　car　up　and　run　over　it　he　could　merely　decide　not　to　add　that　touch；　and　step　on　the　gas。
　　Naturally　the　curiosity　of　the　cops　was　aroused　by　the　fact　that　the　murderer　had　thought　it　undesirable　for　people　to　know　where　Naylor　was　killed　and　what　with；　so　a　few　platoons　worked　on　that。　In　their　effort　to　find　out　where　the　car　had　been　the　scientists　used　the　microscope　on　every　particle　of　dust　and　dirt　from　the　tires；　and　even　from　underneath　the　chassis。　Purley　told　me　that　one　of　them　had　sold　himself　on　the　notion　that　the　car　had　been　in　Passaic；　New　Jersey；　but　had　found　no　other　buyers。　Otherwise　no　results。
　　Something　over　two　hundred　units　of　personnel　of　the　stock　department　were　conversed　with；　anywhere　from　one　to　five　times。　Rosa　Bendini　and　her　husband；　Gwynne　Ferns；　Sumner　Hoff；　Hester　Livsey；　and　Ben　Frenkel　were　among　the　most　popular　but　were　by　no　means　the　only　ones。　The　assumption　was　that　the　murderer　of　Naylor　had　also　killed　Waldo　Moore；　but　it　was　not　allowed　to　exclude　other　possibilities；　and　since　at　least　half　of　the　people　on　the　thirty…fourth　floor　might　conceivably　have　felt　murderous　about　eithe