rs.inthebestfamelies-第30部分

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　　I　was　frowning　skeptically。　〃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　be　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　plicated　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。〃
　　I　was　keeping　my　frown。　〃Which　I　may　or　may　not　have　a　hand　in。　Don't　think　I'm　playing　hard　to　get；　but　this　is　quite　a　step　to　take。　Using　a　threat　of　a　murder　rap　to　put　the　screws　on　a　millionaire　is　a　little　too　drastic　without　pretty　good　assurance　that　I　get　more　than　peanuts。　You　said　five　per　cent　of　a　probable　half　a　million；　but　you're　used　to　talking　big　figures。　Could　I　have　that　filled　in　a　little？〃
　　Boeder　reached　for　a　battered　old　leather　brief　case　which　he　had　brought　in　with　him　and　deposited　on　the　floor。　Getting　it　on　his　lap；　he　had　it　opened　when　Zeck　asked　him；　〃What　are　you　after；　the　estimates？〃
　　〃Yes；　if　you　want　them。〃
　　〃You　may　show　them　to　him；　but　no　names。〃　Zeck　turned　to　me。　〃I　think　you　may　do；　Goodwin。　You're　brash；　but　that　is　a　quality　that　may　be　made　use　of。　You　used　it　when　you　talked　with　Rackham。　He　must　be　led　into　this　with　tact　or　he　may　lose　his　head　and　force　our　hand；　and　all　we　want　is　his　cooperation。　His　conviction　for　murder　wouldn't　help　us　any；　quite　the　contrary。　Properly　handled；　he　should　be　of　value　to　us　for　years。〃
　　The　shark　eyes　left　me。　〃What's　your　opinion　of　Goodwin；　Boeder？　Can　you　work　with　him？〃
　　Boeder　had　closed　the　brief　case　and　kept　it　on　his　lap。　〃I　can　try；〃　he　said；　not　enthusiastically。　〃The　general　level　here　is　no　higher　than　on　the　coast。　But　we　can't　get　started　until　we　know　whether　we　have　Racldiam　or　not；　and　the　approach　through　Goodwin　does　seem　the　best　way。　He's　so　damned　cocky　I　don't　know　whether　he'll　take　direction。〃
　　〃Would　you　care　to　have　my　opinion　of　Roeder？〃　I　inquired。
　　Zeck　ignored　it。　〃Goodwin；〃　he　said；　〃this　is　the　most　invulnerable　organization　on　earth。　There　are　good　men　in　it；　but　it　all　es　to　me。　I　am　the　organization。　I　have　no　prejudices　and　no　emotions。　You　will　get　what　you　deserve。　If　you　deserve　well；　there　is　no　limit　to　the　support　you　will　get；　and　none　to　the　reward。　If　you　deserve　ill；　there　is　no　limit　to　that　either。　You　understand　that？〃
　　〃Sure。〃　His　eyes　were　the　hardest　to　meet　in　my　memory。　〃Provided　you　understand　that　I　don't　like　you。〃
　　〃No　one　likes　me。　No　one　likes　the　authority　of　superior　intellect。　There　was　one　man　who　matched　me　in　intellect…the　man　you　worked　for；　Nero　Wolfe…but　his　will　failed　him。　His　vanity　wouldn't　let　him　yield；　and　he　cleared　out。〃
　　〃He　was　a　little　handicapped；〃　I　protested；　〃by　his　respect　for　law。〃
　　〃Every　man　is　handicapped　by　his　own　weaknesses。　If　you　municate　with　him　give　him　my　regards。　I　have　great　admiration　for　him。〃
　　Zeck　glanced　at　a　clock　on　the　wall　and　then　at　Roeder。　〃I'm　keeping　a　caller　waiting。　Goodwin　is　under　your　direction；　but　he　is　on　trial。　Consult　me　as　necessary　within　the　routine。〃
　　He　must　have　had　floor　buttons　for　foot…signaling；　for　he　touched　nothing　with　his　hands；　but　the　door　opened　and　the　sentinel　appeared。
　　Zeck　said；　〃Put　Goodwin　on　the　B　list；　Schwartz。〃
　　Roeder　and　I　arose　and　headed　for　the　door；　him　with　his　brief　case　under　his　arm。
　　Remembering　how　he　had　told　me；　tapping　his　chest；　〃I　am　a　D；　Archie；〃
　　I　would　have　given　a　lot　if　I　could　have　tapped　my　own　bosom　and　announced；　〃I　am　a　B；　Mr。　Wolfe。〃
　　
　　17
　　THERE　was　one　chore　Wolfe　had　given　me　which　I　haven't　mentioned；　because　I　didn't　care　to　reveal　the　details…and　still　don't。　But　the　time　will　e　when　you　will　want　to　know　where　the　gun　at　the　bottom　of　the　brief　case　came　from；　so　I　may　as　well　say　now　that　you　aren't　going　to　know。
　　Since　filing　the　number　from　a　gun　has　been　made　obsolete　by　the　progress　of　science；　the　process　of　getting　one　that　can't　be　traced　has　got　more　plicated　and　requires　a　little　specialized　knowledge。　One　has　to　be　acquainted　with　the　right　people。　I　am。　But　there　is　no　reason　why　you　should　be；　so　I　won't　give　their　names　and　addresses。　I　couldn't　quite　meet　Wolfe's　specifications…the　size　and　weight　of　a　。22　and　the　punch　of　a　。45…but　I　did　pretty　well；　a　Carson　Snub　Thirty；　an　ugly　little　devil；　but　straight　and　powerful。　I　tried　it　out　one　evening　in　the　basement　at　35th　Street。　When　I　was　through　I　collected　the　bullets　and　dumped　them　in　the　river。　We　were　taking　enough　chances　without　adding　another；　however　slim。
　　The　next　evening　after　our　conference　with　Zeck；　a　Monday；　Wolfe　and　I　collaborated　on　the　false　bottom　for　the　brief　case。　We　did　the　job　at　1019。　Since　I　was　now　a　B　and　Roeder's　lieutenant　on　his　big　operation；　and　he　was　supposed　to　keep　in　touch　with　me；　there　was　no　reason　why　he　shouldn't　e　to　35th　Street　for　an　evening　visit；　but　when　I　suggested　it　he　pressed　his　lips　and　scowled　at　me　with　such　ferocity　that　I　quickly　changed　the　subject。　We　made　the　false　bottom　out　of　an　old　piece　of　leather　that　I　picked　up　at　a　shoe　hospital；　and　it　wasn't　bad　at　all。　Even　if　a　sentinel　removed　all　the　papers　for　a　close　inspection；　which　wasn't　likely　with　the　status　Roeder　had　reached；　there　was　little　chance　of　his　suspecting　the　bottom；　yet　if　you　knew　just　where　and　how　to　pry　you　could　have　the　Carson　out　before　you　could　say　Jackie　Robinson。
　　However；　something　had　happened　before　that：　my　second　talk　with　Barry　Rackham。　Wlien　I　got　home　late　Sunday　night　the　phone…answering　service　reported　that　he　had　been　trying　to　reach　me；　both　at　1019　and　at　the　office；　and　I　gave　him　a　ring　and　made　a　date　for　Monday　at　three　o'clock。
　　Usually　I　am　on　the　dot　for　an　appointment；　but　that　day　an　errand　took　less　time　than　I　had　allowed；　and　it　was　only　twelve　to　three　when　I　left　the　Churchill　tower　elevator　at　Rackham's　floor　and　walked　to　his　door。　I　was　lifting　my　hand　to　push　the　button；　when　the　door　opened　and　I　had　to　step　back　so　a　woman　wouldn't　walk　into　me。　When　she　saw　me　she　stopped；　and　we　both　stared。　It　was　Lina　Darrow。　Her　fine　eyes　were　as　fine　as　ever。
　　〃Well；　hello；〃　I　said　appreciatively。
　　〃You're　early；　Goodwin；〃　Barry　Rackham　said。　He　was　standing　in　the　doorway。
　　Lina's　expression　was　not　appreciative。　It　didn't　look　like　embarrassment；　more　like　some　kind　of　suspicion；　though　I　had　no　notion　what　she　could　suspect　me　of　so　spontaneously。
　　〃How　are　you？〃　she　asked；　and　then；　to　make　it　perfectly　clear　that　she　didn't　give　a　damn；　went　by　me　toward　the　elevator。　Rackham　moved　aside；　giving　me　enough　space　to　enter；　and　I　did　so　and　kept　going　to　the　living　room。　In　a　moment　the　door　closed；　and　in　another　moment　he　joined　me。
　　〃You're　early；〃　he　repeated；　not　reproachfully。
　　He　looked　as　if；　during　the　seventy　hours　since　I　had　last　seen　him；　he　had　had　at　least　seventy　drinks。　His　face　was　molded；　his　eyes　were　bloodshot；　and　his　left　cheek　was　twitching。　Also　his　tie　had　a　dot　of　egg　yolk　on　it；　and　he　needed　a　shave。
　　〃A　week　ago　Saturday；〃　I　said；　〃I　think　it　was；　one　of　my　men　described　a　girl　you　were　out　with；　and　it　sounded　like　Miss　Darrow；　but　I　wasn't　sure。　I'm　not　leading　up　to　something；　I'm　just　gossiping。〃
　　He　wasn't　interested　one　way　or　the　other。　He　asked　what　I　would　have　to　drink；　and　when　I　said　nothing　thank　you　he　went　to　the　bar　and　got　himself　a　straight　one；　and　then　came　and　moved　a　chair　around　to　sit　facing　me。
　　〃Hell；〃　I　said；　〃you　look　even　more　scared　than　you　did　the　other　day。　And　according　to　my　men；　either　you've　started　sneaking　out　side　doors　or　you've　bee　a　homebody。　Who　said　boo？〃
　　Nothing　I　had　to　say　interested　him。　〃I　said　I　wanted　to　see　you　every　day；〃　he　stated。　His　voice　was　hoarse。
　　〃I　know；　but　I've　been　busy。　Among　other　things；　I　spent　an　hour　yesterday　afternoon　with　Arnold　Zeck。〃
　　That　did　interest　him。　〃I　think　you're　a　goddam　liar；　Goodwin。〃
　　〃Then　I　must　have　dreamed　it。　Driving　into　the　garage；　and　being　frisked；　and　the　little　vestibule；　and　fourteen　steps　down；　and　the　two　sentinels；　and　the　soundproof　door　five　inches　thick；　and　the　pinkish　gray　walls　and　chairs　and　rugs；　and　him　sitting　there　drilling　holes　in　things；　including　me；　with　his　eyes；　and…〃
　　〃When　was　this？　Yesterday？〃
　　〃Yeah。　I　was　driven　up；　but　now　I　know　how　to　get　there　myself。　I　haven't　got　the　password　yet；　but　wait。〃
　　With　an　unsteady　hand　he　put　his　glass　down　on　a　little　table。　〃I　told　you　before；　Goodwin；　I　did　not　kill　my　wife。〃
　　〃Sure；　that's　out　of　the　way。〃
　　〃How　did　it　happen？　Your　going　to　see　him。〃
　　〃He　sent　Max　Christy　for　me。〃
　　〃That　son　of　a　bitch。〃　Suddenly　his　mottled　face　got　redder　and　he　yelled　at　me；　〃Well；　go　on！　What　did　he　say？〃
　　〃He　said　I　may　have　a　big　career　ahead　of　me。〃
　　〃What　did　he　say　about　me？〃
　　I　shook　my　head。　〃I'll　tell　you；　Rackham。　I　think　it's　about　time　I　let　my　better　judgment　in　on　this。　I　had　never　seen　Zeck　before；　and　he　made　quite　an　impression　on　me。〃　I　reached　to　my　breast　pocket。　〃Here's　your　six　thousand　dollars。　I　hate　to　let　go　of　it；　but…〃
　　〃Put　that　back　in　your　pocket。〃
　　〃No；　really；　I…〃
　　〃Put　it　back。〃　He　wasn't　yelling　now。　〃I　don't　blame　you　for　being　impressed　by　Zeck…God　knows　you're　not　t