Triple Jeopardy (4 page)

that there was a eyewitness to the murder.

Rackells mournful face did not light up with interest. His were puckered,

making the droop at the corners more iced. That may be, he conceded, but what good I it do if he wont talk'

I propose to make him talk. Or her.

How'

Wolfe rubbed his chin with a thumb and forefinger. His moved to Mrs. Rackell and back to the husband. This kind of thing, he said, requires delicacy,

discretion, and __ice. Ill put it this way. I will not conspire to get a man punished for a crime he did not commit. It is true that all five those people may be Communists and therefore enemies this country, but that does not justify framing one of them for murder. My purpose is clear and innocent - to ex the real murderer and bring him to account; and I __suga devious method only because no other seems likely to ___. Evidently the police, after five days on it, are up a ___, and so is the FBI - if it is engaged, and you think it is. I want to earn my fee, and I wouldnt mind the kudos.

Rackell was frowning. I still dont know exactly what youre suggesting.

I know it; Ive been long-winded. I didnt want you to misunderstand. Wolfe came forward in his chair and put his on the desk. The eyewitness is obviously reluctant, suggest that you consent to provide twenty thousand dollars, to be paid only if my method succeeds. That will cover __tty fee for the unusual service I will render and also any extraordinary expense I may incur. Two things must be understood: you approve the expenditure in your interest, and the express purpose is to catch the guilty person. He upturned his palms. There it is.

My God. Twenty thousand. Rackell shook his head. Thats a lot of money. You mean you want a check for that amount now'

No. To be paid if and when earned. An oral commitment will do. Mr. Goodwin hears us and has a good memory.

Rackell opened his mouth and closed it again. He looked at his wife. He looked back at Wolfe. Look here, he said earnestly, maybe Im thickheaded. It sounds to me as if what this amounts to is bribing a witness. With my money.

Dont be a fool, Ben, his wife said sharply.

I think you misunderstand, Wolfe told him. To bribe is to influence corruptly by some consideration. Anyone who receives any of your money through me will get it only as an inducement to tell the truth. Influence, yes. Corrupt, surely not.

As for the amount, I dont wonder that you hesitate. Its quite a sum, but I wouldnt undertake it for less.

Rackell looked at his wife again. What did you mean, Pauline, dont be a fool'

I meant youd be a fool not to do it, of course. She felt so strongly about it that her lips moved. It was you who wanted to come to Mr. Wolfe in the first place, and now when he really wants to do something you talk about bribing. If its the money, I have plenty of my own and Ill pay - She stopped abruptly,

tightening her lips. Ill pay half, she said.

Thats fair enough; well each pay half. She went to Wolfe.

Who is it, that Goheen woman'

Wolfe ignored her. He asked Rackell, Well, sir'How about it'

Rackell didnt like it. He avoided his wifes gaze, but he knew it was on him,

and it was pressing. He even looked at me, as if my eye might somehow help, but I was deadpan.

Then he returned to Wolfe. All right, he said.

You accept the proposal as I made it'

Yes. Only Ill pay it. Id rather not - Id rather pay it myself. You said to be paid if and when earned. Who decides whether youve earned it or not'

You do. I doubt if that will be a bone to pick.

A question my wife asked - do you know who the eyewitness is'

Your wife was witless to ask it. If I knew would I tell you'Or would you want me to'Now'

Rackell shook his head. No, I guess not. No, I can see that its better just to let you - He left it hanging. Is there anything else you want to say about it'

Wolfe said there wasnt. Rackell got up and stood there as if he would like to say something but didnt know what. I arose and moved toward the door. I didnt want to be rude to a client who had just bought a suggestion that would cost him twenty grand, but now that he had okayed it I had a job do and I wanted to get going. I still didnt know where Wolfe thought he was headed for, but the sooner I got started with my instructions the sooner I would know. They finally came,

and I went ahead and opened the front door for them.

She held his elbow going down the stoop. I shut the door and joined Wolfe in the office.

Well'I demanded. Do I proceed'

Yes.

Its nearly half-past six. If I offer to buy her a meal - I mean if thats the right approach.

You know the approaches to women, I dont.

Yeah. I sat at my desk and pulled the phone to me. If ask me this stunt youve hatched is a swell approach to the hoosegow. For both of us.

He grunted. I started dialing a number.

New York can have pleasant summer evenings when it wants to, and that was one of them - warm but not hot not muggy. I paid the taxi driver when he rolled to the cab at the address on Fifty-first Street east of Lexington, got out, and took a look. In bright sunshine the old gray brick building would probably show signs of wear and tear, but now in twilight it wasnt too bad. Entering the vestibule,

I scanned the tier of names on the wall panel. The one next to the top said Devlin-Berk. I pushed the button, shoved the door open when the click came, went in, glanced around for an elevator and saw none, and started to climb stairs.

Three flights up a door stood open, and there waiting was Delia Devlin.

I told her hello, friendly but not profuse. She nodded, not so friendly, hugged the wall to let me pass, shut the door, and went by me to lead the way through an arch into a living room. I sent my eyes around with an expression of comradely interest. The chairs and couch were attractive and cool in summer slips. There were shelves of books. The windows were on the street, and there were three doors besides the arch, two of them standing open and one not quite closed.

She sat and invited me to. I cant imagine, she said in a louder voice than seemed necessary, in spite of the street noises from the open windows, what you want to ask me thats so mysterious.

Sitting, I regarded her. Only one corner lamp was on, and in the dim light she wasnt at all bad looking. With smaller ears she would have been a worthy specimen, with no glare on her.

Its not mysterious, I protested. As I said on the phone, its private and confidential, thats all. Mr. Wolfe felt it would be an imposition to ask you to come to his office again, so he sent me. Miss Berk is out, is she'

Yes, she went to a show with a friend. Guys and Dolls.

Fine. Its a good show. This really is confidential, Miss Devlin. So were alone'

Certainly we are. What is it, anyhow'

There were three things wrong. First, I had a hunch, and my batting average on hunches is high. Second, she was talking too loud. Third, her telling me where Carol Berk was, even naming the show, was off key.

The reason its so confidential, I said, is simply that you ought to decide for yourself what you want to do. I doubt if I you realize what lengths other people may go to to help you decide. You say were alone, but it wouldnt surprise me a bit -

I sprang up, marched across to the door that wasnt quite closed, thinking it the most likely, and jerked it open. Behind me a little smothered shriek came from Delia Devlin. In front of me, backed up against closet shelves piled with cartons and I miscellany, was Carol Berk. One look at her satisfied me on one point - what her eyes were like when something happened that really aroused her.

I stepped back. Delia Devlin was at my elbow, jabbering. I gripped her arm hard enough to hurt a little and addressed Carol Berk as she emerged from the closet.

My God, do I look like that big a sap'Maybe your sidewise glance isnt as keen as you think -

Delia was yapping at me. You get out! Get out!

Carol stopped her. Let him stay, Delia. She was calm and contemptuous. Hes only a crummy little stooge, trying to slip one over for his boss. Ill be back in an hour or so.

She moved. Delia, protesting, caught her arm, but she pulled loose and left through one of the open doors. There were sounds from the adjoining room, then she appeared again, with a thing on her head and a jacket and handbag, and passed through to the foyer. The outer door opened and then closed. I crossed to a window and stuck my head out and in a minute saw her emerge to the sidewalk and turn west.

I went back to my chair and sat. The open closet door was unsightly, and I got up and closed it and then sat again. Just forget it, I said cheerfully. The closet was a bum idea anyhow; she would have stifled in there. Sit down and relax while I try to slip one over for my boss.

She stood. Im not interested in anything you have to say.

Then you shouldnt have let me in. Certainly you shouldnt have stuck Miss Berk in that closet. Lets get it over with. I merely want to find out whether you have any use for ten thousand dollars.

She gawked. Whether I what'

Sit down and Ill tell you.

She went to a chair and sat, and I shifted position to be more comfortable facing her. First I want to tell you a couple of things about murder investigations. In -

Ive heard all I want to about murder.

I know you have, but thats one of the things. When you get involved in one its not a question of what or how much you want to hear. Thats the one question nobody asks you. Until and unless the Rackell case is solved, with the answers all in, youll be hearing about it the rest of your life. Face it, Miss Devlin.

She didnt say anything. She clasped her hands.

The other thing about murder investigations. Someone gets murdered, and the cops go to work on it. Everybody that might possibly have a piece of useful information gets questioned. Say they question fifty different people. How many of the fifty answer every question truthfully'Maybe ten, maybe only four or five. Ask any experienced homicide man. They know it and they expect it, and thats why, when they think its worth it, they go over the same questions with the same person again and again, after the truth. They often get it that way and they nearly always do with people who have cooked up a story, something they did or saw, with details. Of course youre not one of those. You havent cooked up a detailed story. You have only answered a simple question No instead of Yes.

They cant catch you -

What question'What do you mean'

Im coming to it. I want -

Do you mean I lied'About what'

I shook my head, not to call her a liar. Wait till I get to it. You would of course show shocked surprise if I made the flat statement that Fifi Goheen murdered Arthur Rackell by changing his capsules at the restaurant that evening and that you saw her do it. Naturally you would, since the police have asked you if you saw anyone perform that action or any part of it, and you have answered no. Wouldnt you'

She was frowning, concentrated. Her hands were still clasped.

But you - you havent made any such statement.

Right. Id rather put it another way. Nero Wolfe has his own way of investigating and his own way of reaching conclusions.

He has concluded that if he sends me to see you, to ask you to tell the police that you saw Fifi Goheen substituting the capsules, it will serve the interest of truth and justice. So he sent me, and Im asking you. It will be embarrassing for you, but not so bad. As I explained, it wont be the first time theyve had somebody suddenly remembering something. You can say you and Miss Goheen have been friends and you hated to come out with it, but now you see you have to. You can even say I came here and persuaded you to speak, if you want to, but you certainly shouldnt mention the ten thousand dollars. That -

What ten thousand dollars'

Im telling you. Mr. Wolfe has also concluded that it would not be reasonable to expect you to undergo such embarrassment without some consideration. He has made a suggestion to Mr. and Mrs. Rackell, and they have agreed to provide a certain sum of money. Ten thousand of it will come to you, in appreciation of your cooperation in the cause of justice. It will be given you in cash, in currency, within forty-eight hours after you have done your part - and well have to discuss that, exactly what youll tell the police. Speak for Nero Wolfe,

I guarantee the payment within forty-eight hours, or, if you want to, come down to his office with me now and hell guarantee it himself. Dont ask me that it was that made him conclude that Fifi Goheen did and that you saw her, because I dont know. Anyhow, if its right, and he usually is, shell only be getting what she deserves. You know thats true.

I stopped. She sat motionless, staring at me. There wasnt light, and I couldnt tell anything from her eyes, but looked absolutely blank. As the seconds grew to a minute on I began to think I had literally stupefied her, and I gave her a nudge.

Have I made it plain'

Yes, she mumbled, youve made it plain.

Suddenly a shudder ran over her whole body, her head dropped forward, and her hands lifted to cover her face, her elbows on her knees. The shudder quit, and she froze like that. She held it so long that I decided another nudge was required, but before I got it out she straightened up and demanded,

What made you think I would do such a thing'

I dont think. Mr. Wolfe does the thinking. Im just a crummy little stooge.

Youd better go. Please go!

I stood up and I hesitated. My feeling was that I had run through it smooth as silk, as instructed, but at that point I wasnt sure. Should I make a play of trying to crowd her into a yes or no, or leave it hanging'

I couldnt stand there forever, debating it with her staring at me, so I told her, I do think its a good offer. The numbers in the phone book.

She had nothing to tell my back as I walked to the foyer. I let myself out,

descended the three flights, walked to Lexington, found a phone booth in a drugstore, and dialed the number I knew best. In a moment Wolfes voice was in my ear.

Okay, I said. Im in a booth. I just left her.