Triple Jeopardy (13 page)

I dont know. She frowned a little. When they ask me that Ill just have to say I dont know. Thats one of the first things you must tell me, how to answer things to the reporters.

I shouldnt think I can keep on saying I dont know, or why would they print it'

What hit you I dont know, who hit you I dont know, why did he hit you I dont know, my Lord, who would want to read that'What shall I say when they ask why he hit me'

Well come back to that. First we -

We ought to settle it now. She was pouting fit for a Life cover, but determined. Thats how youll earn your ten per cent.

My ten per cent of what'

Of everything I get. As my manager. She extended a hand, her eyes straight at mine. Shake on it.

To avoid a contractual shake without offending, I grasped the back of her hand with my left, turning her palm up, and ran the fingers of my right from her wrist to her fingertips.

Its a darned good idea, I said appreciatively, but well have to postpone it. Im going through bankruptcy just now, and it would be illegal for me to make a contract. About -

I can tell the reporters to ask you about things I dont know. Its called referring them to my manager.

I know it is. Later on it will -

I dont need you later on. I need you right now.

Here I am, youve got me, but not under contract yet.

I released her hand, which I had kept as something to hold onto, and got emphatic. If you tell reporters Im your manager Ill give you a lump that will make that one seem as flat as a pool table. If they ask why he hit you dont say you dont know, say its a mystery. People love a mystery. Now-

Thats it! She was delighted. Thats the kind of thing!

Sure. Tell em that. Now weve got to consider the cops. Stebbins is a cop, and they wont want it hung on him. Theyve had one cop killed here today already.

Theyll try to tie this up with that. I know how they work, I know them only too well. Theyll try to make it that somebody here killed Wallen, and he found out that you knew something about it so he tried to kill you. They may even think they have some kind of evidence - for instance, something you were heard to say.

So we have to be prepared. We have to go back over it. Are you listening'

Certainly. What do I say when the reporters ask me if I’m going to go on working here'Couldnt I say I dont want desert Mr. Fickler in a time of trouble'

It took control to stay in that chair. I would have given a deal to be able to get up and walk out, go to Purley and tier at their eavesdropping posts, tell them she was all theirs and they were welcome to her, and go on home. But at home there were the guests locked in the front room, and sometime, somehow, we had to get rid of them. I looked at her charming enchanting comely face, with its nice chin and straight little nose and the eyelashes, and realized that the matter would be approached from her angle or not at all.

Thats the ticket, I said warmly. Say youve got to be loyal to Mr. Fickler.

Thats the main thing to work on, how to handle the reporters. Have you ever been interviewed before'

No, this will be the first, and I want to start right.

Good for you. What they like best of all is to get the jump on the police. If you can tell them something the cops dont know theyll love you forever. For instance, the fact that Stebbins crowned you doesnt prove that hes the only one involved. He must have an accomplice here in the shop, or why did Wallen come here in the first place'

Well call the accomplice X. Now listen. Sometime today, some time or other after Wallens body was found, you saw something or heard something, and X knew you did. He knew it, and he knew that if you told about it - if you told me, for example it would put him and Stebbins on the spot. Naturally both of them would want to kill you. It could have been X that tried to, but since you say you saw Stebbins reflected in the glass well let it go at that for now. Heres the point: if you can remember what it was you saw or heard that scared X, and if you tell the reporters before the cops get wise to it, theyll be your friends for life. Now for Gods sake dont miss this chance. Concentrate. Remember everything you saw and heard here today, and everything you did and said too.

Even if this takes us all night weve got to work it out.

She was frowning. I dont remember anything that would scare anybody.

Dont go at it like that. It was probably some little thing that didnt seem important to you at all. We may have to start at the beginning and go over every -

I stopped on account of her face. The frown had left it, and she was looking past me, not seeing me, with an expression that told me plainly, if I knew her half as well as I thought I did, what was going on inside. I snapped at her,

Do you want the reporters hating you'Off of you for good'

She was startled. Of course not! That would be awful!

Then watch your step. This has got to be all wool. A girl with a fine mind like you, so much imagination, it would be a cinch for you to be creative, but dont.

Theyll double-check everything you say, and if they find its not completely straight youre ruined. Theyll never forgive you. Youll never need a manager.

But I cant remember anything like that!

Not right off the bat, who could'Sometimes a thing like this takes days, let alone hours. Her hand was right there, and I patted it. I guess wed better go over it together, right straight through. Thats the way Nero Wolfe would do it.

What time did you get to work this morning'

When I always do, a quarter to nine. Im punctual.

Were the others already here'

Some were and some werent.

Who was and who wasnt'

My Lord, I dont know. I didnt notice. She was resentful. If youre going to expect me to remember things like that we might as well quit, and you wouldnt be a good manager. When I came to work I was thinking of something else. A lot of the time I am thinking of something else, so how would I notice'

I had to be patient. Okay, well start at another point. You remember when Wallen came in and spoke with Fickler and went to Tinas booth and talked with her, and when Tina came out Fickler sent Philip in to him. You remember that'

She nodded. I guess so.

Guesses wont get us anywhere. Just recall the situation, where you all were when Philip came back after talking with Wallen. Where were you'

I didnt notice.

Im not saying you noticed, but look back. Theres Philip, coming around the end of the partition after talking with Wallen. Did you hear him say anything'

Did you say anything to him'

I dont think Philip was this X, she declared. He is married, with children.

I think it was Jimmie Kirk. He tried to make passes at me when I first came, and he drinks, you can ask Ed about that, and he thinks hes superior. A barber being superior! She looked pleased. Thats a good idea about Jimmie being X,

because I dont have to say he really tried to kill me. Ill try to remember something he said. Would it matter exactly when he said it'

I had had enough, but a man cant hit a woman when shes down, so I ended it without violence.

Not at all, I told her, but Ive got an idea. Ill go and see if I can get something out of Jimmie. Meanwhile Ill send a reporter in to break the ice with you, from the Gazette probably. I know a lot of them. I was on my feet. Just use your common sense and stick to facts. See you later.

But Mr. Goodwin! I want -

I was gone. Three steps got me out of the booth, and I strode down the aisle and around the end of the partition. There I halted, and it wasnt long before I was joined by Cramer and Purley. Their faces were expressive. I didnt have to ask if they had got it all.

If you shoot her, I suggested, send her brain to Johns Hopkins, if you can find it.

Jesus, Purley said. That was all he said.

Cramer grunted. Did she do it herself'

I doubt it. It was a pretty solid blow to raise that lump, and you didnt find her prints on the bottle. Bothering about prints is beneath her. I had to come up for air, but I left you an in. Better pick a strong character to play the role of reporter from the Gazette.

Send for Biatti, Cramer snapped at Purley.

Yeah, I agreed, he can take it. Now I go home'

No. She might insist on seeing her manager again.

I wouldnt pass that around, I warned them. How would you like a broadcast of her line on Sergeant Stebbins'Id like to be home for dinner. Were having fresh pork tenderloin.

We would all like to be home for dinner. Cramers look and tone were both sour. They didnt change when he shifted to Purley. What about it'Is the Vardas pair still all you want'

Theyre what I want most, Purley said doggedly, in spite of her getting it when they werent here, but I guess weve got to spread out more. You can finish with them here and go home to dinner, and I suppose weve got to take em all downtown. Im not sold that the Stahl girl is unfurnished inside her head, and we know shes capable of using her hands, since only three months ago she pushed a full-grown man out of his own car into a ditch and drove off. No matter how hard he was playing her, thats quite a stunt. I still want to be shown she couldnt have used that bottle on herself and I dont have to be shown that she could have used the scissors on Wallen if she felt like it. Or if she performed with the bottle to have something to tell reporters about, the Vardases are still what I want most. But I admit the other if is the biggest one. If someone here conked her, finding out who and why comes first until we get the Vardases.

Cramer stayed sour. You havent even started.

Maybe thats a little too strong, Inspector.

I dont think so.

We were on the Vardases, but we didnt clear out of here, we kept close. Then when we found the Stahl girl and brought her to she shut the valve and had to see Goodwin. Even so, I wouldnt say we havent made a start with the others. Ed Graboff plays the horses and owes a bookie nine hundred dollars, and he had to sell his car. Philip Toracco went off the rails in 1945 and spent a year in a booby hatch. Joel Fielder has been seen in public places with Horny Gallagher,

and while that dont prove -

Cramer cut in to shoot at me, Is Fickler a racket boy'

I shook my head. Sorry. Blank. Ive never been anything but a customer.

If he is well get it. Purley was riled and didnt care who knew it. Jimmie Kirk apparently only goes back three years, and he has expensive habits for a barber. Tom Yerkes did a turn in nineteen thirty-nine for assault, beat up a guy who took his young granddaughter for a fast weekend, and he is known for having a quick take-off. So I dont think you can say we havent even started. Weve got to take em all downtown and get thorough, especially about last night, sure we do. But I still want the Vardases.

Are all alibis for last night being checked'Cramer demanded.

They have been.

Do them over, and good. Get it going. Use as many men as you need. And not only alibis, records too. I want the Vardas pair as much as you do, but if the Stahl girl didnt use that bottle on herself, I also want someone else. Get Biatti here. Let him have a try at her before you take her down.

Hes not on duty, Inspector.

Tell them to find him. Get him here.

Yes, sir.

Purley moved. He went to the phone at the cashiers counter. I went to the one in the booth at the end of the clothes rack and dialed the number I knew best.

Fritz answered, and I asked him to buzz the extension in the plant rooms, since it was still a few minutes short of six oclock.

Where are you'Wolfe demanded. He was always testy when interrupted up there.

At the barber shop. I was none too genial myself. Janet was sitting in her booth and got hit on the head with a bottle of oil. They have gone through the routine and are still at the starting line. Her condition is no more critical than it was before she got hit. She insisted on seeing me, and I have had a long intimate talk with her. I cant say I made no progress, because she asked me to be her manager, and I am now giving you notice, quitting at the end of this week. Aside from that I got nowhere. Shes one in a million. I would love to see you take her on. I have been requested to stick around. Im willing, but I advise you to tell Fritz to increase the grocery orders until further notice.

Silence. Then, Who is there'

Everybody. Cramer, Purley, squad men, the staff. They quit letting customers in after Janet got rapped. The whole party will be moved downtown in an hour or so,

including Janet. Everyone is glum, including me.

No progress whatever has been made'

Not as far as I know, except what I told you, I am now Janets manag -

Pfui. Silence. In a moment, Stay there.

The connection went.

I left the booth. Neither Purley nor Cramer was in sight. Only one flatfoot was at the door, and the throng outside in the corridor was no longer a throng,

merely a knot, and a small one. I moseyed toward the rear, with the line of empty barber chairs on my left and the row of waiting chairs against the partition on my right. Fickler was there, and three of the barbers - Ed being the missing one now - with dicks in between.

They werent interested in me at all, and I made no effort to try to change their attitude.

The chair on the left of the magazine table was empty, and I dropped into it.

Apparently no one had felt like reading today, since the same New Yorker was on top and the two-week-sold Time was still on the shelf below. I would have been glad to employ my mind analyzing the situation if there had been anything to analyze, but there was no place to start, and after sitting a few minutes I became aware that I was trying to analyze Janet. Of course that was even more hopeless, and I mention it only to show you the condition I was in.

But it did look as if Janet was the key, and in that case the thing to do was to figure some way of handling her. I sat and worked on that problem. There must be some practical method of digging up from her memory the fact or facts that had to have. Hypnotize her, maybe'That might work. I i considering suggesting it to Cramer when I became aware of a movement over at the door and lifted my eyes.