Black Orchids

Wolfe sighed. "As you know, it worked. Miss Huddleston stuck her foot in the slipper and cut her toe, her brother brought the iodine, Dr. Brady applied it, and she got tetanus and died." His eyes darted to Brady. "By the way, doctor, that suggests a question. Is it worthy of remark that you failed to notice the absence of the characteristic odor of iodine? I merely ask."

Brady was looking grim. "As far as I am concerned," he said acidly, "it remains to be proven that the bottle did not contain iodine, and therefore-"

"Nonsense. I told you on the phone. The piece of turf where the chimpanzee poured some of the contents has been analyzed. Argyrol, no iodine, and a surfeit of tetanus germs. The police have it. I tell you, I tell all of you, that however disagreeable you may find this inquiry as I pursue it, it would be vastly more disagreeable if the police were doing it. Your alternative-"

The doorbell called me away, since Fritz had been told to leave it to me. I dashed out, not wanting to miss anything crucial, and naturally took the precaution, under the circumstances, of pulling the curtain aside for a peek through the glass. It was well that I did. I never saw the stoop more officially populated. Inspector Cramer, Lieutenant Rowcliff, and Sergeant Stebbins! I slipped the chain bolt in place, which would let the door come only five inches, turned the lock and the knob and pulled, and spoke through the crack:

"They don't live here any more."

"Listen, you goddamn squirt," Cramer said impolitely. "Open the door!"

"Can't. The hinge is broke."

"I say open up! We know they're here!"

"You do in a pig's eye. The things you don't know. If you've got one, show it. No? No warrant? And all the judges out to lunch-"

"By God, if you think-"

"I don't. Mr. Wolfe thinks. All I have is brute force. Like this-"

I banged the door to, made sure the lock had caught, went to the kitchen and stood on a chair and removed a screw, bolted the back door and told Fritz to leave it that way, and returned to the office. Wolfe stopped talking to look at me. I nodded, and told him as I crossed to my chair:

"Three irate men. They'll probably return with legalities."

"Who are they?"

"Cramer, Rowcliff, Stebbins."

"Ha." Wolfe looked gratified. "Disconnect the bell."

"Done."

"Bolt the back door."

"Done."