Black Orchids

"I took it to the office and did some experiments with two of my colleagues. We were settling an argument. Then we destroyed it. All of it."

"Did any of these people know about it?"

"I don't-" Brady frowned. "Yes, I remember-I discussed it. Telling them how dangerous any small cut might be-"

"Not me," Daniel said grimly. "If I had known you did that-"

They glared at each other. Daniel muttered something and sat down.

The phone rang, and I swiveled and got it. It was Doc Vollmer, and I nodded to Wolfe and he took it. When he hung up he told them:

"The bottle from which Miss Nichols treated her wound this morning contained enough tetanus germs to destroy the population of a city, properly distributed." He focused on Brady. "You may have some idea, doctor, how the police would regard that episode, especially if you had withheld it. It would give you no end of trouble. In a thing like this evasion or concealment should never be attempted without the guidance of an expert. By the way, how long had you known Miss Huddleston?"

"I had known her casually for some time. Several years."

"How long intimately?"

"I wouldn't say I knew her intimately. A couple of months ago I formed the habit of going there rather often."

"What made you form the habit? Did you fall in love with her?"

"With whom?"

"Miss Huddleston."

"Certainly not." Brady looked not only astonished but insulted. "She was old enough to be my mother."

"Then why did you suddenly start going there?"

"Why-a man goes places, that's all."

Wolfe shook his head. "Not in an emotional vacuum. Was it greed or parsimony? Free horseback rides? I doubt it; your income is probably adequate. Mere convenience? No; it was out of your way, quite a bother. My guess, to employ the conventional euphemism, is love. Had you fallen in love with Miss Nichols?"

"No."

"Then what? I assure you, doctor, I am doing this much more tactfully than the police would. What was it?"

A funny look appeared on Brady's face. Or a series of looks. First it was denial, then hesitation, then embarrassment, then do or die. All the time his eyes were straight at Wolfe. Suddenly he said, in a voice louder than he had been using, "I had fallen in love with Miss Timms. Violently."

"Oh!" Maryella exclaimed in amazement. "You certainly never-"

"Don't interrupt, please," Wolfe said testily. "Had you notified Miss Timms of your condition?"

"No, I hadn't." Brady stuck to his guns. "I was afraid to. She was so-I didn't suppose-she's a terrible flirt-"