Black Orchids

And now what? Just forget it? Wolfe had, but then he wasn't human, whereas I was and am. Besides, it would be very neat if it got results, and it would teach Wolfe a lesson. It was nearly eleven o'clock, and I wanted to get out before he came downstairs, so I phoned up to him that I was leaving on an errand, and walked to the garage on Tenth Avenue and got the roadster. Heading uptown, I stopped at a hardware store near 42nd Street and went in and bought a long-bladed kitchen knife, a narrow garden trowel, and four paper bags. Then I went to a phone booth in a drug store at the corner and called the Huddleston number.

Maryella's voice answered, and I asked to speak to Miss Nichols. In a minute she was on, and I told her I was thinking she might be leaving there soon and I'd like to have her address.

"It's nice of you to call," she said. "It's a-pleasant surprise. Naturally I thought you-last week, I mean-I thought you were just being a detective."

"Don't kid me," I told her. "Anyone that dances the way you do being surprised at a phone call. Not that I suppose you're doing any dancing at present."

"Not now. No."

"Will you be leaving there soon?"

"Not this week. We're trying to help Mr. Huddleston straighten things up."

"Will you send me your address when you go?"

"Why-yes. Certainly. If you want it."

"I do you know. How would it be if I drove up there? Just to say hello?"

"When? Now?"

"Right now. I can be there in twenty minutes. I'd kind of like to see you."

"Why-" Silence. "That would be all right. If you want to take the trouble."

I told her it would be no trouble at all, hung up, went out to the roadster, and made for the entrance to the West Side Highway at 46th Street.

I admit my timing was terrible. If I had arrived, say, between twelve thirty and one, they might have been in the house having lunch, and I could have said I had already eaten and waited for Janet on the terrace, which would have been a perfect opportunity. Of course as it turned out that would have made a monkey of me, so it was just as well that I dubbed it. As it was, leaving the car outside the fence, with the knife in one hip pocket and the trowel in the other, and the folded paper bags in the side pocket of my coat, I walked across the lawn to where Larry stood near the pool, glowering at it. When he heard me coming he transferred the glower to me.

"Hello," I said amiably. "What, no alligators?"

"No. They're gone."

"And Mister? And the bears?"

"Yes. What the hell are you doing here?"