Death of a Doxy (Crime Line)

He turned a palm up. "The question is, did he? Having no firm opinion of my own, and no basis for one, I asked Archie. I thought he would at least have odds, one way or the other. He always has odds, but he failed me. He said that for a bet it was even money. Archie? That was four hours ago. Now?"

I shook my head. "I still pass. Damn it, go ahead and start something and see what we get!"

"No. We would be committed and make mistakes. Fred. You have known Orrie longer than I have. The situation has been fully described to you. What do you say?"

"Jesus," Fred said.

"That doesn't help. He would merely tell him to go and sin no more. Did he kill her?"

Fred put his glass down and shifted in his chair. He looked at Saul, then at me, and back at Wolfe. "It's too tough," he said. "Have I got it straight? If we decide he killed her you lay off and it's up to Parker. If we decide he didn't, you try to prove it, and of course the only way to prove it would be to find out who did and nail him. Is that it?"

"Yes."

"Then I say he didn't."

"Is that your considered opinion?"

"To be honest, no. The only way I could be sure he killed her would be if he confessed, and Orrie never would. But we know Orrie. He has always done whatever he felt like with women, and they let him. I mean they couldn't help it. But now apparently it's hit him and he wants to get hitched. So if this Isabel Kerr got in his way, really blocked him… well, I don't know. I mean I think I really do know. But you called us in to help you decide, didn't you?"

"Yes."

"Then I say no. He didn't."

Wolfe didn't even frown at him. Such a contribution from me would have got what I deserved, but he knows how Fred's mind works, and he had asked for it. He merely said, "That is hardly decisive," and turned his head. "Saul?"

"No," Saul said. "To put it the way Archie would, one will get you twenty that he didn't kill her."

"Indeed." Wolfe was surprised. "An opinion, or a gesture?"

"Call it a conclusion. Make it fifty to one. I'm not saying I'm superior to Archie. Since he knows everything I know, you may wonder why he didn't settle it, but that's obvious. He couldn't see it because he's involved personally. He's not conceited enough."

"Pfui. This is flummery."