Death of a Doxy (Crime Line)

Cramer got a cigar from a pocket, rolled it between his palms, stuck it in his mouth, and sank his teeth in it. But the rolling had loosened the wrapper, and a flap of it pointed up and touched his nose. He removed it, glared at it, hurled it at my wastebasket, and came close. It hit the edge and bounced to the floor. He aimed the glare at me and blurted, "All right, Goodwin. Where is she?"

I put a brow up. "You could mean Miss Jaquette."

"Yes, I could. You took her with you last night. And brought her here."

I nodded. "That's what Mr. Wolfe calls a surmise. You don't know I brought her here, just as I don't know who fired the shots. You're expecting me to stall, so I won't. She's up in the South Room. I was there chatting with her when you came."

"Now I'll chat with her. I'll go up." He left the chair. "I know the way."

"The door's bolted. We thought it might be better to hold off." I rose. "But you deserve a break. With a new Mayor and a new Commissioner, you probably need a break." I moved.

In the hall he stopped at the elevator, but I kept on to the stairs and he came. Policemen should keep fit. By the time he got to the second landing I had called to her and she had opened the door. She had changed to the blue thing and put slippers on. I pronounced names and asked if she had enough coffee and left them.

Taking it for granted that Wolfe had gone to the kitchen, I turned right at the bottom. He was there, in the only chair Fritz allows in his kitchen, with a seat ample for me but not for him, and had opened a certain cupboard door and flipped the switch. Fritz was on one of the stools at the big table, slicing a shallot, preparing for the poached eggs Burgundian, and I got the other stool.

Cramer's voice was coming from the cupboard. "I know that, I know you have. You made a full statement, and we appreciate that kind of cooperation. But that business last night is a new – element. Those two men were there, Archie Goodwin and Fred Durkin, for your protection, that right?"

Julie: Yes.

Cramer: You had arranged with Nero Wolfe for that protection?

Julie: Yes.

Cramer: When?

Julie: Oh… I guess it was Saturday.

Cramer: Why? Why did you need protection?

Julie: I might as well tell you the truth.

Cramer: Yes, that's always the best way.