Final Deduction

It didn't amount to much that time. I have had several conversations in that building that lasted more than six hours, one that lasted fourteen hours, and two that ended by my being locked up as a material witness. That day Mandel and two Homicide Bureau dicks let me go in less than two hours, partly because I had the signed statement with me, partly because they weren't officially interested in the kidnaping since that had been a Westchester job, and partly because they were by no means sure Jimmy Vail's death had been a homicide and if it wasn't that would be okay with them. A dick has enough grief dealing with riffraff, and he would prefer to have no part of Tedders and Vails. So after going through the routine motions for an hour and a half they shooed me out, and at a quarter past six I was paying a hackie in front of the old brownstone and climbing out. As my foot touched the sidewalk, someone grabbed my arm and pronounced my name, and I wheeled.

It was Noel Tedder. "Who the hell does this Nero Wolfe think he is?" he squeaked.

"It depends on his mood." I moved my arm, but he had a grip. "Let go of my arm, I might need it. Why, did he bounce you?"

"I haven't been in. First I was told through a crack to come back after six, and I did. Then I was told Wolfe was busy-`engaged,' he said. I asked for you and was told you were out and he didn't know when you'd be back. I said I'd come in and wait, and he said I wouldn't. What does it take, a passport?"

"Did you give your name?"

"Certainly."

"Did you say what you want to see him about?"

"No. I'll tell him."

"Not unless you tell me first. Not only is that the routine, but also he's had a hard day. There was no homemade blackberry jam for breakfast, he had to skip his morning turn with the orchids, a police inspector came and annoyed him, and he had to read a long statement and sign it. If you tell me what you want, there may be a chance. If you don't, it's hopeless."

"Out here?"

"We can sit on the stoop if you'd rather."

He turned his head to look at a man and woman who were passing. He needed a shave. He also needed either a haircut, a comb and brush, or a hat, and his plaid jacket and striped slacks could have stood a little pressing. When the man and woman were ten paces away his eyes came back to me.

"I've got a chance to make a pot but I can't do it alone. I don't even know how to start. My mother told me that if I can find the money she paid the kidnapers, or any part of it, I can have it. Half a million. I want Wolfe to help me. He can have a fifth of it for his share."

My brows were up. "When did your mother tell you that?"

"Wednesday evening."

"She may feel different about it now."

"No, she doesn't. I asked her this afternoon. She's not very-she's in pretty bad shape-but I didn't think it would hurt to ask her. She said yes. She said she wouldn't want any of that money now anyhow."

My brows were still up. "The police know about the kidnaping. And the FBI."

"I don't know about the FBI. We told the police this morning."

"Dozens of trained men are on the job already. By tomorrow there'll be hundreds. Fat chance you'd have."

"Damn it, I know I wouldn't! That's why I've got to have Nero Wolfe! Isn't he better than they are?"

"That's a point." I was looking at another point. We had never taken a crack at that kind of problem, and if Wolfe could be peekayed into tackling it, it would be interesting to see how he went about it. It would also be interesting to collect his share if there was anything to share.

"I'll tell you," I said. "I doubt very much if Mr Wolfe will touch it. He's not only eccentric, he hates to work, and he seldom takes a case on a contingent basis. But I'm willing to put it up to him. You may come inside to wait."

"If you can get inside," he squeaked. That tenor didn't fit his make-up at all.

"I can try," I said, and made for the stoop, and he followed me up. The chain-lock was on, so I had to push the button. If Fritz, letting us in, was surprised to see me bringing a customer who had been turned away twice, he didn't show it. Fritz shows only what he thinks it is proper to show. I took Tedder to the front room and left him, and went to the office by way of the hall instead of the connecting door. Wolfe, at his desk, had the middle drawer open and was fingering in it. Counting caps of beer bottles to see how much he had gained on the week's quota by being away twenty-four hours. I waited to speak until he shut the drawer and looked up.

"Regards from Mandel. I didn't see the DA. They probably won't bother us again unless and until they have to decide that Jimmy Vail didn't die by accident, which they would hate to do. You have seen the Gazette?"

"Yes."

"Any comment?"

"No."

"Then I'm still not fired. I'm taking a leave of absence without pay. Say a month, but it may be more."

His lips tightened. He took a deep breath. "Are you bent on vexing me beyond endurance?"