If Death Ever Slept

“I do not.” I shook my head. “Look, Mr. Jarrell. Suspecting her of cheating your son and diddling you, without any evidence, that’s your privilege. But saying that I know she came in here and took a loaded gun, when I don’t, that is not your privilege. Of course you have a permit for it?”

“Certainly.”

“The law says when a gun is stolen it must be reported. It’s a misdemeanor not to. Do you‹want to report it?”

“Good God, no.” The fists relaxed. “How about this? I’ll get her in here, and Wyman too, and I’ll keep them here while you go up and search their rooms. You know how to search a room.”

One of two things, I thought. Either he is sure it was her, for some reason or no reason, or he took it himself and planted it in her room. “No good,” I declared. “If she took it, the last place she would hide it would be in her room. I could find it, of course, in a couple of days, or much quicker if I got help in, but what if it turned up in one of the tubs on the terrace? You’d have the gun back, that’s true, if that’s what you want.”

“You know damn well what I want.”

“Yes, I ought to, but that’s not the point now, or not the whole point. Anyone going to all that trouble and risk to get hold of a gun, he must-I beg your pardon-she must intend to use it for something. I doubt if it’s to shoot a squirrel. It might even be to shoot you. I would resent that while I’m employed as your secretary. I advise you to get them in here and let me ask questions. Even better, take them all down to Mr. Wolfe and let him ask questions.”

“No.”

“You won’t?”

“No.”

“Then what?”

“I don’t know. I’ll see. I’ll have to think.” He looked at his wrist. “They’re in the lounge.” He stood up. “I’ll see.”

“Okay.” I stood up. “I’d rather not appear barefooted. I’ll go up and put on my shoes and socks.”

As I said before, that added a new element to the situation.

Chapter 5

WHEN NERO WOLFE CAME down from the plant rooms at six o’clock Thursday afternoon I was at my desk in the office, waiting for him. Growling a greeting, if you can call it that, as he crossed to his chair, he lowered his bulk and got it properly disposed, rested his elbows on the chair arms, and glared at me.

“Well?”