Might as Well Be Dead

“He phoned again later,” I put in.

“Yes? What did you tell him?”

“That we were trying to check and would let him know as soon as we had anything useful.”

Wolfe went back to them. “I wanted to talk with you people myself first. I wanted to learn what you had told Mr. Keems, and whether he had uncovered anything that might have threatened one of you or someone else. I’ll have-”

Fanny Irwin blurted, “He didn’t uncover anything with me!” She had got her hand back from her husband’s hold.

“Then that’s what I’ll learn, madam. I’ll have to tell the police what he was to do and whom he was to see; that can’t be postponed much longer; but it may make things easier for you if I can also tell them that I have talked with you-depending, of course, on what you tell me. Or would you prefer to save it for the police?”

“My God.” Tom Irwin groaned. “This is a nice mess.”

“And we can thank you for it,” Arkoff told Wolfe. “Sicking your damn snoop on us.” His head turned. “And you, Selma. You started it.”

“Let Selma alone,” Rita ordered him. “She’s had a rough time and you can’t blame her.” She looked at Wolfe, and she wasn’t pouting. “Let’s go ahead and get it over with. Yes, your man saw me, at my apartment. He came when I was about ready to leave, to meet my husband for dinner. He said he was investigating the possibility of a new trial for Peter Hays. I thought he was after Selma’s alibi and I told him he might as well save his breath because she was with me every minute, but it was the invitation he wanted to ask about. He asked when I first thought of asking Selma, and I said at the restaurant when Tom phoned and told me Fanny couldn’t make it. He asked why I asked Selma instead of someone else, and I said because I liked her and enjoyed her company, and also because when Tom phoned I asked him if he wanted to suggest anyone and he suggested Selma. He asked if Tom gave any special reason for having Selma, and I said he didn’t have to because I wanted her anyway. He was going to ask more, but I was late and I said that was all I knew anyhow. So that was all-no, he asked when he could see my husband, and I told him we’d be home around ten o’clock and he might see him then.”

“Did he?”

“Yes. We got home a little after ten and he was waiting down in the lobby.”

Wolfe’s eyes moved. “Mr. Arkoff?”