Prisoner's Base

"Do you know that she came here Monday afternoon and spent some hours in this house?"

"Yes, I know."

"Do you know what she came for?"

"I know nothing definite. I have heard conjectures."

"I won't ask you from whom or what. I am aware, Miss Duday, that in coming here this evening you people were impelled only partly by the threat of a legal action by Mrs. Jaffee. You also hoped to learn what Miss Eads came to see me for and what she said. I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you. I have given a complete report to the police, or Mr. Goodwin has, and if they don't care to publish it neither do I. But I will ask you, do you know of any reason why, on Monday, Miss Eads should have decided to seek seclusion? Was she being harassed or frightened by anyone?"

"On Monday?"

"Yes."

"I don't know." She bit her lip, regarding him. "Having no knowledge of it, I could only offer a guess."

"Try a guess."

"Well, I know that Perry Helmar had an appointment with her at her apartment for Monday evening. I learned that only yesterday. I know that these men were desperate, and they spent hours Monday at the Softdown office going through records for years back and compiling memoranda. I thought then that they were probably collecting evidence to prove my incompetence and demonstrate it to Priscilla, and I now think that Helmar made that appointment with her Monday, insisted on it, in order to show her that evidence and convince her that I could not be trusted. My guess is that if she decided to seek seclusion it was because they were pestering her, especially Helmar, and she had had enough of them."

"Why especially Helmar?"

"Because he had more at stake. The others all help to run the business and could expect to continue to get good salaries after Priscilla took over. Helmar has had very little to do with the business operations, and is not an officer of the corporation, but he has been drawing forty thousand a year as counsel. He has actually earned perhaps one-tenth of it, if anything. After June thirtieth I doubt if he would have drawn anything at all, and-"

"That's false, and you know it," Helmar challenged her. "That's utterly unfounded!"

"You'll have your turn," Wolfe told him.

"He can have it now." Miss Duday was contemptuous. "That's all I have to say-unless you have questions?"

"No. Well, Mr. Helmar? Go ahead."