The Doorbell Rang (The Rex Stout Library)

There were footsteps in the hall, approaching, and Mrs Bruner appeared. As she entered I arose, and so did Sarah Dacos. I moved to meet her and take the offered hand and return the greeting, and when she went to sit at the other desk I changed to another chair. She gave a pile of papers under a weight a mere glance and pushed it aside, and said to me, "I suspect that I owe you some thanks, Mr Goodwin. More than just thanks."

I shook my head. "No, you don't. Not that it matters, since the check has been deposited, but I was against it. Now that it's a job I'm for it." I got from a pocket the item I had taken from my desk drawer and handed it to her. It was a sheet of paper on which I had typed:

Mr Nero Wolfe

914 WeSt 35th Street

New York City 1

January 6, 1965

Dear Sir:

Confirming our conversation of yesterday, I hereby engage you to act in my interest in the matter we discussed. I believe the Federal Bureau of Investigation is responsible for the espionage I and my family and associates are being subjected to, for the reasons I gave you, but whoever is responsible, you are to investigate it and use your best efforts to have it stopped. Whatever the outcome, the $100,000 I have given you as a retainer will not be subject to any claim by me. I will pay any expenses you incur in my behalf, and if you get the result I desire I will pay a fee to be determined by you.

(Mrs Lloyd Bruner)

She read it twice, first skimming and then every word. She looked up. "I'm supposed to sign this?"

"Yes."

"I can't. I never sign anything my lawyer hasn't read."

"You can call him and read it to him."

"But my telephone is tapped."

"I know. It's barely possible that when they know that you are giving Nero Wolfe a free hand, no limit, they'll cool off. Tell the lawyer that. Not that they're in awe of him, they're not in awe of anybody, but they know a lot about him. As for that last sentence, the fee to be determined by him, there's a loophole. It says 'if you get the result I desire.' Obviously that will be determined by you, so you're not signing a blank check. The lawyer should agree."

She read it again, then leveled the brown-black eyes at me. "I can't do that. My lawyers don't know I went to Nero Wolfe. They wouldn't approve. No one knows but Miss Dacos."