The Doorbell Rang (The Rex Stout Library)

"I'm sorry," I said, "I guess I didn't make it plain enough. He thinks the police know it was the FBI, or suspect it. For instance, one thing he wants to ask you people: Are the police keeping after you? Coming back, again and again, asking the same questions over and over? Mrs Althaus?"

"No."

"Miss Hinckley?"

"No. But we've told them everything we know."

"That doesn't matter. In a murder investigation, if they haven't got a line they like, they never let up on anybody, and it looks as if they have let up on everybody. That's one thing we need to know. Mrs Althaus just told me that you and Mr Yarmack both think that the FBI killed him. Is that correct?"

"Yes. Yes, it is. Because there was nothing about the FBI in his apartment."

"Do you know what there might have been? What he had dug up?"

"No. Morris never told me about things like that."

"Does Mr Yarmack know?"

"I don't know. I don't think so."

"How do you feel about it, Miss Hinckley? Whoever killed Morris Althaus, do you want him caught? Caught and dealt with?"

"Of course I do. Certainly I do."

I turned to Mrs Althaus. "You do too. All right, it's a good bet that he never will be caught unless Nero Wolfe does it. You may know that he doesn't go to see people. You'll have to go to him, to his house-you and Miss Hinckley, and, if possible, Mr Yarmack. Can you be there this evening at nine o'clock?"

"Why…" She had her hands clasped. "I don't… What good would it do? There's nothing I can tell him."

"There might be. I often think there's nothing I can tell him, but I find out I'm wrong. Or if he only decides that none of you can tell him anything, that will help. Will you come?"

"I suppose…" She looked at the girl who had been expecting to be her daughter-in-law.

"Yes," Miss Hinckley said. "I'll go."

I could have hugged her. It would have been relevant to the job. I asked her, "Could you bring Mr Yarmack?"

"I don't know. I'll try."

"Good." I rose. "The address is in the phone book."

To Mrs Althaus: "I should tell you, it's next to certain that the FBI has a watch on the house and you will be seen. If you don't mind, Mr Wolfe doesn't. He's perfectly willing for them to know he is investigating the murder of your son. Nine o'clock?"