The Father Hunt

"I reserve details not essential for your satisfaction."

"Pfui. Sir, you are a man of sense. You say you are not sick. Since you have declared your knowledge of the basic fact, it's asinine to prolong this by trying to reserve details. The decision on what will satisfy me is for me, not you. This isn't an agreeable conversation for either of us, and let's make it as brief as possible. Why did she leave you and go to Floyd Vance?"

Jarrett's jaw had stopped working and the frozen eyes were leveled at Wolfe. "I asked her to," he said. "I continued to pay her. She was very competent and I thought she would put his business on a sound basis and straighten him out. He didn't know she came from me. He knows nothing about me. My communications to him and about

him have never been direct. My sending Carlotta Vaughn to him was a mistake. When I returned from abroad in September I learned what had happened. He had attracted her and seduced her and she was pregnant. By then she had returned to her senses. She stayed on with him for a month or so, out of stubbornness, hoping to make a man of a fool, but it was impossible, even for her. She left. She disappeared. I felt responsible, and I never slight a responsibility. I arranged to have her traced, but it took months, and I learned of her change of name in March nineteen forty-five. I arranged to keep informed, and was, and I sent her a check shortly after the birth of her child. I have not seen her or communicated with her since October nineteen forty-four. I am giving you details that make it unnecessary for you to ask questions. I have no knowledge of any contacts she may have had with Vance since October of nineteen forty-four. If he killed her I know nothing of his motive. I have never seen him or-" He stopped.