The Father Hunt

a suggestion, even from the one man you can trust. Sure, I filed that. To get what you want-there's one chance in a million that a week or so of poking around would crack it, but it would probably be a long and very expensive job. How much money have you got?"

"Not much. Of course I would want to pay you."

"Not me. I explained that. But Nero Wolfe has inflated ideas about fees; that's why I would have to know exactly how you are fixed. If you care to tell me."

"Certainly I'll tell you. I have never earned any money, not enough to mention, and anyway I've spent it. I only have what my mother left, after paying the… for the cremation. She left instructions about that. There's a little more than two thousand dollars in the bank, that's all. There are no debts and I don't owe anyone anything."

I had a brow up. "What did your mother do for-no, that's immaterial. She made enough to send you to an expensive college. Unless someone helped?"

"No. She did it all. You were going to ask what she did for a living. She was with a television producer, the same one from as far back as I can remember. I suppose she got fifteen thousand a year, maybe more. She never told me." The quick brown eyes were straight at me. "If I paid Nero Wolfe the two thousand dollars he would have you work on it, wouldn't he?"

I shook my head. "He wouldn't even discuss it. He would know it might take a year, and he thinks nothing of billing a client five grand for a one-week job. You said you know about him, but apparently you don't. He's pigheaded and high-nosed and toplofty, and he thinks he's the best detective in the world, and so do I, or I would have moved out long ago. I think you deserve some help with your problem, and you certainly need it, and I like your dimples, but if I told him about you and suggested an appointment he would just glare at me. He would think I had a hinge loose. I do have one idea that you might want to consider. Miss Rowan likes to do things for people, and she has a stack, and if you-"

"Don't you dare tell her about me!"

"Keep your seat. I wouldn't dream of telling her, or anyone. I merely thought you might tell her yourself, and-"

"I wouldn't tell anybody!"