The Mother Hunt (Rex Stout Library)

Wolfe made a face. Mr. Goodwin and Mrs. Valdon and I will flout it. I suggest that you act on it later, if at all. We have a graver matter to deal with as you know, since obviously Mrs. Valdon's phone call was prompted by me.

When did you come here?

Saturday. Day before yesterday.

You've been here since Saturday?

Yes.

Goodwin too?

Yes. Won't you sit? I don't like to stretch my neck.

Arrest them, Upton croaked. That's a formal demand. Arrest them.

Don't be an ass, Wolfe told him. I'm going to name a murderer, and Mr. Cramer knows it. Otherwise he would have arrested me, not on your charge, as soon as he caught sight of me. He looked around, right and then left. Cramer sat, I sat. That left Upton the only one on his feet, so he sat, between Haft and me on the couch.

Wolfe focused on Cramer. I don't know how much you know, but gaps can be filled in later. This murderer is one of those unfortunate creatures who, neither designed nor fitted for that spectacular role, find themselves. Save that for later too, Cramer growled.

It's a necessary introduction. Find themselves abruptly rocketed into it. Some seven months ago Carol Mardus asked him to help her dispose of a baby she didn't want to keep, and he obliged her. If you had told him then that as a result of that amiable favor to a friend be would be twice a murderer within the year, he would have thought you were demented. The next fateful step, though not amiable, was not murderous; it was merely mischievous. Knowing that Richard Valdon had been the father of the baby, he took. That's too big a gap. Was it the baby that was boarded by Ellen Tenzer?

Yes. I see this won't do. I must name him. Did you recognize the woman who entered the room with me?

No.

She is Anne Tenzer, the niece of Ellen Tenzer. She was of course questioned in the investigation of her aunt's death, but apparently not by you. Wolfe turned. Miss Tenzer, will you please tell Mr. Cramer what your occupation is?

Anne cleared her throat. She was still a blonde, and if you asked ten men which of the two women sitting there was more attractive, her or Lucy, probably seven of them would say her. When she had entered the elevator and seen me she had said one word, hello, very offhand. Hello is not hi.

Her cool competent eyes went to Cramer. I'm a secretary, with the Stopgap Employment Service. We fill in vacations, any temporary vacancies. I'm at the senior executive level.

So you have worked for many different firms? Wolfe asked.