The Mother Hunt (Rex Stout Library)

I walked it. The live minutes a hack might have saved didn't matter, and my legs like to feel that they're helping out. When I turned into Eleventh Street and neared the house, again I glanced around automatically, but again it didn't matter. The fat was in the fire, and the problem was dodging the spatters. I mounted the four steps to the vestibule, but didn't have to push the button, because the door was standing open and Lucy herself was there. She didn't speak. When I had crossed the sill she closed the door, turned, and made for the stairs. I followed. Apparently she had forgotten the progress we had made in cordial relations. One flight up she entered the big room, shut the door when I was in, faced me, and said, He asked me if I knew Ellen Tenzer. Sure. Naturally.

You stand there and say naturally! I should never if I hadn't gone to Nero Wolfe you know that, Archie!

Call me Mr. Goodwin.

Her big gray eyes widened.

The point is, I said, that mixing personal relations and business relations is bad for both. If you want to hold hands, fine. If you want to be a huffy client, okay. But it's not fair for a huffy client to call me Archie.

I'm not huffy!

All right, crabby.

I'm not crabby. You know it's true, if I hadn't gone to Nero Wolfe and you hadn't found that woman she wouldn't have been murdered. I hate it! And now they know about Nero Wolfe and they know about the baby. I'm going to tell them everything. That's why I asked you to come to tell me where I go and who I tell. The District Attorney? And I wanted to ask you will you go with me?

No. May I use your phone?

Why, yes, if What for?

To tell Mr. Wolfe he's fired, so he can I didn't say he's fired!

I raised the brows. You're rattled, Mrs. Valdon. We've discussed this several times, what would happen if they got to you and came at you. The understanding was that we would hang on unless it got too hot to handle, and you would let us decide if and when it did. You wanted me to explain the rules, about withholding evidence and obstructing justice and so on, and I did so. It was clearly understood that if and when it was decided to let go, Mr. Wolfe would do it. Now you have decided to let go, so I'll phone him and tell him to go ahead. As for your firing him, call it something else if you prefer that you're releasing him from his commitment. It does sound better. I'll use the phone downstairs. I turned.

Fingers gripped my arm. Archie.