The Mother Hunt (Rex Stout Library)

I'm at Mrs. Valdon's house. She knows the woman, not well. The name is Carol Mardus. I spelled it. She's the fiction editor of Distaff magazine. The Distaff Building is on Madison Avenue at Fifty-second Street. She was intimate with Valdon some years ago. Further details to follow. Congratulations again. If she isn't the mother she certainly knows who is. I'm on my way, to find out what she was doing in January.

No, Wolfe said. Saul will go.

Hold it. I slipped a cog. I turned to Lucy. You said you've seen her two or three times. Did you see her last winter?

She shook her head. I was just thinking. I haven't seen her since Dick died.

To the phone. Saul? Mrs. Valdon hasn't seen her since last September. Don't get too close to her, maybe she strangles the way she walks, straight and smooth. She was married to Willis Krug, but they were divorced four or five years ago. You might start with him, but you might not. He may not want to be reminded of her. She wasn't on his list. I have a suggestion.

Yes? Wolfe.

Manuel Upton is her boss. He told you five weeks ago that if Mrs. Valdon wants a favor from him she can ask him. She could phone and ask him if Carol Mardus was around last winter. That might simplify it, but of course it might tangle it.

It might indeed. Saul will follow routine. Tell Mrs. Valdon to mention Carol Mardus to no one.

I already have.

Tell her again. Stay with her. Divert her. Don't let her out of your sight. Click.

I cradled the phone and closed the cabinet. Saul will check on Carol Mardus, I told Lucy. 'My job is you. I am to keep you under constant surveillance. Mr. Wolfe understands you. He knows you wanted to find the mother so you could pull her hair. If you leave the house I'll have to tail you.

She tried to smile. I am beat, Archie, she said. Carol Mardus!

It's not certain yet, only ten to one, I told her.

It became certain two days later, at twenty minutes past ten Thursday evening, when Saul made his last phone call from Florida.