The Second Confesion

Take the remainder to a suburban bank, say somewhere in New Jersey, and put it in a safe deposit box which you will rent under an assumed name. If you need a reference, Mr Parker will do. After what happened Sunday night-we'll be prepared for contingencies. If we ever meet him head on and have to cut off from here and from everyone we know, we'll need supplies. I hope I never touch it. I hope it's still there when I die, and if so it's yours.” Thank you very much. I'll be around eighty then and I'll need it.” “You're welcome. Now for this afternoon. First, what about the pictures you took up there?” “Six o'clock. That was the best they could do.” “And the keys?” “You said after lunch. They'll be ready at one-thirty.” “Good. Saul will be here at two?” “Yes, sir.” “Have Fred and Orrie here this evening after dinner. I don't think you'll need them this afternoon; you and Saul can manage. This is what we want. There must-”

But that was postponed by the arrival of Doc Vollmer. Doc's home and office were on our street, toward Tenth Avenue, and over the years we had used his services for everything from stitching up Dora Chapin's head to signing a certificate that Wolfe was batty. When he called he always went to one of the smaller yellow chairs because of his short legs, sat, took off his spectacles and looked at them, put them on again, and asked, “Want some pills?” Today he added, “I'm afraid I'm in a hurry.” “You always are,” Wolfe said, in the tone he uses only to the few people he really likes. “Have you read about the Rony case?” “Of course. Since you're involved in it-or were.” “I still am. The body is at the morgue in White Plains. Will you go there?

You'll have to go to the District Attorney's office first to get yourself accredited. Tell them I sent you, and that I have been engaged by one of Mr Rony's associates. If they want more than that they can phone me, and I'll try and satisfy them. You want to examine the body-not an autopsy, merely superficially, to determine whether he died instantly or was left to suffer a prolonged agony. What I really want you to inspect is his head, to see if there is any indication that he was knocked out by a blow before the car ran over him.