The Second Confesion

“Nuts,” I told him. “You're sore because you didn't have the guts to shoot, which shows how thick you are. Sit down on that couch, both of you.” I used the damp towel on my face. They didn't move. “Will I have to come and sit you?” Mom pulled at his arm and they went to the couch, sidewise, and sat. Saul dropped the gun in his pocket and took a chair.

“You startled us, Andy,” Mom said. “That was all. I was so startled I didn't recognize you.” It was a nice little touch that no man would ever have thought of. She was putting us back on our original basis, when I had been merely a welcome guest at her home.

I refused to revert. “My name's Archie now, remember? And you've' fixed me so that no one will recognize me. You certainly react strong to being startled.” I moved a chair and sat. “How did you get in here?” “Why, with a key!” “Where did you get it?” “Why, we-we had one-” “How did you get in?” Jimmy demanded.

I shook my head at him. “That won't get you anywhere. I suppose you know that your father fired Mr Wolfe. We now have another client, one of Rony's associates. Do you want to make a point of this? Like calling a cop? I thought not. Where did you get the key?” “None of your damn business!” “I just told you,” Mom said reproachfully, “we had one.” Having quit using logic on women the day I graduated from high school, I skipped that. “We have a choice,” I informed them. “I can phone the precinct and get a pair of city detectives here, a male and a female, to go over you and see what you came after, which would take time and make a stink, or you can tell us-by the way, I believe you haven't met my friend and colleague, Mr Saul Panzer.

That's him on the chair. Also by the way, don't you ever go to the movies? Why don't you wear gloves? You've left ten thousand prints all over the place. Or you can tell us where you got the key and what you came for-only it will have to be good. One reason you might prefer us is that we don't really have to search you, because you were still looking, so you haven't found it.” They looked at each other.

“May I make a suggestion?” Saul inquired.

“Yes, indeed.” “Maybe they'd rather have us phone Mr Sperling, to ask-” “No!” Mom cried.

“Much obliged,” I thanked Saul. “You remind me of Mr Wolfe.” I returned to them.

“Now it will have to be even better. Where did you get the key?” “From Rony,” Jimmy muttered sullenly.