The Second Confesion

“So we don't need to waste time on the facts that have been made public. The situation is this: I know that Mr Reynolds murdered. Mr Rony. I want to have him arrested and charged. But to get him convicted it is essential to show that he is a member of the Communist Party, because only if that is done can his motive be established. You'll have to accept that statement as I give it; I'm not going to show you all my cards, for if I do so and you choose to support Mr Reynolds I'll be in a deeper hole than I am now.” “We don't support murderers,” Harvey declared virtuously.

Wolfe nodded. “I thought not. It would be not only blame-worthy, but futile, to try to support this one. You understand that what I must prove is not that William Reynolds is a member of the Communist Party; that can be done without much difficulty; but that this man who was at the scene of Mr Rony's death is that William Reynolds-whatever else he may be. I know of only two ways to accomplish that. One would be to arrest and charge Mr Reynolds and put him on trial, lay the ground by showing that membership in the Communist Party is relevant to his guilt, subpoena you and your associates-fifty of them, a hundred-as witnesses for the State, and put the question to you. ‘Is the defendant, or was he, a member of the Communist Party?’ Those of you who know him, and who answer no, will be committing perjury. Will all of you risk it-not most of you, but all of you? Would it be worth such a risk, to protect a man who murdered as a private enterprise? I doubt it. If you do risk it, I think we can catch you up. I shall certainly try, and my heart will be in it.” “We don't scare easy,” Harvey stated.

“What's the other way?” Stevens asked.

“Much simpler for everybody.” Wolfe picked up the photograph. “You write your names across this. I paste it on a sheet of paper. Below it you write, ‘This man in the above photograph, on which we have written our names, is William Reynolds, whom we know to be a member of the Communist Party of the USA.’ You both sign it. That's all.” For the first time they swapped glances.