Curtains For Three (13 page)

They were good sandwiches. The beef was tender and full of hot salty sap, with just the right amount of fat, and the bread had some character. I was a little short on milk, having got only a pint, but stretched it out. In between bites we discussed matters, and I made a mistake. I should of course have told Pohl nothing whatever, especially since the more I saw of him the less I liked him,

but the sandwiches were so good that I got careless and let it out that as far as I knew no attack had been made on the phone girl and the waiter at the Hotel Churchill. Pohl was determined to phone Wolfe immediately to utter a howl, and in order to stop him I had to tell him that Wolfe had other men on the case and I didn’t know who or what they were covering.

I was about to phone myself when the door opened and Dorothy Keyes and Victor Talbott walked in. I stood up. Pohl didn’t.

“Hello hello,” I said cheerfully. “Nice place you have here.”

Neither of them even nodded to me. Dorothy dropped into a chair against a wall,

crossed her legs, and turned her gaze on Pohl with her chin in the air.

Talbott marched over to us at the ebony desk, stopped at my elbow, and told Pohl, “You know damn well you’ve got no right here, going through things and trying to order the staff around. You have no right here at all. I’ll give you one minute to get out.”

“You’ll give me?” Pohl sounded nasty and looked nasty. “You’re a paid employee,

and you won’t be that long, and I’m part owner, and you say you’ll give me!

Trying to order the staff around, am I'I’m giving the staff a chance to tell the truth, and they’re doing it. Two of them have spent an hour in a lawyer’s office, getting it on paper. A complaint has been sworn against Broadyke for receiving stolen goods, and he’s been arrested by now.”

Talbott said, “Get out,” without raising his voice.

Pohl, not moving, said, “And I might also mention that a complaint has been sworn against you for stealing the goods. The designs you sold to Broadyke. Are you going to try to alibi that too?”

Talbott’s jaw worked a couple of seconds before it let his lips open for speech.

His teeth stayed together as he said, “You can leave now.”

“Or I can stay. I’ll stay.” Pohl was sneering, and it made his network of face creases deeper. “You may have noticed I’m not alone.”

I didn’t care for that. “Just a minute,” I put in. “I’ll hold your coats, and that’s all. Don’t count on me, Mr. Pohl. I’m strictly a spectator, except for one thing, you haven’t paid me for your sandwiches and coffee. Ninety-five cents before you go, if you’re going.”

“I’m not going. It’s different here from what it was in the park that morning,

Vic. There’s a witness.”

Talbott took two quick steps, used a foot to shove the big ebony chair back free of the desk, made a grab in the neighborhood of Pohl’s throat, got his necktie,

and jerked him out of the chair. Pohl came forward and tried to come up at the same time, but Talbott, moving fast, kept going with him, dragging him around the corner of the desk.

I had got upright and backed off, not to be in the way.

Suddenly Talbott went down, flat on his back, an upflung hand gripping a piece of the necktie. Pohl was not very springy, even for his age, but he did his best. He scrambled to his feet, started yelling, “Help! Police! Help!” at the top of his voice, and seized the chair I had been sitting on and raised it high.

His idea was to drop it on the prostrate enemy, and my leg muscles tightened for quick action, but Talbott leaped up and yanked the chair away from him. Pohl ran. He scooted around behind the desk, and Talbott went after him. Pohl,

yelling for help again, slid around the other end, galloped across the room to a table which held a collection of various objects, picked up an electric iron,

and threw it. Missing Talbott, who dodged, it crashed onto the ebony desk and knocked the telephone to the floor.

Apparently having an iron thrown at him made Talbott mad, for when he reached Pohl, instead of trying to get a hold on something more substantial than a necktie, he hauled off and landed on his jaw, in spite of the warning I had given him the day before.

“Off of that, you!” a voice boomed.

Glancing to the right, I saw two things: first, that Dorothy, still in her chair, hadn’t even uncrossed her legs, and second, that the law who had entered was not a uniformed pavement man but a squad dick I knew by sight. Evidently he had been somewhere around the premises, but it was the first I had seen of him.

He crossed to the gladiators. “This is no way to act,” he declared.

Dorothy, moving swiftly, was beside him. “This man,” she said, indicating Pohl,

“forced his way in here and was told to leave but wouldn’t. I am in charge of this place and he has no right here. I want a charge against him for trespassing or disturbing the peace or whatever it is. He tried to kill Mr. Talbott with a chair and then with that iron he threw at him.”

I, having put the phone back on the desk, had wandered near, and the law gave me a look.

“What were you doing, Goodwin, trimming your nails?”

“No, sir,” I said respectfully, “it was just that I didn’t want to get stepped on.”

Talbott and Pohl were both speaking at once.

“I know, I know,” the dick said, harassed. “Ordinarily, with people like you, I would feel that the thing to do was to sit down and discuss it, but with what happened to Keyes things are different from ordinary.” He appealed to Dorothy.

“You say you’re making a charge, Miss Keyes?”

“I certainly am.”

“So am I,” Talbott stated.

“Then that’s that. Come along with me, Mr. Pohl.”

“I’m staying here.” Pohl was still panting. “I have a right here and I’m staying here.”

“No, you’re not. You heard what the lady said.”

“Yes, but you didn’t hear what I said. I was assaulted. She makes a charge. So do I. I was sitting quietly in a chair, not moving, and Talbott tried to strangle me, and he struck me. Didn’t you see him strike me?”

“It was in self-defense,” Dorothy declared. “You threw an iron - “

“To save my life! He assaulted - “

“All I did - “

“Hold it,” the law said curtly. “Under the circumstances you can’t talk yourselves into anything with me. You men will come along with me, both of you.

Where’s your hats and coats?”

They went. First they used up more breath on words and gestures, but they went,

Pohl in the lead, with only half a necktie, Talbott next, and the law in the rear.

Thinking I might as well tidy up a little, I went and righted the chair Pohl had tried to use, then retrieved the iron and put it back on the table, and then examined the beautiful surface of the desk to see how much damage had been done.

“I suppose you’re a coward, aren’t you?” Dorothy inquired.

She had sat down again, in the same chair, and crossed the same legs. They were all right; I had no kick coming there.

“It’s controversial,” I told her, “It was on the Town Meeting of the Air last week. With a midget, if he’s unarmed, I’m as brave as a lion. Or with a woman.

Try picking on me. But with - ” A buzz sounded.

“The phone,” Dorothy said.

I pulled it to me and got the receiver to my ear.

“Is Miss Keyes there?”

“Yes,” I said, “she’s busy sitting down. Any message?”

“Tell her Mr. Donaldson is here to see her.”

I did so, and for the first time saw an expression that was unquestionably human on Dorothy’s face. At sound of the name Donaldson all trace of the brow-lifter vanished. Muscles tightened all over and color went. She may or may not have been what she had just called me, I didn’t know because I had never seen or heard of Donaldson, but she sure was scared stiff.

I got tired waiting and repeated it. “Mr. Donaldson is here to see you.”

“I - ” She wet her lips. In a moment she swallowed. In another moment she stood up, said in a voice not soft at all, “Tell her to send him to Mr. Talbott’s room,” and went.

I forwarded the command as instructed, asked for an outside line, and, when I heard the dial tone, fingered the number. My wrist watch said five past three,

and it stopped my tongue for a second when once more I heard Orrie’s voice.

“Archie,” I said shortly. “Let me speak to Saul.”

“Saul'He’s not here. Been gone for hours.”

“Oh, I thought it was a party. Then Wolfe.”

Wolfe’s voice came. “Yes, Archie?”

“I’m in Keyes’ office, sitting at his desk. I’m alone. I brought Pohl his lunch,

and he owes me ninety-five cents. It just occurred to me that I’ve seen you go to great lengths to keep your clients from being arrested. Remember the time you buried Clara Fox in a box of osmundine and turned the hose on her'Or the time -

“

“What about it?”

“They’re scooping up all the clients, that’s all. Broadyke has been collared for receiving stolen goods - the designs he bought from Talbott. Pohl has been pulled in for disturbing the peace, and Talbott for assault and battery. Not to mention that Miss Keyes has just had the daylights scared out of her.”

“What are you talking about'What happened?”

I told him and, since he had nothing to do but sit and let Orrie answer the phone for him, I left nothing out. When I was through I offered the suggestion that it might be a good plan for me to stick around and find out what it was about Mr. Donaldson that made young women tremble and turn pale at sound of his name.

“No, I think not,” Wolfe said, “unless he’s a tailor. Just find out if he’s a tailor, but discreetly. No disclosure. If so, get his address. Then find Miss Rooney - wait, I’ll give you her address - “

“I know her address.”

“Find her. Get her confidence. Get alone with her. Loosen up her tongue.”

“What am I after - no, I know what I’m after. What are you after?”

“I don’t know. Anything you can get. Confound it, you know what a case like this amounts to, there’s nothing for it but trial and error - “

Movement over by the door had caught my eye, and I focused on it. Someone had entered and was approaching me.

“Okay,” I told Wolfe. “There’s no telling where she is, but I’ll find her if it takes all day and all night.” I hung up and grinned at the newcomer and greeted her.

“Hello, Miss Rooney. Looking for me?”

Annie Audrey was all dressed up in a neat brown wool dress with red threads showing on it in little knots, but she didn’t look pleased with herself or with anyone else. You wouldn’t think a face with all that pink skin could look so sour. With no greeting, not even a nod, she demanded as she approached, “How do you get to see a man that’s been arrested?”

“That depends,” I told her. “Don’t snap at me like that. I didn’t arrest him.

Who do you want to see, Broadyke?”

“No.” She dropped onto a chair as if she needed support quick. “Wayne Safford.”

“Arrested what for?”

“I don’t know. I saw him at the stable this morning and then I went downtown to see about a job. A while ago I phoned Lucy, my best friend here, and she told me there was talk about Vic Talbott selling those designs to Broadyke, so I came to find out what was happening and when I learned that Talbott and Pohl had both been arrested I phoned Wayne to tell him about it, and the man there answered and said a policeman had come and taken Wayne with him.”

“For why?”

“The man didn’t know. How do I get to see him?”

“You probably don’t.”

“But I have to!”

I shook my head. “You believe you have to, and I believe you have to, but the cops won’t. It depends on what his invitation said. If they just want to consult him about sweating horses he may be home in an hour. If they’ve got a hook in him, or think they have, God knows. You’re not a lawyer or a relative.”

She sat and looked at me, sourer than ever. In a minute she spoke, bitterly.

“You said yesterday I may be nice.”

“Meaning I should mount my bulldozer and move heaven and earth?” I shook my head again. “Even if you were so nice it made my head swim, the best I could do for you this second would be to hold your hand, and judging from your expression that’s not what you have in mind. Would you mind telling me what you have got in your mind besides curiosity?”

She got up, circled two corners of the desk to reach the phone, put it to her ear, and in a moment told the transmitter, “This is Audrey, Helen. Would you get me - No. Forget it.”

She hung up, perched on a corner of the desk, and started giving me the chilly eye again, this time slanting down instead of up.

“It’s me,” she declared.

“What is?”

“This trouble. Wherever I am there’s trouble.”

“Yeah, the world’s full of it. Wherever anybody is there’s trouble. You get shaky ideas. Yesterday you were scared because you thought they were getting set to hang a murder on you, and not one of them has even hinted at it. Maybe you’re wrong again.”

“No, I’m not.” She sounded grim. “There was that business of accusing me of stealing those designs. They didn’t have to pick me for that, but you notice they did. Now all of a sudden that’s cleared up, I’m out of that, and what happens'Wayne gets arrested for murder. Next thing - “

“I thought you didn’t know what they took him for.”

“I don’t. But you’ll see. He was with me, wasn’t he?” She slid off the desk and was erect. “I think - I’m pretty sure - I’m going to see Dorothy Keyes.”

“She’s busy with a caller.”

“I know it, but he may be gone.”

“A man named Donaldson, and I’m wondering about him. I have a hunch Miss Keyes is starting a little investigation on her own. Do you happen to know if this Donaldson is a detective?”

“I know he isn’t. He’s a lawyer and a friend of Mr. Keyes. I’ve seen him here several times. Do you - “

What interrupted her was a man coming in the door and heading for us.

It was a man I had known for years. “We’re busy,” I told him brusquely. “Come back tomorrow.”

I should have had sense enough to give up kidding Sergeant Purley Stebbins of the Homicide Squad long ago, since it always glanced off and rolled away. When he got sore, as he often did, it wasn’t at the kidding but at what he considered my interference with the performance of his duty.

“So you’re here,” he stated. “Yep. Miss Rooney, this is Sergeant - “

“Oh, I’ve met him before.” Her face was just as sour at him as it had been at me.

“Yeah, we’ve met,” Purley acquiesced. His honest brown eyes were at her. “I’ve been looking for you, Miss Rooney.”

“Oh, my Lord, more questions?”

“The same ones. Just checking up. You remember that statement you signed, where you said that Tuesday morning you were at the riding academy with Safford from a quarter to six until after half-past seven, and both of you were there all the time'You remember that?”

“Certainly I do.”

“Do you want to change it now?” Audrey frowned. “Change what?”

“Your statement.”

“Of course not. Why should I?”

“Then how do you account for the fact that you were seen riding a horse into the park during that period, and Safford, on another horse, was with you, and Safford has admitted it?”

“Count ten,” I snapped at her, “before you answer. Or even a hun - “

“Shut up,” Purley snarled. “How do you account for it, Miss Rooney'You must have figured this might come and got something ready for it. What’s the answer?”

Audrey had left her perch on the desk to get on her feet and face the pursuer.

“Maybe,” she suggested, “someone couldn’t see straight. Who says he saw us?”

“Okay.” Purley hauled a paper from his pocket and unfolded it. He looked at me.

“We’re careful about these little details when that fat boss of yours has got his nose in.” He held the paper so Audrey could see it. “This is a warrant for your arrest as a material witness. Your friend Safford wanted to read his clear through. Do you?”

She ignored his generous offer. “What does it mean?” she demanded.

“It means you’re going to ride downtown with me.”

“It also means - ” I began.

“Shut up.” Purley moved a step. His hand started for her elbow, but didn’t reach it, for she drew back and then turned and was on her way. He followed and was at her heels as she went out the door. Apparently she thought she had found a way to get to see her Wayne.

I sat a little while with my lips screwed up, gazing at the ashtray on the desk.

I shook my head at nothing in particular, just the state of things, reached for the phone, got an outside line, and dialed again.

Wolfe’s voice answered.

“Where’s Orrie?” I demanded. “Taking a nap on my bed?”

“Where are you?” Wolfe inquired placidly.

“Still in Keyes’ office. More of the same. Two more gone.”

“Two more what'Where?”

“Clients. In the hoosegow. We’re getting awful low - “

“Who and why?”

“Wayne Safford and Audrey Rooney.” I told him what had happened, without bothering to explain that Audrey had walked in before our previous conversation had ended. At the end I added, “So four out of five have been snaffled, and Talbott too. We’re in a fine fix. That leaves us with just one, Dorothy Keyes,

and it wouldn’t surprise me if she was also on her way, judging from the look on her face when she heard who was - Hold it a minute.”

What stopped me was the sight of another visitor entering the room. It was Dorothy Keyes. I told the phone, “I’ll call back,” hung up, and left my chair.

Dorothy came to me. She was still human, more so if anything. The perky lift of her was completely gone, the color scheme of her visible skin was washed-out gray, and her eyes were pinched with trouble.

“Mr. Donaldson gone?” I asked her.

“Yes.”

“It’s a bad day all around. Now Miss Rooney and Wayne Safford have been pinched.

The police seem to think they left out something about that Tuesday morning. I was just telling Mr. Wolfe when you came - “

“I want to see him,” she said. “Who'Mr. Wolfe?”

“Yes. Immediately.”

“What about?”

I’ll be damned if her brows didn’t go up. The humanity I thought I had seen was only on the surface.

“I’ll tell him that,” she stated, me being mud. “I must see him at once.”

“You can’t, not at once,” I told her. “You could rush there in a taxi, but you might as well wait till I go to Sixty-fifth Street and get my car, because it’s after four o’clock and he’s up with the orchids, and he wouldn’t see you until six even though you are the only client he’s got still out of jail.”

“But this is urgent!”

“Not for him it isn’t, not until six o’clock. Unless you want to tell me about it. I’m permitted upstairs. Do you?”

“No.”

“Then shall I go get my car?”

“Yes.”

I went.