“I had mixed feelings. I was not surprised that she saw my proposal coming, but of course I was hoping for a more definite — that is to say positive — response.”
Wolfe drank beer and set his stein down. “It is my understanding you were by no means the only man spending time with Miss Carr.”
“That is correct,” Mason said, running a hand over sandy hair that showed signs of going gray. “Maureen is a social animal, and I mean that only in a positive sense. She enjoys going out on the town, and she has had numerous escorts, all of whom I know. But those relationships are not what I would call in any sense serious. These men are confirmed bachelors, while I would like to get married again, and the woman I plan to marry, if she will have me, is Maureen Carr.”
“You think you know this woman well enough to propose marriage, yet you have no idea where she is or why she has ‘vamoosed,’ to use a term of Mr. Goodwin’s,” Wolfe said.
“Vamoose makes it sound as if Maureen chose to leave,” Mason said, “but I have to feel that her disappearance was not voluntary.”
“Do you have a theory about that?”
Mason appeared flustered. “I really don’t. As I said before, I am at a total loss as to where she might be — and why.”
Wolfe was being patient. “What do you know about Miss Carr’s past, her family, her upbringing? If she is indeed your intended, you must be curious about her history.”
“I know Maureen’s parents are dead, and that her father was an executive — the principal owner, really — of a steel company somewhere in the Pittsburgh area. I also know that she graduated from Radcliffe with a major in English, and that she worked for a time as a proofreader and then as an editor at a publishing house, Ferris and Reed. When she was there, she met my friend Jason Reed, and he introduced us.”
“Hasn’t Mr. Reed been among her escorts?”
“Yes, that’s true, but their relationship is not romantic, as he has gone out of his way to tell me. Jason has been seen around town with more different dates than I can keep track of. He likes to be seen with pretty women, but he seems to have no interest whatever in a serious relationship. In fact, he has encouraged my involvement with Maureen.”
Wolfe made a face. He doesn’t like hearing about romantic affairs, so I stepped in. “Does Miss Carr have any siblings?” I asked.
“Yes... one, a brother, Everett. Actually, he is a half brother, as they had different mothers.”
“How would you describe their relationship?”
Mason furrowed his brow, as if lost in thought. “They really aren’t at all close, and she almost never mentions him.”
“Is there any reason for that?” I asked.
More brow furrowing. “Well... Everett, whom I never have met, seems to be something of a black sheep in the family. He of course inherited a substantial amount, as did Maureen, but he apparently has chosen to lead an... well, an unconventional lifestyle.”
“In what way?”
“Based on what I have gathered from Maureen, he has never held a job, nor does he have any interest at all in working.”
“One of the advantages of being born with a silver spoon in your mouth,” I observed.
“I suppose so. What success I’ve had has been earned, not inherited. Everett doesn’t seem to care about where he lives or how he dresses, according to Maureen. When I asked what occupies his time, she said his major interest is betting on racehorses.”
“You have given us very little to go on, sir,” Wolfe said. “Might Miss Carr have decamped with her brother?”
“I hardly think so. As I said, she never talks about Everett, and on the few times I’ve brought him up in conversation, she ignores my question or she just changes the subject.”
Wolfe sighed. “You need to know that there already is an individual who has requested that I attempt to locate Miss Carr.”
“Well, why in the hell didn’t you or Goodwin tell me that when I called? It appears that I’ve come here for nothing!” Mason barked, rising.
Wolfe held up a palm. “Please sit down, Mr. Mason. I have no reason why you and this person cannot both engage me.”
“Based on what I’ve heard, I would have expected better of you, Mr. Wolfe,” Mason said, still in a state. “Charging two people for the same job!”
“Wait, please,” Wolfe replied in an even tone. “The other individual involved is not paying me, for reasons that may become evident later.”
“Just who is this?”
“Until I learn if my existing client is comfortable with you joining forces, I cannot reveal a name.”
“Well, that is one hell of a pickle,” Mason said, holding up his empty glass. Ever alert, I got him a refill.
“Let me propose this,” Wolfe said. “We will communicate with this person and find out how to best proceed.”
“When do you plan to do that?” Mason was flushed with anger.
“Right now,” Wolfe said, looking at me. I got the not-so-subtle hint and dialed Lily’s number. When she answered, I said, without preamble, “I am sitting in the office with Nero Wolfe and a gentleman named Eric Mason. Mr. Wolfe would like to speak to you.” I turned to Wolfe, who picked up his instrument.
“Here is the situation,” he said, “Mr. Mason has proposed to engage me to find Maureen Carr. I have explained to him that I already am committed to an individual who also seeks to ascertain the whereabouts of Miss Carr.”
“Are you avoiding speaking my name?” Lily asked from her end of the line.
“I am.”
“All right, I get it. I have no objection whatever to Mason becoming your client. I will drop out.”
“I am not suggesting that, not for a moment.”
“So you will take both of us on?”
“That is my intent.”
“All right, what comes next?” Lily asked.
“Do you have any objection to speaking to Mr. Mason — right now?”
“No, not at all. I assume he does not know who you have on the line.”
“That is correct. Mr. Mason, will you please pick up Mr. Goodwin’s telephone?”
Mason shrugged and leaned over to take the phone. “Hello, who is this?” he said.
“Hello, Eric. You know me.”
“That voice — I know it. Is it... can it be... Lily Rowan?”
“It can indeed,” she replied. “Welcome aboard. That is, if you have no objection to partnering with me.”
“Uh, no, no objection of any kind,” he said, taken aback by this development. “I know you have been a good friend of Maureen’s for a long time, far longer than I’ve known her, so I should not be surprised at your concern for her.”
“We both seem to have the same goal,” Lily said.
“I totally agree.” Mason turned to Wolfe. “What is the next step?”
“I suggest you both meet here with me and Mr. Goodwin. Are you both available tomorrow night, at nine o’clock?”
“I will make myself available,” Mason said.
“So will I,” Lily seconded, “although it will mean breaking a date with Archie to go dancing at the Churchill. I am confident he will take this setback in stride.”
“I am licking my wounds, but somehow they will heal,” I said, loud enough so that Lily could hear through the telephones that Wolfe and Mason were holding close to me.
“That’s a good lad, I am so proud of you,” she retorted in a strong tone that carried easily to me.
“If this raillery has reached its conclusion, I have other business to attend to,” Wolfe said, rising and leaving the office. That “other business” almost surely would be a discussion with Fritz about tomorrow’s lunch and dinner.
Chapter 10
The next night, Eric Mason arrived at the brownstone at eight thirty-five. “You are even earlier than before,” I told him as I swung open the front door and he entered.