Then Chris hasn't been making passes at you?
She bit her lip. Yes, but notnot that bad. She put bath hands on my arm, and her face almost touched mine. You've got to believe me. I couldn't tell you all that, couldn't make myself out such a cheap little lying fool, if it wasn't the truth.
It makes more sense if I don't believe you, I said. Twelve bucks isn't enough money. We'll let that rest for a minute, though. Did you know Mimi was going to see Julia Wolf that afternoon? No. I didn't even know she was thing to find my father then. They didn't say where they were going that afternoon.
They?
Yes, Chris left the apartment with her.
What time was that?
She wrinkled her forehead. It must've been pretty close to three o'clockafter two thirty, anywaybecause I remember I was late for a date to go shopping with Elsie Hamilton and was hurrying into my clothes.
They come back together?
I don't know. They were both home before I came.
What time was that?
Some time after six. Nick, you don't think they Oh, I remember something she said while she was dressing. I don't know what Chris said, but she said: 'V/hen I ask her she'll tell me,' in that Queen-of-France way she talks sometimes. You know. I didn't hear anything else. Does that mean anything?
What'd she tell you about the murder when you came home?
Oh, just about finding her and how upset she was and about the police and everything.
She seem very shocked?
Dorothy shook her head. No, just excited. You know Mamma. She stared at me for a moment, asked slowly: You don't think she had anything to do with it?
What do you think?
I hadn't thought. I just thought about my father. A little later she said gravely: If he did it, it's because he's crazy, but she'd kill somebody if she wanted to.
It doesn't have to be either of them, I reminded her. The police seem to have picked Morelli. What'd she want to find your father for?
For money. We're broke: Chris spent it all. She pulled down the corners of her mouth. I suppose we all helped, but he spent most of it. Mamma's afraid he'll leave her if she hasn't any money.
How do you know that?
I've heard them talk.
Do you think he will?
She nodded with certainty. Unless she has money.
I looked at my watch and said: The rest of it'll have to wait till we get back. You can stay here tonight, anyhow. Make yourself comfortable and have the restaurant send up your dinner. It's probably better if you don't go out.
She stared miserably at me and said nothing.
Nora patted her shoulder. I don't know what he's doing, Dorothy, but if he says we ought to go there for dinner he probably knows what he's talking about. He wouldn't
Dorothy smiled and jumped up from the floor. I believe you. I won't be silly any more.
I called the desk on the telephone and asked them to send up our mail. There were a couple of letters for Nora, one for me, some belated Christmas cards (including one from Larry Crowley, which was a copy of Haldeman-Julius Little Blue Book Number i with and a Merry Christmas, followed by Larry's name enclosed in a holly wreath, all printed in red under the book's title, How to Test Your Urine at Home), a number of telephone-call memoranda slips, and a telegram from Philadelphia:
NICK CHARLES
THE NORMANDIE NEW YORK N Y
WILL YOU COMMUNICATE WITH HERBERT MACAULAY TO DISCUSS
TAKING CHARGE OF INVESTIGATION OF WOLF MURDER STOP AM
GIVING HIM FULL INSTRUCTIONS STOP BEST REGARDS
CLYDE MILLER WYNANT
I put the telegram in an envelope with a note saying it had just reached me and sent it by messenger to the Police Department Homicide Bureau.
10
In the taxicab Nora asked: You're sure you feel all right?
Sure.
And this isn't going to be too much for you?
I'm all right. What'd you think of the girl's story?
She hesitated. You don't believe her, do you?
God forbidat least till I've checked it up.
You know more about this kind of thing than I do, she said, but I think she was at least trying to tell the truth.
A lot of the fancier yarns come from people who are trying to do that. It's not easy once you're out of the habit.
She said: I bet you know a lot about human nature, Mr. Charles. Now don't you? Some time you must tell me about your experiences as a detective.
I said: Buying a gun for twelve bucks in a speakeasy. Well, maybe, but
We rode a couple of blocks in silence. Then Nora asked: What's really the matter with her?
Her old man's crazy: she thinks she is.
How do you know?
You asked me. I'm telling you.
You mean you're guessing?
I mean that's what's wrong with her; I don't know whether Wynant's actually nuts and I don't know whether she inherited any of it if he is, but she thinks both answers are yes, and it's got her doing figure eights.
When we stopped in front of the Courtland she said: That's horrible, Nick. Somebody ought to
I said I didn't know: maybe Dorothy was right. Likely as not she's making doll clothes for Asta right now.
We sent our names up to the Jorgensens and, after some delay, were told to go up. Mimi met us in the corridor when we stepped out of the elevator, met us with open arms and many words. Those wretched newspapers. They had me frantic with their nonsense about your being at death's door. I phoned twice, but they wouldn't give me your apartment, wouldn't tell me how you were. She had both of my hands. I'm so glad, Nick, that it was just a pack of lies, even if you will have to take pot luck with us tonight. Naturally I didn't expect you and But you're pale. You really have been hurt.
Not much, I said. A bullet scraped my side, but it doesn't amount to anything.
And you came to dinner in spite of that! That is flattering, but I'm afraid it's foolish too. She turned to Nora. Are you sure it was wise to let him
I'm not sure, Nora said, but he wanted to come.
Men are such idiots, Mimi said. She put an arm around me. They either make mountains out of nothing or utterly neglect things that may But come in. Here, let me help you.
It's not that bad, I assured her, but she insisted on leading me to a chair and packing me in with half a dozen cushions.
Jorgensen came in, shook hands with me, and said he was glad to find me inane alive than the newspapers had said. He bowed over Nora's hand. If I may be excused one little minute more I will finish the cocktails. He went out.
Mimi said: I don't know where Dorry is. Off sulking somewhere, I suppose. You haven't any children, have you?
Nora said: No.
You're missing a lot, though they can be a great trial sometimes. Mimi sighed. I suppose I'm not strict enough. When I do have to scold Dorry she seems to think I'm a complete monster. Her face brightened. Here's my other tot. You remember Mr. Charles, Gilbert. And this is Mrs. Charles.
Gilbert Wynant was two years younger than his sister, a gangling pale blond boy of eighteen with not too much chin under a somewhat slack mouth. The size of his remarkably clear blue eyes, and the length of the lashes, gave him a slightly effeminate look. I hoped he had stopped being the whining little nuisance he was as a kid.
Jorgensen brought in his cocktails, and Mimi insisted on being told about the shooting. I told her, making it even more meaningless than it had been.
But why should he have come to you? she asked.
God knows. I'd like to know. The police'd like to know.
Gilbert said: I read somewhere that when habitual criminals are accused of things they didn't doeven little thingsthey're much more upset by it than other people would be. Do you think that's so, Mr. Charles?