But Upton had other ideas. When we reached the couch, instead of sitting he turned to face Cramer. I want to enter a charge, Inspector, he said. Against Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin. They have held me here by force, physical force. Goodwin assaulted me. I am Manuel Upton. I don’t know what the charge is technically, but you do. I want you to put them under arrest.
Cramer had enough on his hands for the moment without that. He eyed him. They’re facing a more serious charge, he growled. He looked down at Wolfe, seated. What about this one?
Wolfe made a face. Mr. Goodwin and Mrs. Valdon and I will flout it. I suggest that you act on it later, if at all. We have a graver matter to deal with as you know, since obviously Mrs. Valdon’s phone call was prompted by me.
When did you come here?
Saturday. Day before yesterday.
You’ve been here since Saturday?
Yes.
Goodwin too?
Yes. Won’t you sit? I don’t like to stretch my neck.
Arrest them, Upton croaked. That’s a formal demand. Arrest them.
Don’t be an ass, Wolfe told him. I’m going to name a murderer, and Mr. Cramer knows it. Otherwise he would have arrested me, not on your charge, as soon as he caught sight of me. He looked around, right and then left. Cramer sat, I sat. That left Upton the only one on his feet, so he sat, between Haft and me on the couch.
Wolfe focused on Cramer. I don’t know how much you know, but gaps can be filled in later. This murderer is one of those unfortunate creatures who, neither designed nor fitted for that spectacular role, find themselves. Save that for later too, Cramer growled.
It’s a necessary introduction. Find themselves abruptly rocketed into it. Some seven months ago Carol Mardus asked him to help her dispose of a baby she didn’t want to keep, and he obliged her. If you had told him then that as a result of that amiable favor to a friend be would be twice a murderer within the year, he would have thought you were demented. The next fateful step, though not amiable, was not murderous; it was merely mischievous. Knowing that Richard Valdon had been the father of the baby, he took. That’s too big a gap. Was it the baby that was boarded by Ellen Tenzer?
Yes. I see this won’t do. I must name him. Did you recognize the woman who entered the room with me?
No.
She is Anne Tenzer, the niece of Ellen Tenzer. She was of course questioned in the investigation of her aunt’s death, but apparently not by you. Wolfe turned. Miss Tenzer, will you please tell Mr. Cramer what your occupation is?
Anne cleared her throat. She was still a blonde, and if you asked ten men which of the two women sitting there was more attractive, her or Lucy, probably seven of them would say her. When she had entered the elevator and seen me she had said one word, hello, very offhand. Hello is not hi.
Her cool competent eyes went to Cramer. I’m a secretary, with the Stopgap Employment Service. We fill in vacations, any temporary vacancies. I’m at the senior executive level.
So you have worked for many different firms? Wolfe asked.
I have worked at many different firms. My employer is the Stopgap Employment Service. I average about fifteen assignments a year.
Is there anyone in this room you have ever worked for on assignment?
Yes.
Do you recognize him?
Certainly. Julian Haft, president of the Parthenon Press.
When did you work for him?
I don’t know the exact dates, but it was early last summer. I think it was the last two weeks in June and the first week in July.
Did your work bring you into frequent contact with Mr. Haft?
Yes. I was replacing his private secretary. She was on vacation.
Was the name of your aunt, Ellen Tenzer, ever mentioned in conversation with him?
Yes. He dictated a letter about a book, a manuscript, by a woman who had been a nurse, and I mentioned that I had an aunt who had been a nurse, and we talked about her a little. I must have mentioned that she boarded babies in her house sometimes, because when he called me up, he asked. If you please. When did he call you up?
Several months later, in the winter, I think some time in January. He called the Stopgap Employment Service and left a message, and I called him. He asked if my aunt still boarded babies, and I said I thought so, and he wanted her name and address.
You supplied it? The name and address?
Yes.
Have you been. Just a minute. Cramer was glaring at her. Why didn’t you mention this when you were questioned at the time of your aunt’s death?
Because I had forgotten no, I hadn’t forgotten, but I didn’t think of it. Why should I?
What reminded you of it now?
A man came and asked me. She nodded at Saul. That man. He named some men, four men, and asked if I had ever met any of them. I told him I had met Julian Haft, that I had worked for him, and he asked if I had any reason to suppose that he had ever heard of my aunt. Then of course I remembered, and I told him. He said it might help to find out who had killed my aunt, and I told him all about it.
With him helping you to remember?
I don’t know what you mean, helping me.’ I do my own remembering. How could he help me remember?
He could make suggestions. He could suggest that you had told Mr. Haft that your aunt boarded babies. He could suggest the phone call that you say you received in January.
Maybe he could, but he didn’t. He didn’t suggest anything, he just asked questions. It’s you who are suggesting things. I’m doing something I’m not supposed to do, and I’ve never done it before. The kind of work I do, for lots of different men, important men, I’m not supposed to talk about it to anyone, and I never do. I’m talking about this, because it’s not really about my work, it’s about my aunt, and she was murdered.
Did this man pay you for the information you gave him?
No. Anne’s eyes flashed and her chin jerked up. I think you ought to be ashamed of yourself. My aunt was murdered more than six weeks ago, and you’re the inspector in charge of murder cases, and you haven’t arrested anybody, and when someone else tries to do something, and evidently he has done something, you accuse him of bribing me. You ought to be ashamed of yourself.
I’m accusing no one, Miss Tenzer. Cramer didn’t look ashamed. I’m doing what this man did, asking you questions. Did he promise to pay you anything?
No!
Would you testify under oath to what you have said here?
Of course.
Have you ever met or seen any of the other men in this room? Besides Mr. Haft?
No.
You haven’t? In the statement you signed some weeks ago, didn’t you tell of a conversation you had had with one of them?
She looked around. Oh. Archie Goodwin. Yes.
Have you seen Goodwin or spoken with him since the conversation you reported in that statement?
No.
When did this man, Panzer, first see you and ask you questions?
Today. This morning.
Had no one asked you any questions along this line before today?
No. I mean yes. No one.
Cramer’s eyes went to Saul Panzer, do you confirm everything Miss Tenzer has said?
Saul nodded. I do. Everything I know about.
You went to see her with instructions from Nero Wolfe?
I did.
When and where did he give you the instructions?
Ask him.
I’m asking you.
Pfui, Wolfe said. Tell him, Saul.
In the kitchen in this house, Saul said. Around half past nine this morning.
Cramer turned to Wolfe. How did you suddenly get this idea about Anne Tenzer?
Wolfe shook his head. It wasn’t sudden, it was tardy. Nor was it, properly speaking, an idea; it was merely a grab at a straw. He looked at Julian Haft. I assume you recall the occasions described by Miss Tenzer, Mr. Haft? Last summer, a year ago, when she told you about her aunt, and last winter when you phoned to get her name and address?
Haft hadn’t decided how to handle it. He must have been working at it ever since he had seen Anne Tenzer enter with Wolfe, but he had taken his cheaters off three times, and put them back on again three times, and if he couldn’t decide what to do with his hands of course he hadn’t decided what to do with his tongue. So he blurted. No, I don’t, he blurted.