In the Best Families

I did not like it at all. The way Wolfe was getting set to play it, it looked to me as if we had one chance in a thousand, and while that may be good enough to go ahead on when what you're after is to nail a guy on a charge, and if you muff it the worst you get is a new start under a handicap, it's a little different when a muff means curtains. I had of course told Wolfe all I knew, including

Inspector Cramer's visit and advice, but that only made him stubborner. With

Zeck on Rackham's tail, through me, it seemed likely that the murderer of Mrs

Rackham might get his proper voltage with Zeck's blessing, and since that was all that Wolfe was committed to, why not settle for it? For now anyway, and then take a good breath. As for commitments, I had one of my own. I had promised myself to see Norway before I died.

So I didn't like it, and I either had to lump it or bow out. I tossed a coin: heads I stick, tails I quit. It landed tails, but I had to veto it because I had already talked to Orrie Gather and he was coming at noon, and I had left messages for Fred Durkin and Saul Panzer. I tossed again, tails again. I tossed once more and it was heads, which settled it. I had to stick.

The tailing of Barry Rackham was a classic, especially after the first week. It was a shame to waste the talents of Saul Panzer on what was actually a burlesque, but it was good to have him around anyhow. I briefed them all together at 1019, Wednesday evening, with Saul perched on a corner of the desk because there were only three chairs. Saul was undersized, inconspicuous all but his nose, and the best all-round man alive. Fred Durkin was big and clumsy, with a big red face, with no Doberman pinscher in him but plenty of bulldog. Orrie

Gather was slender and muscular and handsome, just the man to mingle with the guests at a swell dinner party when circumstances called for it. After I had explained the job, with details as required, I supplied a little background.

“As far as you know, I told them, “I'm only doing this for practice. Your only contact is me. There is no client.

“Geez, Fred remarked, “a hundred bucks a day and more with expenses? I guess you ought to pay in advance.

“Take it up with the N.L.R.B., I said stiffly. “As an employer, I do not invite familiarities from the help.

“Of course, Orrie stated with an understanding smile, 'it's just a coincidence that this Rackham was with you once at the scene of a murder. When you got tossed in the coop.