In the Best Families

He ignored it. “I know Annabel Frey thinks I did, and she would spend all the money my wife left her-well, say half of it-to prove it. I don't mind your taking her money, that's your business, but I hate to see her waste it, and I don't like having someone always behind me. There ought to be some way I can satisfy you and her that I didn't do it. Can't you figure one out? If it's arranged so you won't lose anything by it?

“No, I said flatly.

“Why not? I said satisfy you.

“Because I'm getting irritated again. You don't care a damn what Mrs Frey thinks. What's eating you is that you don't know who is curious enough about you to spend money on it, and you're trying to catch a fish without bait, which is unsportsmanlike. I'll bet you can't worm it out of me.

He sat regarding me half a minute, then got up and crossed to a portable bar over by the wall and began assembling a drink. He called to me, “Sure you won't have one?

I declined with thanks. Soon he returned with a tall one, sat, took a couple of swallows, put the glass down, burped, and spoke. “A thousand dollars for the name.

“Just the name, cold?

“Yes.

“It's a sale. I extended a hand. “Gimme.

“I like to get what I pay for, Goodwin.

“Absolutely. Guaranteed against defects.

He arose and left the room through a door towards the far end. I decided I was thirsty and went to the bar for a glass of soda and ice, and was back in my chair when he re-entered and came to me. I took his offering and counted it by flipping the edges: ten crackly new hundreds.

He picked up his glass, drank, and eyed me. “Well?

“Arnold Zeck, I said.

He made a little squeaking noise, went stiff for a short count, and hurled the tall glass against the wall, where it smacked into the middle of the glass of a picture, which improved the effect both for the ear and for the eye.

Chapter Fifteen

I admit I was on my feet when it hit. He was so slap dash that there was no certainty about his target, and a well-thrown heavy glass can make a bruise.

“Now look what you've done, I said reproachfully, and sat down again. He glared at me a second, then went to the bar, and with slow precise movements of his hands mixed another long one. I was pleased to note that the proportion of whisky was the same as before. He returned to his chair and put the glass down without drinking.

“I thought so, by God, he said.

I merely nodded.

“Who hired you? Zeck himself?

“Not in the contract, I objected firmly. “You bought the name, and you've got it.