In the Best Families

It was used bills this time, C.s and five-hundreds, which didn't seem up to the

Churchill's standard of elegance. To show Rackham how vulgar it was not to trust people, I stowed it away without counting it.

“What do you want? I asked, sitting. “Words and pictures?

“I can ask questions, can't I?

“Sure, that's included. I have not yet seen Zeck himself, but expect to. I was first approached by Max Christy, He-

“That son of a bitch.

“Yeah? Of course you're prejudiced now. He was merely scouting. He didn't name

Zeck and he didn't name you, but offered good pay for an expert tailing job. I was interested enough to make a date to get picked up on the street that night by a man in a car. He gave-

“Not Zeck. He wouldn't show like that.

“I said I haven't seen Zeck. He gave me the layout. He said his name was

Roeder-around fifty-

“Roeder? Rackham frowned.

“So he said. He spelled it-R-oe-d-e-r. Around fifty, brown hair slicked back, face wrinkled and folded, sharp dark eyes, brown pointed beard with grey in it.

“I don't know him.

“He may be in a different department from the one you were in. He did name Zeck.

He said-

“He actually named Zeck?

“Yes.

“To you? That's remarkable. Why?

“I don't know, but I can guess. I had previously been tapped by Max Christy, some time ago, and I think they've got an idea that I may have it in me to work up to an executive job-now that Nero Wolfe is gone. And they figure I must know that Christy plays with Brownie Costigan, and that Costigan is close to the top, so why not mention Zeck to me to make it glamorous? Anyhow, Roeder did. He said that what they wanted was a tail on you. They wanted it good and tight. They offered extra good pay. I was to use as many men as necessary. I took the job, got the men, and we started a week ago yesterday. Christy comes to my office every day for the reports. You know what's been in them; you know where you've been and what you've done.

Rackham was still frowning. That's all there is to it?

“That's the job as I took it and as I've handled it.

“You weren't told why?

“In a way I was. I gathered that they think you might be a bad influence on the

District Attorney, and they want to be sure you don't start associating with him. If you do they would probably make a complaint. I suppose you know what their idea is of making a complaint.

The frown was going. “You say you gathered that?

“I didn't put it right. I was told that in so many words.

“By Roeder?

“Yes.

The frown was gone. “If this is straight, Goodwin, I've made a good buy.