In the Best Families

“Sorry, I said condescendingly. “I've been sticking to facts. If you want them dressed up, let me know what colour you like.

“You've been losing him.

I flared up quietly. “I used to think, I said, “that Nero Wolfe expected too much. But even he had brains enough to know that hotels have more than one exit.

“You're being paid enough to cover the exits to the Yankee Stadium.

Zeck said, in his hard, cold, precise voice that never went up or down, “These are trivialities. I've had a talk with Goodwin, Roeder, and I sent for you because we got to Rackham. We have to decide how it is to be handled and what part Goodwin is to play. I want your opinion on the effect of Goodwin's telling

Rackham that he is working for Mrs Frey.

Roeder shrugged. “I think it's unimportant. Goodwin's main purpose now is to get

Rackham scared. We've got to have him scared good before we can expect him to go along with us. If he killed his wife-

“He did, of course. Unquestionably.

“Then he might be more afraid of Mrs Frey than of you. We can see. If not, it will be simple for Goodwin to give him a new line. Roeder looked at me. “It's all open for you to Rackham now?

“I guess so. He told me he wanted to see me every day, but that was day before yesterday. What are we scaring him for? To see him throw glasses?

Zeck and Roeder exchanged glances. Zeck spoke to me. “I believe Roeder told you that he came here recently from the West Coast. He had a very successful operation there, a brilliant and profitable operation which he devised. It has some novel features and requires precise timing and expert handling. With one improvement it could be enormously profitable here in New York, and that one improvement is the co-operation of a wealthy and well-placed man. Rackham is ideal for it. We intend to use him. If you help materially in lining him up, as

I think you can, your share of the net will be five per cent. The net is expected to exceed half a million, and should be double that.

I was frowning sceptically. “You mean if I help scare him into it.

“Yes.

“And help with the operation too?

“No.

“What have I got to scare him with?

“His sense of guilt first. He escaped arrest and trial for the murder of his wife only because the police couldn't get enough evidence for a case. He is under the constant threat of the discovery of additional evidence, which for a murderer is a severe strain. If he believes we have such evidence he will be open to persuasion.

“Have we got it?