In the Best Families

Lina. “I thought maybe you had had a coach for this, possibly got in with some professionals yourself, but not now, the way you tell it. Obviously this is your own baby-I beg your pardon if you don't want babies mentioned-say your own script-and it is indeed a lulu. Framing a man for murder is no job for an amateur. Aside from the idea of Rackham's preferring a jury trial to you, which if I may get personal is plain loco, look at other features. If it had been the way you say, what would Wolfe and I have done after I phoned him that night and told him Mrs Rackham had got it? Our only interest was the fee she had paid us.

Why didn't we just hand it all to the cops? Another little feature, do you remember that gathering that evening? Did either Rackham or his wife act like people who were riding the kind of storm you describe? Don't ask me, I could be prejudiced; ask all the others.

I left her for Archer. “I could go on for an hour, but don't tell me you need it. I don't wonder you grabbed at it, it looked as if it might possibly be the break you had been hoping for, and besides, she had fixed it up with some trimmings that might be very juicy, like the stuff about me working for Rackham.

I have not and am not, and I have none of his dough. Must I punch more holes in it?

Archer was studying me. “Is it your contention that Miss Darrow invented all this?

“It is.

“Why?

I shrugged. “I don't know. Do you want me to guess?

“Yes.