In the Best Families

“If he ever does, Wolfe said grimly. “We have a chance, and that's all. If all we needed were evidence of Zeck's complicity in felonies, there would be no problem; I know where it is and I could get it. But his defences are everywhere, making him next to invulnerable. It would be fatuous to suppose that he could ever be convicted, and even if he were, he would still be living, so that wouldn't help any. Now that I am committed against him, and he knows it, there are only two possible outcomes-

“How does he know it?

“He knows me. Knowing me, he knows that I intend to get the murderer of Mrs

Rackham. He intends to prevent me. Neither-

“Wait a minute. Admitting he knows that about Nero Wolfe, what about you as

Roeder? You say you're a D. Then you're on Zeck's payroll.

“Not on his payroll. I have been placed in charge of the operation here of the device which I conceived and used in Los Angeles. My handling of it has so impressed him that I am being trusted with other responsibilities.

“And Max Christy and that driver downstairs-they're Zeck men?

“Yes-at a distance.

“Then how come salting Barry Rackham? Wasn't it Zeck money that Rackham was getting?

Wolfe sighed. “Archie, if we had more time I would let you go on and on. I could shut my eyes and pretend I'm back home. He shook his head vigorously. “But we must get down to business. I said that driver is a Zeck man at a distance, but that is mere surmise. Being new and by no means firmly established in confidence, I am certainly being watched, and that driver might even report to

Zeck himself. That was why I prolonged our talk in the car before suggesting that we come here. We shouldn't be more than an hour, so you'd better let me-

He stopped as I grasped the knob and pulled the door open. I had tiptoed across to it as he talked. Seeing an empty hall in both directions, I closed the door and went back to my chair.

“I was only asking, I protested, “why the play on Rackham?

“How long, Wolfe asked, “have you and I spent, there in the office, discussing some simple affair such as the forging of a cheque?

“Oh, anywhere from four minutes to four hours.

“Then what should we take for this? By the way, you will resume drawing your pay cheque this week. How much have you taken from the safe deposit box in New

Jersey?

“Nothing. Not a cent.

“You should have. That was put there for the express purpose of financing this eventuality if it arose. You have been using your personal savings?