The Rubber Band

"Possible, Miss Lindquist. I admit it's possible. If you substitute for the detective a member of the marquis's entourage, even more possible. But granted that we rather like that idea, do you think the police will? A British peer, in this country on a government mission of the highest importance, murdering Harlan Scovil on Thirty-first Street? I have known quite a few policemen, and I am almost certain that idea wouldn't appeal to them."

Mike Walsh said, "To hell with the dumb Irish cops."

Clara Fox asked, "The detective that was here… the one that told you about… about the shooting. Our names were on that paper. Why didn't he want to see us?"

"He did. Badly. But I observed that there were no addresses on the paper except my own, so he is probably having difficulty. I decided not to mention that all of you happened to be here at the moment, because I wanted a talk with you and I knew he would monopolize your evening."

"The detective at my apartment… he may have been there… about this…"

"No. There had hardly been time enough. Besides, there was one at the garage too."

Clara Fox looked at him, and took a deep breath. "I seem to be in a fix."

"Two fixes. Miss Fox." Wolfe rang for beer. "But it is possible that before we are through we may be able to effect a merger."

VII