Nero Wolfe 16 - Even in the Best Families Read Online Free PDF

drive, and I kept going on past the house to a bare rectangle in the rear, not very well graveled, and maneuvered into a corner close to a wooden building. As I climbed out a voice came from somewhere, andthen a ferocious wild beast leaped from behind a bush and started for me like a streak of lightning. I froze except for my right arm, which sent my hand to my shoulder holster automatically.
    A female voice sounded sharp in command. “Back!”
    The beast, ten paces from me, whirled on a dime, trotted swiftly to the woman who had appeared at the edge of the rectangle, whirled again and stood facing me, concentrating with all its might on looking beautiful and dangerous. I could have plugged it with pleasure. I do not like dogs that assume you’re guilty until you prove you’re innocent. I like democratic dogs.
    A man had appeared beside the woman. They advanced.
    She spoke. “Mr. Goodwin? Mr. Leeds had to go on an errand, but he’ll be back soon. I’m Annabel Frey.” She came to me and offered a hand, and I took it.
    This was my first check on an item of information furnished us by Mrs. Rackham, and I gave her an A for accuracy. She had said that her daughter-in-law was very beautiful. Some might have been inclined to argue it, for instance those who don’t like eyes so far apart or those who prefer pink skin to dark, but I’m not so finicky about details. The man stepped up, and she pronounced his name, Hammond, and we shook. He was a stocky middle-aged specimen in a bright blue shirt, a tan jacket, and gray slacks—a hell of a combination. I was wearing a mixed tweed made by Fradick, with an off-white shirt and a maroon tie.
    “I’ll sit in my car,” I told them, “to wait for Mr. Leeds. With the livestock around loose like that.”
    She laughed. “Duke isn’t loose, he’s with me. He wouldn’t have touched you. He would have stoppedthree paces off, springing distance, and waited for me. Don’t you like dogs?”
    “It depends on the dog. You might as well ask if I like lemon pie. With a dog who thinks of space between him and me only in terms of springing distance, my attitude is strictly one of trepidant vigilance.”
    “My Lord.” She blinked long lashes over dark blue eyes. “Do you always talk like that?” The eyes went to Hammond. “Did you get that, Dana?”
    “I quite agree with him,” Hammond declared, “as you know. I’m not afraid to say so, either, because it shows the lengths I’ll go to, to be with you. When you opened his kennel and he leaped out I could feel my hair standing up.”
    “I know,” Annabel Frey said scornfully. “Duke knows too. I guess I’d better put him in.” She left us, speaking to the dog, who abandoned his pose and trotted to her, and they disappeared around a corner of the building. There was a similarity in the movements of the two, muscular and sure and quick, but sort of nervous and dainty.
    “Now we can relax,” I told Hammond.
    “I just can’t help it,” he said, irritated. “I’m not strong for dogs anyhow, and with these …” He shrugged. “I’d just as soon go for a walk with a tiger.”
    Soon Annabel rejoined us, with a crack about Hammond’s hair. I suggested that if they had something to do I could wait for Leeds without any help, but she said no.
    “We only came to see you,” she stated impersonally. “That is, I did, and Mr. Hammond went to the length of coming along. Just to see you, even if you are Archie Goodwin, I wouldn’t cross the street; but
    I want to watch you work. So many things fall short of the build-up, I want to see if a famous detective does. I’m skeptical already. You look younger than you should, and you dress too well, and if you really thought that dog might jump you, you should have done something to—where did that come from? Hey!”
    Sometimes I fumble a little drawing from my armpit, but that time it had been slick and clean. I had the barrel pointed straight up. Hammond had made a noise and an