Trio For Blunt Instruments Read Online Free PDF

thousand. So I suppose you can't expect to give a lawyer an order for a lawsuit the way you give a tailor an order for a suit of clothes. But they sure do make a job of it. Parker came on the dot at three, and they barely got it settled in time for Wolfe to keep his afternoon date with the orchids. At three minutes to four Wolfe got to his feet and said, 'Then tomorrow as early as may be. You'll proceed as soon as Archie phones you that he has explained the matter to Miss Vassos.'
    Parker shook his head. 'The way you operate. You actually haven't mentioned it to her?'
    'No. It would have been pointless to mention it until I learned if it was feasible.'
    Wolfe went to the hall to take the elevator to the roof, Parker went along, and I went to hold his coat and let him out. Then I mounted two flights to the South Room and knocked on the door, heard a faint 'Come in,' and did so. Elma was sitting on the edge of the bed running her fingers through her hair. 'I guess I fell asleep,' she said. 'What time is it?'
    I would have been willing to help her with the hair. Any man would; it was nice hair. 'Four o'clock,' I said. 'Fritz says you ate only two of his Creole fritters. You don't care for shrimps?'
    'I'm sorry. He doesn't like me, and I don't blame him, I'm a nuisance.' She sighed, deep.
    'That's not it. He suspects any woman who enters the house of wanting to take it over.' I pulled a chair around and sat. 'There have been developments. I went to see a cop, an inspector named Cramer, and you're right. They think your father killed Ashby and then himself. You are now Mr. Wolfe's client. That stack of bills in the safe is still your property, but I have taken a dollar from it as a retainer. Do you approve?'
    'Of course-but take all of it. I know it's nothing& '
    'Skip it. That's no inducement for him. And don't thank him. He would rather miss a meal than have anyone think he's a softy, that he would wiggle a finger to help anyone. Don't even hint at it. The idea is that Cramer has flouted him, his word, and therefore he will make a monkey of Cramer, and I admit that that may be the main point. So he has to prove that your father didn't kill Ashby, and the only way he can do that is to find out who did. The question is how. He would have to send me to that building to go over the set-up and see people, and to invite some of them to come to his office, since he never leaves the house on business, but he can't expect the impossible even of me. They would toss me out, and they wouldn't come. So he must-'
    'Some of the girls might come. And Mr. Busch might.'
    'Not enough. We need the ones who wouldn't. So he must drop a bomb. You are going to sue six people for damages, a million dollars each. Slander. He was going to have you sue the corporation too, but the lawyer vetoed it. The lawyer is preparing the papers and will go ahead as soon as you phone him to. His name is Nathaniel Parker and he's good. It isn't expected that any of the cases will ever get to a court or that you will collect anything, that's not the idea. The idea is that the fur will begin to fly. Do you want to consult anybody before you tell Parker to go ahead'Do you know a lawyer?'
    'No.' Her fingers were clasped tight. 'Of course I'll do anything Mr. Wolfe says. Who are the six people?'
    'One, John Mercer. Two, Andrew Busch. Three, Philip Horan. Four, Frances Cox. Five, Mrs. Ashby. Six, Inspector Cramer. Anything Cramer says in his official capacity is privileged, but there's a point of law. He may have said something to a reporter, and he told me you're a floozy, or implied it. At least it will be a threat to get him on the witness stand under oath and ask him who told him what about you and Ashby, and just having him summoned will be a pleasure for Mr. Wolfe and you might as well humor him. You're not listening.'
    'Yes, I am. I don't think I- Can't you leave Mr. Busch out?'
    'Why should we?'
    'Because I don't think he said anything like that about me. I'm sure he