Trio For Blunt Instruments Read Online Free PDF Page B

wouldn't.'
    'Neither did some of the others, probably. It's even conceivable that none of those five did. This is only to get in there, to get at them.'
    She nodded. 'I know, I understand that, but I wouldn't want Mr. Busch to think that I think he might slander me. If what you want-if Mr. Wolfe wants to talk to him, I'm pretty sure he would come if I asked him.'
    I eyed her. 'There seems to be an angle you didn't mention this morning. When you told me about Busch you didn't say he would come if you whistled.'
    'I'm not saying it now!' She was indignant. 'All I'm saying, he's a nice man, and he's decent, and he wouldn't do that!'
    'Have you seen much of him out of the office?'
    'No. After Mr. Ashby, I decided I wouldn't make any dates with any man in the office, married or not.'
    'Okay, we'll exclude Busch, with the understanding that you'll produce him if and when we need him.' I got up. 'We'll go down to the office and phone Parker, and then we'll go and get whatever you want for an indefinite stay. It may be two days and it may be two months. When Mr. Wolfe-'
    'Stay here two months'I can't!'
    'You can and will if necessary. If you got killed it would be next to impossible for Mr. Wolfe to get back at Cramer, and that would sour him for good and he would be unbearable. If you want to do things to your face and hair, not that I see anything wrong with them, I'll be down in the office.' I went.
    Waiting to call Parker until she came down, since he would want to hear his client's voice as evidence that she existed, I had a notion to buzz the plant rooms and ask Wolfe if he wanted to see Andrew Busch at six o'clock, but since he would probably have insisted on Busch getting a summons along with the others I decided against it. I'm a softy. Elma came down much sooner than most girls would have after a nap, and I dialed and got Parker, told him it was all set but that Busch was to be crossed off, and put Elma on. He asked her if he was to proceed on her behalf as he had been instructed by Wolfe, and she said yes, and that was it. I told her I had another call to make, dialed the number of the Gazette, got Lon Cohen, and asked him if his offer of a grand for a piece on Pete Vassos was still open. He said he'd have to see the piece first.
    'We haven't got time to write it,' I said. 'We're busy. But if you want something for nothing, Miss Elma Vassos, his daughter, has engaged the services of Nero Wolfe, the famous private detective, and is staying at his house, and is not accessible. On his advice, she has engaged Nathaniel Parker, the famous counselor, to bring an action against five people: John Mercer, Philip Horan, Frances Cox, Mrs. Dennis Ashby, and Inspector Cramer of the NYPD. She is asking for a million dollars for damages for slander from each of them. They will be served tomorrow, probably in time for your first edition. I'm giving you this, exclusive, on instructions from Mr. Wolfe. Parker has been told that you'll probably be phoning him for confirmation, and you'll get it. Yours truly. See you in court.'
    'Wait a minute, hold it! You can't just-'
    'Sorry, I'm busy. No use calling back because I won't be here. Print now, pay later.'
    I hung up and went to the kitchen to tell Fritz we were leaving, and by the time I got to the hall rack Elma had her hat and coat on. Since her place was downtown we went to Eighth Avenue for a taxi. She was all right at walking. Walking with a girl, you can tell pretty well if you'd want to dance with her. Not if she keeps step, she may not have the legs for that, but if she naturally stays with you without doing a barnacle.
    Another mark for her, she didn't apologize for the neighborhood she lived in as the cab turned into Graham Street and stopped in front of Number 314. At that, it wasn't as bad in the December dark as it would have been in daylight; no street is. Dirt doesn't look so dirty. But I must say the vestibule she led me into would have appreciated some attention, and when she