Byne was on his feet. The next few seconds were a little confused. I was up, to be between Byne and Wolfe, but the fury in his eyes was for Mrs Usher. Then, as he moved towards her, Saul was there to block him, so everything was under control. But then, with Sauls back to her and me cut off by Saul and Byne, Mrs Usher shot out of her chair and streaked for Wolfe. I might have beat her to it by diving across Wolfes desk, but maybe not, from where I was, and anyway, I was too astonished to movenot by her, but by him. He had been facing her, so his knees werent under the desk and he didnt have to swivel, but even so, he had a lot of pounds to get in motion. Back went his bulk, and up came his legs, and just as she arrived his feet were there, and one of them caught her smack on the chin. She staggered back into Sauls arms and he eased her on to the chair. And Ill be damned if she didnt put both hands to her jaw and squawk at Wolfe, You hit me!
I had hold of Bynes arm, a good hold, and he didnt even know it. When he realized it he tried to jerk loose but couldnt, and for a second I thought he was going to swing with the other fist, and so did he.
Take it easy, I advised him. Youre going to need all the breath youve got.
How did you get it? Mrs Usher demanded. Where is it? She was still clutching her jaw with both hands.
Wolfe was eyeing her, but not warily. Complacently, I would say. You might think that for a long time he had had a suppressed desire to kick a woman on the chin.
Its in my pocket, he said. He tapped his chest. I got it just now from the man who took it from your hotel room. Youll probably get it back in due course; that will depend; it may
Thats burglary, Byne said. Thats a felony.
Wolfe nodded. By definition, yes. I doubt if Mrs Usher will care to make the charge if the document is eventually returned to her. It may be an exhibit in evidence in a murder trial. If so
There has been no murder.
You are in error, Mr Byne. Will you please sit down? This will take a while. Thank you. Ill cover that point decisively with a categorical statement: Faith Usher was murdered.
No! Mrs Usher said. Her hands left her jaw but remained poised, the fingers curved. Faith killed herself!
Im not going to debate the point, Wolfe told her. I say merely that I will stake my professional reputation on the statement that she was murderedindeed, I have done so. Thats why I am applying my resources and risking my credit. Thats why I must explore the possibilities suggested by this letter. He tapped his chest and focused on Byne. For instance, I shall insist on seeing the agreement between you and Mr Grantham. Does it provide that if Faith Usher should die your remittances to her mother are to be materially decreased, or even cease altogether?
Byne wet his lips. Since youve read the letter to Mrs Usher you know what the agreement provides. Its a confidential agreement and youre not going to see it.
Oh, but I am. Wolfe was assured. When you came here my threat was only to tell the police of your rendezvous. Now my threat is more imperative and may even be mortal. Observe Mrs Usher. Note her expression as she regards you. Have you seen the agreement, madam?
Yes, she said, I have.
Does it contain such a provision as I suggested?
Yes, she said, it does. It says that if Faith dies he can pay me only half as much or even less. Are you telling the truth, that she was murdered?
Nuts, Byne said. Its not the truth hes after. Anyhow, I wasnt even there. Dont look at me, Elaine, look at him .
I thought, Wolfe said, that it might save time to see the agreement now, so I sent Mr Gather to your apartment to look for it. It will expedite matters if you phone him and tell him where it is. He is good with locks and should be inside by this time.
Byne was staring. By God, he said.
Do you want to phone him?
Not him. By God. Youve been threatening to call the police. Ill call them myself. Ill tell them a man has broken into my apartment, and hes there now, and theyll get him.
I left my chair. Here, Dinky, use my phone.
He ignored me. Its not the agreement, he told Wolfe. Its your goddamn nerve. He wont find the agreement because its not there. Its in a safe-deposit box and its going to stay there.
Then it must wait until Monday. Wolfes shoulders went up an eighth of an inch and down again. However, Mr Gather will not have his trouble for nothing. Aside from the chance that he may turn up other interesting items, he will use your typewriter, if you have one. I told him if he found one there to write something with it. I even told him what to write. This: Have you found out yet that Edwin Laidlaw is the father of Faith Ushers baby? Ask him about his trip to Canada in August 1956. He will type that and bring it to me. You smile. You are amused? Because you dont have a typewriter?
Sure I have a typewriter. Did I smile? He smiled again, a poker smile. At you dragging Laidlaw in all of a sudden. I dont get it, but I suppose you do.
I didnt drag him in, Wolfe asserted. Someone else did. The police received an unsigned typewritten communication which I have just quoted. And you were wrong to smile; that was a mistake. You couldnt possibly have been amused, so you must have been pleased, and by what? Not that you dont have a typewriter, because you have. Ill try a guess. Might it not have been that you were enjoying the idea of Mr Gather bringing me a sample of typing from your machine when you know it is innocent, and that you know it is innocent because you know where the guilty machine is? I think that deserves exploration. Unfortunately tomorrow is Sunday; it will have to wait. Monday morning Mr Goodwin, Mr Panzer, and Mr Gather will call at places where a machine might be easily and naturally available to youfor instance, your club. Another is the bank vault where you have a safe-deposit box. Archie. You go to my box regularly. Would it be remarkable for a vault customer to ask to use a typewriter?
Remarkable? I shook my head. No.
Then that is one possibility. Actually, he told Byne, I am not sorry that this must wait until Monday, for it does have a drawback. The samples collected from the machines must be compared with the communication received by the police, and it is in their hands. I dont like that, but theres no other way. At least, if my guess is good, I will have exposed the sender of the communication, and that will be helpful. On this point, sir, I do not threaten to go to the police; I am forced to.
You goddamn snoop, Byne said through his teeth.
Wolfes brows went up. I must have made a lucky guess. Its the machine at the vault?
Bynes head jerked to Mrs Usher. Beat it, Elaine. I want to talk to him.
Chapter 14
Austin Byne sat straight and stiff. When Saul had escorted Mrs Usher to the front room, staying there with her, I had told Dinky he would be more comfortable in the red leather chair, but from the way he looked at me I suspected that he had forgotten what comfortable meant.
You win, he told Wolfe. So I spill my guts. Where do you want me to start?
Wolfe was leaning back with his elbows on the chair arms and his palms together. First, lets clear up a point or two. Why did you send that thing about Laidlaw to the police?
I havent said I sent it.
Pfui. Wolfe was disgusted. Either youve submitted or you havent. I dont intend to squeeze it out drop by drop. Why did you send it?
Byne did have to squeeze it out. His lips didnt want to part. Because, he finally managed, they were going on with the investigation and there was no telling what they might dig up. They might find out that I knew Faiths mother, and about myabout the arrangement. I still thought Faith had killed herself, and I still do, but if she had been murdered I thought Laidlaw must have done it and I wanted them to know about him and Faith.