'Did you say that to Mr Wolfe?'
'No. I said it to Miss Rowan. His manner is… he doesn't invite…'
'I know. I have known him quite a while. That's a good way to put it, he doesn't invite. Tell him and Miss Rowan that since they're doing so well without me they don't need to bother about bail, they might as well save the expense, and anyway I don't like Dawson. Haight will probably turn me loose when they deliver X to him. Is there room in that refrigerator for what's left?'
'Certainly. But there will be people here all day.'
'Wait until they're gone. I probably won't be hungry sooner anyhow. That disinfected cell doesn't seem to whet a man's appetite.' I picked up the can opener. 'Plums, or pineapple?'
Chapter 12
I never got around to asking, so I still don't know what happened to the rest of that snack.
The next time you're in jail, try this. There are two steps. The first step is to determine whether there is anything helpful and practical that you can be using your mind for. If there is, okay, go ahead and use it. If there isn't, proceed with the second step. Decide definitely and positively to cut all connections between your mind and you. I understand that something like that is used by people who are trying to go to sleep and can't make it, but I don't know how well it works because I never have that problem. Locked in a 6 by 9 cell and wide awake, you'll be surprised at how the time will go. You will find, if you are anything like me, that your mind knows a thousand tricks and can sneak in through a crack that you didn't even know was there. For instance, at one point that Monday afternoon, having another try at it, I decided to shut my eyes and look at girls' and women's knees, having learned hours ago that you have no chance at all unless you make your eyes see something or your ears hear something or your fingers touch something; and in a cell you have to see or hear or touch things that aren't there. So I looked at dozens, maybe hundreds, of females' knees; all shapes and sizes and conditions, and was in control and doing fine when all of a sudden I realized that my mind had plugged in and was asking me if I thought that anyone was at that moment looking at Peggy Truett's knees, and if so was it Nero Wolfe or Sheriff Haight… and what were they saying…
Nuts. I got up and kicked the stool clear to the far wall, at least three feet, and walked to the end wall, at least four feet, and reached to feel the rusty bars at the doll-size window. I knew them by heart.
I am not going to report on the food because you would think I'm prejudiced. I honestly believe they put disinfectant in the oatmeal and the stew.
When footsteps stopped at my door at twenty minutes to six I was lying on the cot with my shoes off, wondering if Jessup still had company in his office. I admit the remains of the snack were a factor, but I was hungrier for news than for grub. The footsteps stopping was nothing; he often stopped to look in to see if I was sawing the bars or making a bomb, but when I heard the key in the lock I moved. I swung my legs around and sat up. The door opened and a man entered and said, 'You're takin' a walk. Get your shoes on and bring your coat.'
It was Evers, the other full-time deputy. He stood and watched me put my shoes on, and my jacket, and when he told me not to leave anything and stooped to look under the cot I knew I wasn't going upstairs, I was going out and not coming back. He didn't have handcuffs, and on the way down the corridor, and then down the side hall of the courthouse, he didn't care whether I was in front or behind. He opened the door of the sheriff's office and thumbed me in. There was no one in the anteroom, and he opened the gate in the railing and jerked his head and said, 'On in.' I crossed to the door to the inner room and entered, and he followed.
Haight was there at his desk, busy with papers. The eminent lawyer who looked more like a working ranchman, Luther Dawson, was standing with his back to Haight, looking at a big wall map of Montana. At sight of me he came with a hand out and a hearty welcome. 'Well, greetings!' He had a good grip. 'I come to deliver you from bondage. All signed and sealed.'
'Fine. Next time I'll pick a better day than Saturday.' I pointed. 'I believe that's mine.' It was a pile of objects on a table. I went and retrieved my possessions, with Evers at my elbow. Everything was there, including the contents of the card case, which belongs in my breast pocket, and the non-negotiable items in the wallet, which goes in my pants pocket. As I picked up the last item, the ignition key of the station wagon, Evers said, 'Sign this,' put a sheet of paper on the table, and offered a pen.
Dawson said, 'Let me see it,' and stuck a hand between Evers and me to take it.
'No matter what it says,' I said, 'I don't sign it. I sign nothing.'
Dawson asked, 'Were you given a receipt for those things when they took them? An itemized receipt?'
'No, and even if I was, I sign nothing.' I headed for the exit. I didn't give Haight even a glance, but I have good side vision, and the corner of my eye noted that he was too busy with the papers to look up. Probably Wyatt Earp. There were footsteps behind me, presumably Dawson's, and out in the hall he came abreast and said, 'Miss Rowan's out in front. In a car. I have something to say, Goodwin.'
I stopped and faced him. Our eyes were exactly on a level. 'Not to me,' I said. 'Ten days ago today, on Friday, August second, I told you that I thought a man named Sam Peacock might know something that would help, but he had clammed up on me, and probably a famous Montana lawyer like you could pry him loose. And you said you were too busy with important matters. Now nobody is going-'
'I didn't say that. I said only-'
'I know what you said. Now nobody is going to pry him loose. And Harvey Greve didn't kill him. So that's another important matter. Have you talked with Nero Wolfe?'
'No. He refuses to see me. I intend to-'
'I don't give a damn what you intend, but if my name is in your script anywhere, cross it out. I had to
