shake hands with you in there because there were witnesses.' I moved.
I thought that should make it clear that I wanted to be alone to enjoy my liberty, and it did. Going down the hall I heard no footsteps behind me. There were a few people scattered around in the big lobby and I heard someone say, 'There's that Archie Goodwin,' but I didn't stop to take a bow. On the walk outside I sent my eyes left and right but didn't see Lily until the second try because she was half a block away, in a dark blue Dodge Coronet sedan. Her attention was on something down the street in the other direction, and she heard me before she saw me. I opened the car door and said, 'You don't look a day older, let alone two days.'
She squinted at me. 'You do.'
'I'm two years older. Are there any errands for us?'
'No. Get in.'
She was in front but not behind the wheel. 'You'd better move to the back,' I said. 'And open both windows. I don't smell, I stink. I doubt if you can stand it.'
'I'll breathe through my mouth. Let's go.'
I circled around to the other side, got in, started the engine, backed out, and headed east. I asked if the car was a rental, and she said yes, the sheriff had the station wagon, and anyway she didn't want it. She didn't want a car a man had been killed in.
'I couldn't ask Dawson what my price tag is,' I said, 'because I was dressing him down. How much?'
'Does it matter?'
'It does to me. For the record. The lowest so far was five hundred, and the highest thirty grand. What am I worth to the people of the State of Montana?'
'Ten thousand dollars. Dawson said five thousand and Jessup said fifteen and the judge split the difference. They didn't ask me.'
'What would you have made it?'
'Fifty million.'
'That's the way to talk.' I patted her knee.
We were in the open country. For a mile or so I played on the gas pedal to test the engine, and it was okay. Lily asked, 'Aren't you going to ask me any questions?'
'Yeah, plenty, but not between bumps. There's a spot not far ahead.'
It was just beyond a gully, where the road went north for a stretch, with a stand of lodgepole on the left. I slowed and eased off of the blacktop into the shade the trees gave from the slanting sun, stopped, killed the engine, and twisted around to face her. 'For two days and a night,' I said, 'I've been wanting to ask people certain questions, and this is my first chance, so I'll start with you. When I left the dance floor Saturday night about a quarter past eleven, soon after Sam Peacock arrived, you were dancing with Woody, Farnham had Mrs Amory, DuBois had a woman in a black dress, and Wade had a girl I had seen before but can't name. Did you see Peacock at all?'
'I saw him twice from a distance. Later I looked around but didn't see him, and I didn't see you either. I supposed you had taken him in to Nero Wolfe.'
'I hadn't. With Haight and Welch there, we decided to skip it. Now this is important. After you danced with Woody, did you see Peacock talking with anyone you know?'
'No.' She frowned. 'I only saw him from a distance, and I don't… No.'
'Did you see anyone you know leave the dance floor? Go out to the Gallery?'
'If I did, I didn't notice. No.'
'As I said, it's important. It's crucial. As you know, people often see something and don't know they're seeing it. If you'll sit down, or lie down is better, and shut your eyes, and go over everything you saw and did, starting from when you were dancing with Woody, you might come up with something. Will you give it a try?'
'I doubt-but I'll try, of course.'
'Okay. Now some things that you are aware of, but first a word of stomach-felt appreciation. You don't like to give or receive thanks for things that should be taken for granted, and neither do I, but there's a limit. Six bananas. A whole pie. The best caviar and the best pвtй. And calling it a snack was false modesty deluxe. But you saved my life.'
'Go to hell, Escamillo. I got you into this.'
'You did not. X did, and he's going to regret it. Now. Where is Mr Wolfe?'
'I think at Woody's. We'll stop there. Yesterday and today he has spent more time at Woody's, and at the ranch, than he has at the cabin.'
'Why the ranch?'
'Because that girl's there. Peggy Truett. Carol got her last night-she lives in Timberburg-and brought her to the cabin. Jessup was there, and they questioned her for more than two hours. In your room. Around eleven o'clock Jessup came to the big room and phoned Carol and told her they were coming with Peggy Truett. They went in Jessup's car. It was after midnight when he brought Wolfe back. They told me nothing, not a damn thing, and this morning I left for Helena before seven o'clock. With this car. I haven't been back, but about two hours ago I called Carol, and she said Wolfe had been there nearly all day talking with Peggy Truett, and he was still there, and he had asked her if she would drive him to Woody's around five o'clock. So I think he's at Woody's but he may still be at the ranch. You know him better than I do. Peggy Truett may be his type.'
'He hasn't got a type. It's a filter job.'
'What's that?'
