“Nothing. Not a cent.
“You should have. That was put there for the express purpose of financing this eventuality if it arose. You have been using your personal savings?
“Only to buy these little items. I waved a hand. “Put it back long ago. I've been taking it easy, so my income from detective work has only been a little more than double what you were paying me.
“I don't believe it.
“I didn't expect you to, so I'll have an audit- I stopped. “What the hell! My vacation!
Wolfe grunted. “If we get Zeck you may have a month. If he gets me- He grunted again. “He will, confound it, if we don't get to work. You asked about Rackham; yes, the source of his income, which his wife asked us to discover, was Zeck. He met him through Calvin Leeds.
I raised the brows. “Leeds?
“Don't jump to conclusions. Leeds sold dogs to Zeck, two of them, to protect his house, and spent a week there, training them for their job. Zeck does not miss an opportunity. He used Rackham in one of his less offensive activities, gambling arrangements for people with too much money. Then when Rackham inherited more than half of his wife's wealth a new situation developed; it was already developing when I arrived six weeks ago. I managed to get informed about it. Of course I had to be extremely careful, new as I was, but on the other hand my being a newcomer was an advantage. In preparing a list of prospects for the device I had conceived, a man in Rackham's position was an eminently suitable candidate, and naturally I had to know all about him. That placed me favourably for starting, with the greatest caution, certain speculations and suspicions, and I got it to the point where it seemed desirable to put him under surveillance. Luckily I didn't have to introduce your name; your enlistment had previously been considered, on a suggestion by Max Christy. I was ready for you anyhow-I had gone as far as I could without you-and that made it easier. I wouldn't have dared to risk naming you myself, and was planning accordingly, but it's vastly better this way.
“Am I to proceed? Get Saul and Orrie and Fred? Tail Rackham?
Wolfe looked at his wrist. His charade was certainly teaching him new tricks. In all my years with him he had never sported a watch, and here he was glancing at his wrist as if born to it. The way that wrist had been, normal, it would have required a custom-made strap.
“I told that man an hour or more, he said, “but we shouldn't be that long. A minim of cause for suspicion and I'm through. Nothing is too fantastic for them; they could even learn if we've been using the phone. Confound it, I must have hours with you.
“Ditch him and we'll meet somewhere.
“Impossible. No place would be safe-except one. There is only one circumstance under which any man is granted the right to an extended period of undisturbed privacy, either by deliberation or on impulse. We need a woman. You know all kinds.
“Not all kinds, I objected. “I do draw the line. What kind do we need?
“Fairly young, attractive, a little wanton in appearance, utterly devoted to you and utterly trustworthy, and not a fool.
“My God, if I knew where to find one like that I'd have been married long ago.
Also I would be bragging-
“Archie, he snapped. “If after all your promiscuous philandering you can't produce a woman to those specifications, I've misjudged you. It's risky to trust anyone at all, but any other way would be still riskier.
I had my lips puckered. “Ruth Brady?
“No. She's an operative, and known. Out of the question.
“There's one who might take this as a substitute for a trip to Norway, which is now out. I could ask her.
“What's her name?
“You know. Lily Rowan.
He made a face. “She is rich, intemperate, and notorious.
“Nuts. She is well-heeled and playful. You remember the time she helped out with an upstate murderer. I have no further suggestions. Do I phone her?
“Yes.
“And tell her what?
He explained in some detail. When he had answered my three or four questions, and filed my objection by asking if I had something better to offer, I pulled the phone to me and dialled a number. No answer. I tried the Troubadour Room of the Churchill; she wasn't there. Next in order of priority was the Flamingo
Club. That found her. Asked my name, I said to tell her it was Escamillo, though she hadn't called me that for quite a while.
After a wait her voice came. “Archie? Really?
“I prefer Escamillo, I said firmly. “It's a question of security. How high are you?
“Come and find out. I'm tired of the people I'm with anyhow. Listen, I'll wander out and meet you in front and we'll go-
“We will not. I'm working, and I'm on a spot, and I need help. You're just the type for it, and I pay a dollar an hour if you give satisfaction. I'm offering you a brand new thrill. You have never earned a nickel in your life, and here's your chance. What mood are you in?
