I. doesn't ordinarily associate, which was embarrassing,
; and (c) the subject for discussion was his connection
/with a murder, which was preposterous.
; He was going on. 'Mr. Pohl suggested that we con
j^sult you and engage your services. As one who will
gladly pay my share of the bill, permit me to say that
what I want is the removal of that unjust suspicion. If
you can achieve that only by finding the criminal and
evidence against him, very well. If the guilty man
proves to be Victor Talbott, again very well.'
'There's no if about it!' Pohl blurted. 'Talbott did it, and the job is to pin it on him!'
'With me helping, Ferdy, don't forget,' Dorothy Keyes told him softly. 'Aw, can it!'
Eyes turned to the speaker, whose only contribution up to that point had been the remark, 'They're off
80 Rex Stoat
again.' Heads had to turn too because he was seated to the rear of the swing of the arc. The high pitch of his voice was a good match for his name, Wayne Safford, but not for his broad husky build and the strong big bones of his face. According to the papers he was twenty-eight, but he looked a little older, about my age.
Wolfe nodded at him. 'I quite agree, Mr. Safford.' Wolfe's eyes swept the arc. 'Mr. Pohl wants too much for his money. You can hire me to catch a fish, ladies and gentlemen, but you can't tell me which fish. You can tell me what it is I'm after--a murderer--but you can't tell me who it is unless you have evidence, and in that case why pay me? Have you got evidence?'
No one said anything.
'Have you got evidence, Mr. Pohl?'
'No.'
'How do you know it was Mr. Talbott?'
'I know it, that's all. We all know it! Even Miss Keyes here knows it, but she's too damn contrary to admit it.'
Wolfe swept the arc again. 'Is that true? Do you all know it?'
No word. No 'yes' and no 'no.' No nods and no shakes.
'Then the identity of the fish is left to me. Is that understood? Mr. Broadyke?'
'Yes.'
'Mr. Safford?'
'Yes.'
'Miss Rooney?'
'Yes. Only I think it was Vie Talbott.'
'Nothing can stop you. Miss Keyes?'
'Yes.'
Curtains for Three 81
'Mr. Pohl?'
No answer.
'I must have a commitment on this, Mr. Pohl. If it proves to be Mr. Talbott you can pay extra. But in any case, I am hired to get facts?'
'Sure, the real facts.'
'There is no other kind. I guarantee not to deliver any unreal facts.' Wolfe leaned forward to press a button on his desk. 'That is, indeed, the only guaranty I can give you. I should make it plain that you are responsible both collectively and individually for this engagement with me. Now if--'
The door to the hall had opened, and Fritz Brenner entered and approached.
'Fritz,' Wolfe told him, 'there will be five guests at dinner.'
'Yes, sir,' Fritz told him without a blink and turned to go. That's how good Fritz is, and he is not the kind to ring in omelets or canned soup. As he was opening the door a protest came from Frank Broadyke.
'Better make it four. I'll have to leave soon and I have a dinner engagement.'
'Cancel it,' Wolfe snapped.
'I'm afraid I can't, really.'
'Then I can't take this job.' Wolfe was curt. 'What do you expect, with this thing already a week old?' He glanced at the clock on the wall. 'I'll need you, all of you, certainly all evening, and probably most of the night. I must know all that you know about Mr. Keyes and Mr. Talbott. Also, if I am to remove this unjust suspicion of you
