Death of a Doxy (Crime Line)

Three paces inside the office I stopped to take in an unexpected scene, homey and very appealing. I couldn't see Wolfe, at his desk, because the review-of-the-week section of the Sunday Times, spread wide, was hiding him. Cramer, in the red leather chair, had the sports section, spread just as wide. Having checked that Cramer had been admitted and was still there, I went to the kitchen, told Fritz the guest's name, asked him to take up grapefruit juice and coffee, and told him not to knock but give his name. Back in the office, Wolfe was still hidden. I crossed to my desk, sat and enjoyed the pleasant scene a couple of minutes, and then coughed. In a moment Wolfe folded the paper, put it on his desk, and spoke. To me.

"Mr. Cramer wishes to ask about that incident last night. Since you were there and I wasn't, I insisted on waiting for you." He turned. "Yes, Mr. Cramer?"

Cramer, having folded the sports section, put it on the stand. His eyes went to Wolfe. "I told you. I want to know why you had them guarding that girl, and who they were guarding her from. If you knew she was in danger, you know who fired those shots at her. Durkin says he doesn't know, but you do. I don't need Goodwin to tell me that. It's even possible he doesn't know, but you do. Assault with intent to kill is a felony, and you know who committed it, and I'm an officer of the law. Is that plain?"

Wolfe nodded. "Quite plain. It's also quite plain that your true interest is not assault with intent to kill, but an assault that did kill. Have you released Mr. Cather?"

"No. And I don't -"

"Are you prepared to release him?"

"No! I want an answer. Who fired those shots at that girl?"

Wolfe turned. "Do you know, Archie?"

"No, sir, I don't know. I could offer guesses, but not in the hearing of an officer of the law. Slander. I might guess Orrie Cather, but that's out because he's in the can, and unless -"

Cramer said a word, loud, which I omit because I suspect that some of the readers of these reports are people like retired schoolteachers and den mothers.