In the Best Families

After escorting me in to the desk and telling the sergeant about it, my captor had a point to make. His name was not John F. O“Brien, it was John R. O“Brien.

He explained to the sergeant that he had to insist on it because last year one of his heroic acts had been credited to John F., and once was enough, and he damn' well wanted credit for spotting a wanted man on the street. That attended to, he bade me a pleasant good-bye and left. Meanwhile the sergeant was making a phone call. When he hung up he looked at me with a more active interest.

“Westchester wants you, he announced. “Leaving the scene of a crime and leaving jurisdiction. Want to drag it out?

“It might be fun, but I doubt it. What happens if I don't?

“There's a Westchester man downtown. He's on his way up here to take you.

I shook my head. “I'll fight like a cornered rat. I know fourteen lawyers all told. Ten to one he has no papers. This is one of those brotherly acts which I do not like. You're on a spot, Sergeant.

“Don't scare me to death. If he has no papers I'll send you downtown and let them handle it.

“Yeah, I admitted, “that would let you out. But we can make it simpler for both of us if you care to. Get the Westchester D.A. on the phone and let me talk to him. I'll even pay for the call.

At first he didn't like the idea and then he did. I think what changed his mind was the chance of picking up a piece of hot gossip on the murder of the month.

He had to be persuaded, but when I told him the D.A. would be at the Rackham place and gave him the number, that settled it. He put the call in. However, he covered. When he got the number he made it clear that he merely wanted to offer the D.A. an opportunity to speak to Archie Goodwin if he wished to. He did. I circled the railing to get to the desk and took the phone.

“Mr Archer?

“Yes! This is-

“Just a minute! I said emphatically. “Whatever you were going to say this is, I double it. It's an outrage. It-

“You were told to stay here, and you sneaked away! You left-

“I was not told to stay there. You asked me if I was staying at Leeds' place, and I said my bag was there, and you said you would want me to-day, and I said of course. If I had stayed at Leeds' place I might have been permitted seven hours' sleep. I decided to do something else with the seven hours, and they're not up yet. But you see fit to ring a bell on me. I'll do one of two things.