In the Best Families

I shrugged, stretched my legs and crossed my ankles, and tried to see what his papers were. I was too far away to get any words, but from various aspects I finally concluded that they were typewritten signed statements of the family, guests, and servants. Not being otherwise engaged at the moment, I would have been glad to help Dykes with them, but I doubted if it was worth the breath to make an offer. After the strain of trying to identify the papers, my eyes went shut, and for the first time I was aware how sleepy I was. I thought I had better open my eyes, and then decided it would show more strength of will if I kept awake with them shut…

Someone was using my head for a cocktail shaker. Resenting it, I jerked away and made a gesture of protest with my fist closed, following up by opening my eyes and jumping to my feet. Backing away from me was a skinny guy with a long neck.

He looked both startled and angry.

“Sorry, I told him. “I guess I dozed off a second.

“You dozed off forty minutes, Dykes declared. He was still at the table with the papers, and standing beside him was District Attorney Archer.

“That leaves me, I said, “still behind seven hours and more.

“We want a statement, Archer said impatiently.

“The sooner the better, I agreed, and pulled my chair up. Archer sat at the end of the table at my left, Dykes across from me, and the skinny guy, with a notebook and pen, at the other end.

“First, Archer said, “repeat what you told us last night about Mrs Rackham's visit to Wolfe's office with Leeds.

“But, I objected, “that'll take half an hour, and you're busy. That's routine.

I assure you it won't vary.

“Go ahead. I want to hear it, and I have questions.

I yawned thoroughly, rubbed my eyes with the heels of my palms, and started. At first it was fuzzy, but it flowed easy after a minute or two, and it would have been a pleasure to have them compare it with a record from the previous recital if there had been one.

Archer had some questions, and Dykes one or two. At the end Archer asked me,

“Will you swear to that, Goodwin?

“Sure, glad to. If you'll pay the notary fee.

“Go and type it, Cheney.

The skinny guy got up, with his notebook, and left. After the door was closed

Archer spoke.

“You might as well know it, Goodwin; you've been contradicted. Mr Rackham says you're lying about his wife's conversation with Wolfe.

“Yeah? How does he know? He wasn't there.