Over My Dead Body

Cramer leaned back, sighed, and began rubbing his nose again.

The door opened. Fritz entered, approached, and said:

"Mr Cather, sir."

Wolfe's chin went up. "Show him in."

I could tell from the tone of Wolfe's voice that there was a possibility that Orrie was bringing home a chunk of important bacon, but a glance at Orrie's face told me that he didn't have it. Wolfe obviously reached the same conclusion, for he said, more a statement than a question:

"No result."

Orrie stood with his overcoat on and his hat in his hand. "No, sir."

Wolfe grimaced. "Did you find the-things I suggested?"

"Yes, sir. More too. There were mentions-I saw the name-in a lot of articles and sometimes in headlines, but that was all. Of course I couldn't read-"

"That wouldn't help any. No pictures."

"No, sir. I went through every possible thing at the library, and I tried other places. The Times thought they would have one, but they didn't. I'm on my way to the consulate and I just stopped by here instead of phoning-"

"Don't go to the consulate. I phoned there and it's hopeless. Mr Cramer and I are both out of humour with consulates. Have you been to Second Avenue?"

"No, I was going there last."

"Try it. You might find it there. It is possible that Mr Cramer has arranged that anyone leaving this house shall be followed. If so, shake him. I don't want the police in on this. Not yet."

Orrie grinned. "That will be a pleasure." He tramped out.

Cramer said in a tone of disgust, "Horse feathers."

"It wouldn't be the first time you've tried that stratagem," Wolfe observed mildly. "Anyway, it's not as annoying as your former attempts at bulldozing. Thank heaven, you seem to have given that up. Are you through amusing yourself with Archie?"

"Amusing myself? Good God!"

"You must have been. You couldn't very well have been serious. Will you have some beer?"

"No, thanks-yes, I will too. I'm thirsty."

"Good." Wolfe pushed the button. "Did I understand you to say that you were having Miss Lovchen followed?"

"Yes. A double tail. One of them phoned in at ten-forty that she had left the house at 38th Street and gone to Miltan's, and was in there then, and we haven't heard from them since. Their instructions are to report in every two hours if they can do so without danger of losing contact."

"I see. It's very handy to have so many men."