Plot It Yourself

I shook my head. “No, not out of the question. I’d start at ten anyhow, but I’d like it better if I knew I could boost it. He might even take five. I could start at five.”

“Very well. Call Miss Wynn. I’ll speak with her.”

I swiveled, but as I reached for the phone it rang. It was Philip Harvey. He asked for Wolfe, and Wolfe took his receiver. I stayed on.

“Yes, Mr Harvey? This is Nero Wolfe.”

“I have good news, Mr Wolfe. Thanks to Cora Ballard. She has it all fixed with Richard Echols. She saw Paul Norris, his agent, and she saw him, and I’ve just had a talk with Echols, and it’s all set. Dexter’s lawyer will draw the necessary papers in the morning, one for Echols to sign and one for Title House, and they’ll be ready by noon. I’ve spoken with Mortimer Oshin, and he wants to know whether you want the ten thousand in cash or a certified check.”

“Cash would be better, I think.”

“All right, I’ll tell him. What about Amy Wynn? Is she coming across?”

“It’s uncertain. There has been a development. The manuscript of the story on which Alice Porter bases her claim was found this afternoon in a file in the office of the Victory Press.”

“No! I’ll be damned! In Imhofs office? Wonderfull Marvelousl Then of course she will. She’ll have to.”

“She may. There are complexities, now unresolved, which I’ll report on later. In any case, it will probably be best to give Jacobs only half of the agreed amount now, and the other half later, contingent on his satisfactory co-operation. If Miss Wynn won’t supply it, someone will. Your committee will see to that.”

“I suppose so. I can’t promise it.”

“I don’t ask you to. I will engage to put it up to Mr Knapp, Mr Dexter, and Mr Imhof. They couldn’t possibly wriggle out of it.”

“Ha! You don’t know how publishers can wriggle. They’re experts. They’re champions.”

“That will make it all the more satisfying to pin them. Satisfying both to you and to me-if it proves to be necessary. Ten thousand may be enough. I will be responsible for any commitments I make.”

Wolfe hung up and turned to me. “Get Miss Wynn.”

Chapter 8