Prisoner's Base

"She was through with that too at the time she heard of my husband's death and came to see me. She had decided to take up her father's business where he had left off, only of course she wouldn't own it until she was twenty-five. She seemed more like the old Pris, and we might have got together again, but I had just lost Dick and I was in no condition to get together with anyone, so, the way it went, I didn't see her again until last week, and then I didn't-"

She stopped abruptly and jerked her chin up. "For God's sake, my not doing what she wanted-that didn't have anything to do with her being killed, did it? Is that why you wanted to see me?"

I shook my head. "I can't answer the first one, but it's not why I wanted to see you. Did she get in touch with you again? A phone call or letter?"

"No."

"Did any of the others, the Softdown people?"

"No."

"Where were you Monday night? Not that I want an affidavit, but the police will be asking."

"They will not!"

"Sure they will, unless they crack it before they get to you. Practice on me. Name the people you were playing Canasta with."

"I wasn't. I was at home. Here."

"Any company? Or was Olga here?"

"No."

I shrugged. "That requires no practice." I leaned to her a little. "Look, Mrs. Jaffee, I might as well admit it. I'm here under false pretenses. I said we wanted information, Mr. Wolfe and I, and we do, but we also want help. Of course you know of the provisions of Priscilla's father's will? Now that she is dead, you know that five people-Helmar, Brucker, Quest, Pitkin, and Miss Duday-you know that they will own most of the Softdown stock?"

"Yes, certainly." She was frowning, concentrating at me.

"Okay. You're a stockholder. We want you to bring an action against those five people. Use your own lawyer, or we'll recommend one. We want you to ask a court for an injunction restraining them from exercising any of the rights of ownership of that stock until it is determined whether one or more of them acquired it by the commission of a crime. We think that under the circumstances a court will entertain such a request and may grant it."

"But what-" Her frown was deeper. "Why should I do that?"

"Because you have a legitimate interest in the proper handling of the firm's affairs. Because you were Priscilla's oldest friend, and formerly her closest one. Who do you think killed her?"

"I don't know. I wish you-don't do this!"