Prisoner's Base

"But, Sarah, you don't understand!"

"I think I do. And what if I don't?"

"Skip it, Perry," Viola Duday snapped. "She's hopeless."

"Does anyone else," Wolfe inquired, "have a statement to read?"

Parker put in, "I advise Mr. Helmar not to leave copies of his lying around. It is clearly libelous, as he must know."

Wolfe nodded. "He's upset and not strictly accountable." His eyes moved left to right and back again. "I could reply to Mr. Helmar's indictment of me, but it would take time, and we should get on. First I'll make one thing clear-my status in this business. I have been engaged to investigate the murder of Priscilla Eads, and that is my sole interest."

"By Sarah Jaffee?" Helmar demanded.

"No. My client's identity is not your concern. In my opinion it is entirely proper for Mrs. Jaffee, as a stockholder in the corporation, to bring the action contemplated, but that will be determined not by my opinion or yours, but by a court. It is certainly proper to submit the matter to a court for decision, and that is what will be done tomorrow morning unless developments here this evening make it unnecessary."

"What developments would make it unnecessary?" That was Oliver Pitkin. Evidently his cold was no better, since he was still sniffling.

"Any of several. For instance, my discovery of the identity of the murderer."

Wolfe's eyes moved deliberately, and other eyes met them. He prolonged it, and no one moved or spoke. "Though I confess," he said, "that I expect no such happy expedition. Another possible development would be for me to conclude, after inquiry, that none of you five people was involved in the murder. Since Mrs. Jaffee's action is grounded on the possibility that one or more of you was involved, and is intended solely to prevent a culprit from profiting from a crime, such a conclusion would make the action needless. The purpose of this meeting is that inquiry by me."

"The purpose of this meeting," Helmar contradicted, "is an explanation by you and Counselor Parker of this whole outrageous proceeding!"

Wolfe's gaze pinned him. "Do you really mean that?"

"I certainly do!"

"Then get out." He waved a hand. "Out! I've had enough of you!"

They didn't move, except their heads, to exchange looks.