The Doorbell Rang (The Rex Stout Library)

He nodded. "All right. I want to know, Goodwin. I know Wolfe has tangled with the FBI, and I want the picture. All of it. If it takes all day."

I shook my head. "That's out of bounds and you know it."

He exploded. "Goddammit, this is out of bounds! My being here! My getting you here! I thought you had some sense! Don't you realize what I'm doing?"

"No. I haven't the slightest idea what you're doing."

"Then I'll tell you. I know you pretty well, Goodwin. I know you and Wolfe cut corners, I ought to, but I also know what your limits are. So here, just you and me, I'll tell you. About two hours ago the Commissioner called me. He had had a call from Jim Perazzo-do you know who Jim Perazzo is?"

"Yeah, I happen to. Licensing Services, State Department, State of New York. Two-seventy Broadway."

"You would. I won't string it out. The FBI wants Perazzo to take Wolfe's license, and yours. Perazzo wants the Commissioner to give him whatever we've got on you. The Commissioner knows that for years I have had-uh-contacts with you, and he wants a full report, in writing. You know what reports are, it depends on who's writing them. Before I write this one I want to know what Wolfe has done or is doing to get the FBI on his neck. I want the whole picture."

When you are shown something that needs a good look it helps to have your hands doing something, like lighting a cigarette, but I don't smoke, or blowing your nose. I picked up the carton of milk, pried the flap open, and poured, carefully. One thing was obvious. He could have either phoned me to come to his office, or have come to Wolfe's house, but he hadn't because he suspected that our line was tapped and the house was watched. Therefore he didn't want the FBI to know that he was making contact, and he had gone to a lot of trouble to make it. He was telling me about the FBI and Perazzo and the Commissioner, which was ridiculous for a police inspector talking to a private detective. Therefore he didn't want us to lose our licenses, and therefore something was biting him, and it was desirable to find out what it was. In such a situation, before spilling it, especially to a cop, I should ring Wolfe and put it up to him, but that was out. My standing instructions were that in any emergency I was to use my intelligence guided by experience.

I did so. I sipped some milk, put the glass down, and said, "If you can break a rule so can I. It's like this."