The Father Hunt

"No. You've had two hours to consider it." "I was driving, not considering. Okay. First, of course, his alibi. Almost certainly it's tight, since he knows it can be checked, but I think Saul or Orrie should be put on it, not only the details but also whether she was with him for any part of it-even granting that he spent the month of July in a hospital with pneumonia. Opinion: it will be a waste of time and money. One will get you fifty that he is not Amy's father. He's too damned sure we're stopped. But I suppose it must be checked."

He nodded. "Orrie. Saul will be needed for chores more difficult." "He sure will. Now me. It's entirely my fault. Fritz,

I've changed my mind. May I have some coffee? You pour it, please, my hand might shake." I moved my chair around to face Wolfe. "I can't blame it on McCray. Even if he knew all about where Jarrett spent that summer, he didn't know when Amy was born. We hadn't told Ballou, so Ballou hadn't told him. But me? If I had the brains of a half-wit I would have asked McCray where Ballou was during July nineteen forty-four. It's entirely my fault that I drove up there through a cloudburst and invited that ape to push my nose in. Bounce me. Don't pay me for this week. I'll get a job sewing on buttons."

Fritz, who was there pouring coffee, said, "Not if you commit hara-kiri, Archie." He wouldn't have, with Wolfe there, if it had been the dining room or the office, but we were in his kitchen.

"It wasn't wholly futile," Wolfe said. "He gave you confirmation of what had been only a valid assumption, that he knew the date of birth. That's now established. Those places and dates had been arranged in his head before you arrived."

"Uh^huh." I drank coffee and burned my mouth. "Thanks for the bone. That about covers comment. A question, Do I tell the client about Carlotta Vaughn?"

"I think not. Not now. The telephone will do for telling her that we think it highly improbable that Mr. Jarrett sired her. What time is it?" He would have had to pivot his head to ask the kitchen clock.

"Eight thirty-five."

"You'll be late for poker. At Saul's apartment?"

"Yes. It always is."