The Rubber Band

I moved chairs around. Cramer introduced Hombert and Skinner, but Skinner and Wolfe had already met. At Cramer's request I took Purley Stebbins to the kitchen and told him to play checkers with Johnny Keems. When I got back Hombert was shooting off his mouth about defiance of the law, and I got at my desk and ostentatiously opened my notebook. Cramer was looking more worried than I had ever seen him. District Attorney Skinner, already sunk in his chair as if he had been there all evening, had the wearied cynical expression of a man who had some drinks three hours ago and none since.

Hombert was practically yelling. "… and you're responsible for it! If you had turned those three people over to us last night this wouldn't have happened! Cramer tells me they were here in this office! Walsh was here! This afternoon we had him at headquarters and your man wouldn't point him out! You are directly and legally responsible for his death!" The Police Commissioner brought his fist down on the arm of his chair and glared. Cramer was looking at him and shaking his head faintly.

"This sudden onslaught is overwhelming," Wolfe murmured. "If I am legally responsible for Mr. Walsh's death, arrest me. But please don't shout at me-"

"All right! You've asked for it!" Hombert turned to the inspector. "Put him under arrest!"

Cramer said quietly, "Yes, sir. What charge?"

"Any charge! Material witness! We'll see whether he'll talk or not!"

Cramer stood up. Wolfe said, "Perhaps I should warn you, Mr. Hombert. If I am arrested, I shall do no talking whatever. And if I do no talking, you have no possible chance of solving the problem you are confronted with." He wiggled a finger. "I don't shout, but I never say anything I don't mean. Proceed, Mr. Cramer."

Cramer stood still. Hombert looked at him, then looked grimly at Wolfe. "You'll talk or you'll rot!"