Triple Jeopardy Read Online Free Page A

you wanted Arthur Rackell dead, but the police have had four days on that too, and I doubt if I could catch up. Since you were good enough to come here at Mrs. Rackells request, I suppose you would be willing to answer some questions,
    but there doesnt seem to be any worth asking. Have you people been together at any time since Saturday evening'
    Glances were exchanged. Leddegard inquired, Do you mean all five of us'
    Yes.
    No, we havent.
    Then I should think you would want to talk. Go ahead. Ill drink some beer and eavesdrop. Of course at least one of you will be on guard, but the others can speak freely. You might say something useful.
    Carol Berk, now nearer me, let out a little snort. Fritz had brought a tray, and Wolfe opened a bottle, poured, waited for the foam to reach the right level, and drank. Nobody said a word.
    Leddegard spoke. It doesnt seem to work. Did you expect it to'
    We ought to make it work, Fifi declared. I think hes damn considerate even if he is fat, and we should help. Her head turned. Carol, lets talk.
    Glad to, Carol agreed. You start. Shoot.
    Well, hows this'We all knew Arthur was practically a commissar, I always called him comrade, and we knew his aunt and uncle hated it, and he was afraid he might lose his job and have to go on belief but he was so damn brave and honest he couldnt keep his mouth shut. We all knew that'
    Of course.
    Did you know this too'He told me - a week ago today, I think it was. His aunt put it to him, reform or out on the street, and he told her he was secretly working for the FBI, spying on the Commies, but he wasnt. He thought the FBI was practically the Gestapo. I told him he shouldnt -
    Thats a lie! Mrs. Rackell didnt shout but she put lots of feeling in it.
    All eyes went to her. Her husband got up and put a hand on her shoulder. There were murmurs.
    Thats an infamous lie, she said. My nephew was a patriotic American. More than you are, all of you. All of you! She left her chair. Ive had enough of this. I shouldnt have come. Come, Ben, were going.
    She marched out. Rackell muttered to Wolfe, A shock for her - a real shock -
    Ill phone you - and trotted after her. I went to the hall to let them out,
    but she had already opened the door and was on the stoop, and Rackell followed.
    I shut the door and went back to the office.
    They were buzzing. Fifi had started them talking, all right. Wolfe was refilling his glass, watching the foam rise. I crossed to Fifi and took her glass and went to the table to replenish it, thinking she had earned a little service. She was the center of the buzzing, supplying the details of her revelation. She was sure Arthur had not been stringing her; he had told her in strict confidence, at a place and time she declined to specify, that he had told his aunt a barefaced lie - that he was working for the FBI and it must not be known. No, she hadnt told the police. She didnt like the police, especially a Lieutenant Rowcliff,
    who had questioned her three times and was a lout.
    I looked and listened and tried to decide if Fifi was putting on an act. She was hard to tag. Was one of the others covering, and if so which one'I reached no conclusion and had no hunch. They were all interested and inquisitive, even Delia Devlin, though she didnt address Fifi directly. The only one who knew I was there was Carol Berk, who sent me a slanting glance and saw me catch it. I raised a brow at her. What is it, a pitchout'
    You name it. She smiled, the way she might smile at a panhandler, humane but superior. Why, whos on base'
    I decided it right then, she was worth looking at, if for nothing else, to find out what she was keeping back. Theyre loaded, I told her. Five of you. Its against the rules. The umpire wont allow it. Mr. Wolfe is the umpire.
    He looks to me more like the backstop, she said indifferently.
    I saw that it might be necessary, if events permitted, to find an opportunity to spend enough time with her to make it clear that I didnt like her.
    All