ate with a stranger。 There's only one person on earth he would do that for： you。 So if I was pretty ardent in the car； I knew what I was doing。 And don't worry about me…whatever you're up to； my lips are sealed。 Anyway； to me you will always be Pete。 The only woman in America who has necked with Nero Wolfe…my God； I'll treasure it forever。 Now I'll go make some sandwiches。 What kind of a diet are you on？〃
Wolfe said through his teeth； 〃I care for nothing。〃
〃That can't be。 A peach？ Grapes？ A leaf of lettuce？〃
〃No！〃
〃A glass of water？〃
〃Yes！〃
She left the room； leering at me as she went by。 In a moment the sound of her movements in the kitchen came faintly。
I told Wolfe offensively； 〃It was you who said we needed a woman。〃
〃It was you who selected her。〃
〃You okayed her。〃
〃It's done；〃 he said bitterly。 〃So are we。 She'll blab； of course。〃
〃There's one hope；〃 I suggested。 〃Marry her。 She wouldn't betray her own husband。 And apparently in that one short ride uptown with her…〃
I stopped abruptly。 The face as a whole was no longer his； but the eyes alone were enough to tell me when I had gone far enough。
〃I'll tell you what I'll do；〃 I offered。 〃I know her quite well。 Two things that could conceivably happen： first； you might go to Zeck tomorrow and tell him who you are； and second。 Lily might spill it either thoughtfully or thoughtlessly。 I'll bet you ten bucks the first happens as soon as the second。〃
He growled。 〃She's a woman。〃
〃All right； bet me。〃
The bet didn't get made。 Not that Wolfe came to my point of view about Lily Rowan； but what could the poor son of a gun do？ He couldn't even take to the bushes again and start all over。 From that point on； though； up to the end； the strain was ten rimes worse for him than for me。 It cramped his style some all that night； after Lily had gone off to bed and we talked in the living room until long after dawn。 At six o'clock he went。 Probably it would then have been safe for me to go too； since if they were enough interested in him to have posted a sentry outside the building he would almost certainly leave when Roeder did； but probabilities weren't good enough now； not after the picture Wolfe had given me and the program he had drawn up； so I took a good two…hour nap before leaving for 35th Street and a bath and breakfast。
At ten o'clock I was at 1019； starting at the phone to get hold of Saul and Orrie and Fred。
I did not like it at all。 The way Wolfe was getting set to play it； it looked to me as if we had one chance in a thousand； and while that may be good enough to go ahead on when what you're after is to nail a guy on a charge； and if you muff it the worst you get is a new start under a handicap； it's a little different when a muff means curtains。 I had of course told Wolfe all I knew； including Inspector Cramer's visit and advice； but that only made him stubborner。 With Zeck on Rackham's tail； through me； it seemed likely that the murderer of Mrs。 Rackham might get his proper voltage with Zeck's blessing； and since that was all that Wolfe was mitted to； why not settle for it？ For now anyway； and then take a good breath。 As for mitments； I had one of my own。 I had promised myself to see Norway before I died。
So I didn't like it； and I either had to lump it or bow out。 I tossed a coin： heads I stick； tails I quit。 It landed tails； but I had to veto it because I had already talked to Orrie Gather and he was ing at noon； and I had left messages for Fred Durkin and Saul Panzer。 I tossed again； tails again。 I tossed once more and it was heads； which settled it。 I had to stick。
The tailing of Barry Rackham was a classic； especially after the first week。
It was a shame to waste the talents of Saul Panzer on what was actually a burlesque； but it was good to have him around anyhow。 I briefed them all together at 1019； Wednesday evening； with Saul perched on a corner of the desk because there were only three chairs。 Saul was undersized； inconspicuous all but his nose； and the best all…round man alive。 Fred Durkin was big and clumsy； with a big red face； with no Doberman pinscher in him but plenty of bulldog。 Orrie Gather was slender and muscular and handsome； just the man to mingle with the guests at a swell dinner party when circumstances called for it。 After I had explained the job； with details as required； I supplied a little background。
〃As far as you know；〃 I told them； 〃I'm only doing this for practice。 Your only contact is me。 There is no client。〃
〃Jesus；〃 Fred remarked； 〃a hundred bucks a day and more with expenses？ I guess you ought to pay in advance。〃
〃Take it up with the NLRB；〃 I said stiffly。 〃As an employer； I do not invite familiarities from the help。〃
〃Of course；〃 Orrie stated with an understanding smile； 〃it's just a coincidence that this Rackham was with you once at the scene of a murder。 When you got tossed in the coop。〃
〃That's irrelevant。 Let us stick to the point； gentlemen。 I want to make it clear that I do not actually care a damn where Rackham goes or what he does or who he sees。 You are to hang on and report in full； since that's the proper way to handle a dry run； but I don't want anyone to get hurt。 If he turns on you and starts throwing rocks； dodge and run。 If you lose him； as of course you will； don't bark your shins trying to hurdle。〃
〃You ought to have workmen's pensation insurance；〃 Fred advised。
〃Then we could be serious about it。〃
〃Do you mean；〃 Saul Panzer asked； 〃that the purpose is to get on his nerves？〃
〃No。 Play it straight。 I only mean it's not life and death…until further notice。〃 I pushed my chair back and got up。 〃And now I wish to prove that being an employer hasn't changed me any。 You may continue to call me Archie。 You may e with me to Thirty…fifth Street； where we will find a poker deck； and Fritz will make five； and when we have finished I'll lend you carfare home。〃
For the record； I lost twelve dollars。 Saul was the big winner。 One hand； I had three nines and…but I'd better get on。
Rackham was living at the Churchill； in an air…conditioned suite in the tower。 During the first week we piled quite a biography of him。 He never stuck his nose outside before one o'clock； and once not until four。
His ports of call included two banks； a law office； nine bars； two clubs； a barber shop； seven other shops and stores； three restaurants； three theaters； two night spots； and miscellaneous。 He usually ate lunch with a man or men； and dinner with a woman。 Not the same woman； three different ones during the week。 As described by my operatives； they were a credit to their sex； to the American way of life； and to the International Ladie's Garment Worker's Union。
I took on a little of it myself； but mostly I left it to the help。 Not that I loafed。 There were quite a few hours with Lily Rowan； off and on； both as a substitute for the trip to Norway； indefinitely postponed； and as a check on the soundness of the estimate of her I had given Wolfe。 She caused me no qualms。 Once when we were dancing she sighed for Pete； and once at her apartment she said she would love to help some more with my work； but when I tactfully made it plain that the detective business was not on our agenda she took it nicely and let it lay。
There were other things； including the reports on Rackham to be typed。
Late every afternoon Max Christy called at my office to get the report of the day before； and he would sit and read it and ask questions。 When he got critical； I would explain patiently that I couldn't very well post a man at the door of Rackham's suite to take pictures of all the ers and goers； and that we were scoring better than eighty per cent on all his hours outside； which was exceptional for New York tailing。
I had the advantage； of course； of having had the situation described to me by their Pete Roeder。 They were worried a little about Westchester； but more about the city。 Shortly after he had bee a millionaire by way of a steak knife； whoever had used it； Rackham had got word to Zeck that he was no longer available for contacts。 Brownie Costigan had got to Rackham； thinking to put the bee on him； and had been tossed out on his ear。 The stink being raised in Washington on gambling and rackets； and the resulting enthusiasm in the office of the New York County District Attorney； had started an epidemic of jitters； and it was quite possible that if one of my typed reports had told of a visit by Rackham to the DA's office； or of one by an assistant DA to Rackham's suite； Rackham would have had a bad accident； like getting run over or falling into the river with lead in him。 That was why Wolfe had given me careful and explicit instructions about what I should report and what I shouldn't。
I had no sight or sound of Wolfe。 He was to let me know if and when there was something stirring； and I had been told how to reach him if I had to。
Meanwhile I had my schedule； and on the ninth day； a Friday； the first of September； it called for a move。 Things looked right for it。 Saul； on instructions； had let himself get spotted once； and Orrie twice； and Fred； without instructions； at least three times。 I too ha