opened a book, not by a member of the committee, and was scowling at it, so I went for a walk. His brain works better when he is sitting down and mine when I am on my feet. Not that I would dream of comparing mine with his, though I do believe that in one or two respects- Oh, well.
Back in the office after dinner, and after coffee, I said politely that if I wasn't needed I would go and do a couple of personal errands. He asked if they were urgent, and I said no but I might as well get them done if we had nothing on hand.
'That's uncalled for,' he growled. 'Have you a suggestion?'
'No. None that I like.'
'Neither have I. We have never been in a comparable situation. We can't explore motives; we know the motive. We can't set a trap; where would we put it'We can't ask questions of people; whom would we ask, and what'The forty-seven that Mr Cramer's men have already seen and will see again'Pfui. Five hours for each would take ten hours a day for three weeks and more. We're almost as badly off as on Monday, when I told that confounded committee that it was no longer my kind of job and then idiotically consented to proceed with the plan proposed by Mr Oshin. I admit it might have worked if we had taken proper precautions. Now Simon Jacobs is dead. I invite suggestions.'
'Yeah. When I went for a walk you knew I wanted to think. I did. When I got back you knew from the expression on my face that I was empty, and I knew you were. The best I can do is remind you that thinking is your department. I haven't pestered you, have I'I know darned well it's a beaut.'
'Then I have a suggestion. I don't like it, but we must either act or capitulate. You told Mr Oshin on Monday that Jane Ogilvy might grab at the bait or she might spurn it. We have his ten thousand dollars and Mr Dexter's offer to make any necessary contribution. It may be worth trying.'
'It may,' I conceded. 'Wait till you see her.'
'I'm not going to see her. That's for you. You are adept at dealing with personable young women, and I am not. Of course you will be severely handicapped. For Simon Jacobs you were provided with agreements by Richard Echols and Title House not to prosecute or demand reimbursement. You can't offer that inducement to Jane Ogilvy. She won her case in court, and even if we could get a similar agreement from Marjorie Lippin's heirs and from Nahm and Son, her publishers, which is doubtful, again our plan would be known to a number of people.'
'Then it's a hell of a suggestion.'
He nodded. 'But it leads to another. From Jane Ogilvy's testimony at the trial, and from your report of your encounter with her, I gather that she is daft, and therefore unpredictable. Another approach might get her. Appeal to her sensibilities. Disclose the situation to her, all of it. Explain why we know that her claim against Marjorie Lippin was instigated by some person unknown to us, X. That X, threatened by imminent exposure, killed Simon Jacobs. Describe the grief and the plight of the widow and children; you might take her to see them and talk with them. Can you get a photograph of the corpse?'
'Probably, from Lon Cohen.'
'Show it to her. Get one that shows the face, if possible; the face of a dead man before it has been rearranged is much more affecting than a mere heap of clothing. If you can't stir her sympathy perhaps you can arouse her fear. She is herself in peril; X may decide that she too must be removed. It would probably be a mistake to try to get her to supply evidence and details of her association with X, of the swindling of Marjorie Lippin; that would scare her off; all you really need is his name. Once we know him he is doomed. I want your opinion.'
I glanced at the clock: ten minutes past nine. 'It may take a while to find Lon. After seven o'clock there's no telling where he is. And the photograph would help.'
'You think it's worth trying?'
'Sure. It may work. We've got to try something.'
'We have indeed. Then as early in the morning as may
Back in the office after dinner, and after coffee, I said politely that if I wasn't needed I would go and do a couple of personal errands. He asked if they were urgent, and I said no but I might as well get them done if we had nothing on hand.
'That's uncalled for,' he growled. 'Have you a suggestion?'
'No. None that I like.'
'Neither have I. We have never been in a comparable situation. We can't explore motives; we know the motive. We can't set a trap; where would we put it'We can't ask questions of people; whom would we ask, and what'The forty-seven that Mr Cramer's men have already seen and will see again'Pfui. Five hours for each would take ten hours a day for three weeks and more. We're almost as badly off as on Monday, when I told that confounded committee that it was no longer my kind of job and then idiotically consented to proceed with the plan proposed by Mr Oshin. I admit it might have worked if we had taken proper precautions. Now Simon Jacobs is dead. I invite suggestions.'
'Yeah. When I went for a walk you knew I wanted to think. I did. When I got back you knew from the expression on my face that I was empty, and I knew you were. The best I can do is remind you that thinking is your department. I haven't pestered you, have I'I know darned well it's a beaut.'
'Then I have a suggestion. I don't like it, but we must either act or capitulate. You told Mr Oshin on Monday that Jane Ogilvy might grab at the bait or she might spurn it. We have his ten thousand dollars and Mr Dexter's offer to make any necessary contribution. It may be worth trying.'
'It may,' I conceded. 'Wait till you see her.'
'I'm not going to see her. That's for you. You are adept at dealing with personable young women, and I am not. Of course you will be severely handicapped. For Simon Jacobs you were provided with agreements by Richard Echols and Title House not to prosecute or demand reimbursement. You can't offer that inducement to Jane Ogilvy. She won her case in court, and even if we could get a similar agreement from Marjorie Lippin's heirs and from Nahm and Son, her publishers, which is doubtful, again our plan would be known to a number of people.'
'Then it's a hell of a suggestion.'
He nodded. 'But it leads to another. From Jane Ogilvy's testimony at the trial, and from your report of your encounter with her, I gather that she is daft, and therefore unpredictable. Another approach might get her. Appeal to her sensibilities. Disclose the situation to her, all of it. Explain why we know that her claim against Marjorie Lippin was instigated by some person unknown to us, X. That X, threatened by imminent exposure, killed Simon Jacobs. Describe the grief and the plight of the widow and children; you might take her to see them and talk with them. Can you get a photograph of the corpse?'
'Probably, from Lon Cohen.'
'Show it to her. Get one that shows the face, if possible; the face of a dead man before it has been rearranged is much more affecting than a mere heap of clothing. If you can't stir her sympathy perhaps you can arouse her fear. She is herself in peril; X may decide that she too must be removed. It would probably be a mistake to try to get her to supply evidence and details of her association with X, of the swindling of Marjorie Lippin; that would scare her off; all you really need is his name. Once we know him he is doomed. I want your opinion.'
I glanced at the clock: ten minutes past nine. 'It may take a while to find Lon. After seven o'clock there's no telling where he is. And the photograph would help.'
'You think it's worth trying?'
'Sure. It may work. We've got to try something.'
'We have indeed. Then as early in the morning as may
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