Rex Stout - Nero Wolfe - Red Box

by The Red Box (lit)

  “Wait!” McNair called out. “Wait a minute, you don't understand!” Wolfe turned and stood. McNair continued, “In the first place, why try to browbeat me? That's ridiculous. Cramer couldn't take me to your office, or any place, if I didn't care to go, you know that. Of course Molly—of course the murder was terrible.

  Good God, don't I know it? And naturally I'll do anything I can to help clear it up. But what's the use? I've told Cramer everything I know, we've been over it a dozen times. Sit down.” He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his forehead and nose, started to return it to his pocket and then threw it on the desk. “I'm going to have a breakdown. Sit down. I worked fourteen hours a day getting the spring line ready, enough to kill a man, and then this comes on top of it. You've been dragged into this by Lew Frost. What the devil does he know about it?” He glared at Frost. “I've told it over and over to the police until I'm sick of it. Sit down, won't you? Ten minutes is all you'll need for what I know, anyhow. That's what makes it worse, as I've told Cramer, nobody knows anything. And Lew Frost knows less than that.” He glared at the young man. “You know damn well you're just trying to use it as a lever to pry Helen out of here.” He transferred the glare to Wolfe. “Do you expect me to have anything better than the barest courtesy for you? Why should I?” Wolfe had returned to his chair and got himself lowered into it, without taking his eyes off McNair's face. Frost started to speak, but I silenced him with a shake of the head. McNair picked up the handkerchief and passed it across his forehead and threw it down again. He pulled open the top right drawer of his desk and looked in it, muttered, “Where the devil's that aspirin?” tried the drawer on the left, reached in and brought out a small bottle, shook a couple of tablets onto his palm, poured half a glass of water from a thermos carafe, tossed the tablets into his mouth, and washed them down.

  He looked at Wolfe and complained resentfully, “I've had a hell of a headache for two weeks. I've taken a ton of aspirin and it doesn't help any. I'm going to have a breakdown. That's the truth—” There was a knock, and the door opened. The intruder was a tall handsome woman in a black dress with rows of white buttons. She came on in, glanced politely around, and said in a voice full of culture: “Excuse me, please.” She looked at McNair: “That 1241 resort, the cashmere plain tabby with the medium oxford twill stripe—can that be done in two shades of natural Shetland with basket instead of tabby?” McNair frowned at her and demanded, “What?” She took a breath. “That 1241 resort—” “Oh. I heard you. It cannot. The line stands, Mrs. Lament. You know that.” “I know. Mrs. Frost wants it.” McNair straightened up. “Mrs. Frost? Is she here?” The woman nodded. “She's ordering. I told her you were engaged. She's taking two of the Portsmouth ensembles.” “Oh. She is.” McNair had suddenly stopped fidgeting, and his voice, though still thin, sounded more under command. “I want to see her. Ask if it will suit her convenience to wait till I'm through here.” “And the 1241 in two shades of Shetland—” “Yes. Of course. Add fifty dollars.” The woman nodded, excused herself again, and departed.

  McNair glanced at his wrist watch, shot a sharp one at young Frost, and looked at Wolfe. “You can still have ten minutes.” Wolfe shook his head. “I won't need them. You're nervous, Mr. McNair. You're upset.” “What? You won't need them?” “No. You probably lead too active a life, running around getting women dressed.” Wolfe shuddered. “Horrible. I would like to ask you two questions. First, regarding the death of Molly Lauck, have you anything to add to what you have told Mr. Cramer and Mr. Frost? I know pretty well what that is. Anything new?” “No.” McNair was frowning. He picked up his handkerchief and wiped his forehead.

  “No. Nothing whatever.” “Very well. Then it would be futile to take up more of your time. The other question: may I be shown a room where some of your employees may be sent to me for conversation? I shall make it as brief as possible. Particularly Miss Helen Frost, Miss Thelma Mitchell, and Mrs. Lament. I don't suppose Mr. Perren Gebert happens to be here?” McNair snapped, “Gebert? Why the devil should he be?” “I don't know.” Wolfe lifted his shoulders half an inch, and dropped them. “I ask. I understand he was here one week ago yesterday, the day Miss Lauck died, when you were having your show. I believe you call it a show?” “I had a show, yes. Gebert dropped in. Scores of people were here. About talking with the girls and Mrs. Lament— if you make it short you can do it here. I have to go down to the floor.” “I would prefer something less—more humble. If you please.” “Suit yourself.” McNair got up. “Take them to one of the booths, Lew. I'll tell Mrs. Lamont. Do you want her first?” “I'd like to start with Miss Frost and Miss Mitchell. Together.” “You may be interrupted, if they're needed.” “I shall be patient.” “All right. You tell them, Lew?” He looked around, grabbed his handkerchief from the desk and stuffed it in his pocket, and bustled out.

  Llewellyn Frost, rising, began to protest, “I don't see why you didn't—” Wolfe stopped him. “Mr. Frost. I endure only to my limit. Obviously, Mr. McNair is sick, but you cannot make that claim to tolerance. Don't forget that you are responsible for this grotesque expedition. Where is this booth?” “Well, I'm paying for it.” “Not adequately. You couldn't. Come, sir!” Frost led us out and back down the corridor, and opened the door at the end on the left. He switched on lights, said he would be back soon, and disappeared. I moved my eyes. It was a small paneled room with a table, a smoking stand, full-length mirrors, and three dainty silk chairs. Wolfe stood and looked at the mess, and his lips tightened.

  He said, “Revolting. I will not—I will not.” I grinned at him. “I know damn well you won't, and for once I don't blame you.

  I'll get it.” I went out and strode down the corridor to McNair's office, entered, heaved his chair to my shoulder, and proceeded back to the booth with it. Frost and the two goddesses were going in as I got there. Frost went for another chair, and I planked my prize down behind the table and observed to Wolfe, “If you get so you like it we'll take it home with us.” Frost returned with his contribution, and I told him, “Go and get three bottles of cold light beer and a glass and an opener. We've got to keep him alive.” He lifted his brows at me. “You're crazy.” I murmured, “Was I crazy when I suggested that letter from the orchid guys? Get the beer.” He went. I negotiated myself into a chair with the blonde pippin on one side and the sylph on the other. Wolfe was sniffing the air. He suddenly demanded: “Are all of these booths perfumed like this?” “Yes, they are.” The blonde smiled at him. “It's not us.” “No. It was here before you came in. Pfui. And you girls work here. They call you models?” That's what they call us. I'm Thelma Mitchell.” The blonde waved an expert graceful hand. “This is Helen Frost.” Wolfe nodded, and turned to the sylph. “Why do you work here, Miss Frost? You don't have to. Do you?” Helen Frost put level eyes on him, with a little crease in her brow between them. She said quietly, “My cousin told us you wished to ask us about—about Molly Lauck.” “Indeed.” Wolfe leaned back, warily, to see if the chair would take it. There was no creak, and he settled. “Understand this, Miss Frost: I am a detective.

  Therefore, while I may be accused of incompetence or stupidity, I may not be charged with impertinence. However nonsensical or irrelevant my questions may seem to you, they may be filled with the deepest significance and the most sinister implications. That is the tradition of my profession. As a matter of fact, I was merely making an effort to get acquainted with you.” Her eyes stayed level. “I am doing this as a favor to my cousin Lew. He didn't ask me to get acquainted.” She swallowed. “He asked me to answer questions about last Monday.” Wolfe leaned forward and snapped, “Only as a favor to your cousin? Wasn't Molly Lauck your friend? Wasn't she murdered? You aren't interested in helping with that?” It didn't jolt her much. She swallowed again, but stayed steady.

  “Interested—yes. Of course. But I've told the police—I don't see what Lew—I don't see why you—” She stopped herself and jerked her head up and demanded, “Haven't I said I'll answer
your questions? It's awful—it's an awful thing—” “So it is.” Wolfe turned abruptly to the blonde. “Miss Mitchell. I understand that at twenty minutes past four last Monday afternoon, a week ago yesterday, you and Miss Frost took the elevator together, downstairs, and got out at this floor. Right?” She nodded.

  And there was no one up here; that is, you saw no one. You walked down the corridor to the fifth door on the left, across the corridor from Mr. McNair's office, and entered that room, which is an apartment used as a rest room for the four models who work here. Molly Lauck was in there. Right?” She nodded again. Wolfe said, Tell me what happened.” The blonde took a breath. “Well, we started to talk about the show and the customers and so on. Nothing special. We did that about three minutes, and then suddenly Molly said she forgot, and she reached under a coat and pulled out a box—” “Permit me. What were Miss Lauck's words?” “She just said she forgot, she had seme loot—” “No. Please. What did she say? Her exact words.” The blonde stared at him. “Well, if I can. She said, let's see: ‘Oh, I forgot, girls, I've got some loot. Swiped it as clean as a whistle.’ While she was saying that she was pulling the box from under the coat—” “Where was the coat?” “It was her coat, lying on the table.” “Where were you?” “Me? I was right there, standing there. She was sitting on the table.” “Where was Miss Frost?” “She was—she was across by the mirror, fixing her hair. Weren't you, Helen?” The sylph merely nodded. Wolfe said: “And then? Exactly. Exact words.” “Well, she handed me the box and I took it and opened it, and I said—” “Had it been opened before?” “I don't know. It didn't have any wrapping or ribbon or anything on it. I opened it and I said, ‘Gee, it's two pounds and never been touched. Where'd you get it, Molly?’ She said, ‘I told you, I swiped it Is it any good?’ She asked Helen to have some—” “Her words.” Miss Mitchell frowned. “I don't know. Just ‘Have some, Helen,’ or ‘Join the party, Helen’—something like that. Anyway, Helen didn't take any—” “What did she say?” “I don't know. What did you say, Helen?” Miss Frost spoke without swallowing. I don't remember. I just had had cocktails, and I didn't want any.” The blonde nodded. “Something like that. Then Molly took a piece and I took a piece—” “Please.” Wolfe wiggled a finger at her. “You were holding the box?” “Yes. Molly had handed it to me.” “Miss Frost didn't have it in her hands at all?” “No, I told you, she said she didn't want any. She didn't even look at it.” “And you and Miss Lauck each took a piece—” “Yes. I took candied pineapple. It was a mixture; chocolates, bonbons, nuts, candied fruits, everything. I ate it. Molly put her piece in her mouth, all of it, and after she bit into it she said—she said it was strong—” “Words, please.” “Well, she said, let's see: ‘My God, it's 200 proof, but not so bad, I can take it.’ She made a face, but she chewed it and swallowed it. Then...well...you wouldn't believe how quick it was—” “I'll try to. Tell me.” “Not more than half a minute, Fm sure it wasn't. I took another piece and was eating it, and Molly was looking into the box, saying something about taking the taste out of her mouth—” She stopped because the door popped open. Llewellyn Frost appeared, carrying a paper bag. I got up and took it from him, and extracted from it the opener and glass and bottles and arranged them in front of Wolfe. Wolfe picked up the opener and felt of a bottle.

  “Umph. Schreirer's. It's too cold.” I sat down again. “It'll make a bead. Try it.” He poured. Helen Frost was saying to her cousin: “So that's what you went for. Your detective wants to know exactly what I said, my exact words, and he asks Thelma if I handled the box of candy...” Frost patted her on the shoulder. “Now, Helen. Take ft easy. He knows what he's doing...” One bottle was empty, and the glass. Frost sat down. Wolfe wiped his lips.

  “You were saying, Miss Mitchell, Miss Lauck spoke of taking the taste out of her mouth.” The blonde nodded. “Yes. And then—well-all of a sudden she straightened up and made a noise. She didn't scream, it was just a noise, a horrible noise. She got off the table and then leaned back against it and her face was all twisted...it was...twisted. She looked at me with her eyes staring, and her mouth went open and shut but she couldn't say anything, and suddenly she shook all over and grabbed for me and got hold of my hair...and...and...” “Yes, Miss Mitchell.” The blonde gulped. “Well, when she went down she took me with her because she had hold of my hair. Then of course I was scared. I jerked away. Later, when the doctor...when people came, she had a bunch of my hair gripped in her fingers.” Wolfe eyed her. “You have good nerves, Miss Mitchell.” “I'm not a softy. I had a good cry after I got home that night, I cried it out.

  But I didn't cry then. Helen stood against the wall and trembled and stared and couldn't move, shell tell you that herself. I ran to the elevator and yelled for help, and then I ran back and put the lid on the box of candy and held onto it until Mr. McNair came and then I gave it to him. Molly was dead, I could see that. She was crumpled up. She fell down dead.” She gulped again. “Maybe you could tell me. The doctor said it was some kind of acid, and it said in the paper potassium cyanide.” Lew Frost put in, “Hydrocyanic. The police say—it's the same thing. I told you that. Didn't I?” Wolfe wiggled a finger at him. “Please, Mr. Frost. It is I who am to earn the fee, you to pay it. —Then Miss Mitchell, you felt no discomfort from your two pieces, and Miss Lauck ate only one.” “That's all.” The blonde shivered. 'It's terrible, to think there's something that can kill you that quick. She couldn't even speak. You could see it go right through her, when she shook all over. I held onto the box, but I got rid of it as soon as I saw Mr. McNair.” “Then, I understand, you ran away.” She nodded. “I ran to the washroom.” She made a face. 1 had to throw up. I had eaten two pieces.” “Indeed. Most efficient.” Wolfe had opened another bottle, and was pouring. “To go back a little. You had not seen that box of candy before Miss Lauck took it from under the coat?” “No. I hadn't.” “What do you suppose she meant when she said she had swiped it?” “Why—she meant—she saw it somewhere and took it.” Wolfe turned. “Miss Frost. What do you suppose Miss Lauck meant by that?” “I suppose she meant what she said, that she swiped it. Stole it.” “Was that customary with her? Was she a thief?” “Of course not. She only took a box of candy. She did it for a joke, I suppose.

  She liked to play jokes—to do things like that.” “Had you seen the box before she produced it in that room?” “No.” Wolfe emptied his glass in five gulps, which was par, and wiped his lips. His half-shut eyes were on the blonde. “I believe you went to lunch that day with Miss Lauck. Tell us about that.” “Well—Molly and I went together about one o'clock. We were hungry because we had been working hard—the show had been going on since eleven o'clock—but we only went to the drug store around the corner because we had to be back in twenty minutes to give Helen and the extras a chance. The show was supposed to be from eleven to two, but we knew they'd keep dropping in. We ate sandwiches and custard and came straight back.” “Did you see Miss Lauck swipe the box of candy at the drug store?” “Of course I didn't. She wouldn't do that.” “Did you get it at the drug store yourself and bring it back with you?” Miss Mitchell stared at him. She said, disgusted, “For the Lord's sake. No.” “You're sure Miss Lauck didn't get it somewhere while out for lunch?” “Of course I'm sure. I was right with her.” “And she didn't go out again during the afternoon?” “No. We were working together until half past three, when there was a let-up and she left to go upstairs, and a little later Helen and I came up and found her here. There in the restroom.” “And she ate a piece of candy and died, and you ate two and didn't.” Wolfe sighed. “There is of course the possibility that she had brought the box with her when she came to work that morning.” The blonde shook her head. “I've thought of that. We've all talked about it. She didn't have any package. Anyway, where could it have been all morning? It wasn't in the restroom, and there wasn't any place else...” Wolfe nodded. “That's the devil of it. It's recorded history. You aren't really telling me your fresh and direct memory o
f what happened last Monday, you're merely repeating the talk it has been resolved into. —I beg you, no offense; you can't help it. I should have been here last Monday afternoon—or rather, I shouldn't have been here at all. I shouldn't be here now.” He glared at Llewellyn Frost, then remembered the beer, filled his glass, and drank.

  He looked from one girl to the other. “You know, of course, what the problem is.

  Last Monday there were more than a hundred people here, mostly women but a few men; for that show. It was a cold March day and they all wore coats. Who brought that box of candy? The police have questioned everyone connected with this establishment. They have found no one who ever saw the box or will admit to any knowledge of it. No one who saw Miss Lauck with it or has any idea where she got it. An impossible situation!” He wiggled a finger at Frost. “I told you, sir, this case is not within my province. I can use a dart or a rapier, but I cannot set traps throughout the territory of the metropolitan district. Who brought the poison here? Whom was it intended for? God knows, but I am not prepared to make a call on Him, no matter how many orchid-growers are coerced into signing idiotic letters. I doubt if it is worthwhile for me to try even for the second half of your fee, since your cousin—your orthocousin—refuses to become acquainted with me. As for the first half, the solution of Miss Lauck's death, I could undertake that only through interviews with all of the persons who were in this place last Monday; and I doubt if you could persuade even the innocent ones to call at my office.” Lew Frost muttered, “It's your job. You took it. If you're not up to it—” “Nonsense. Does a bridge engineer dig ditches?” Wolfe opened the third bottle.

  “I believe I have not thanked you for this beer. I do thank you. I assure you, sir, this problem is well within my abilities in so far as it is possible to apply them. In so far—for instance, take Miss Mitchell here. Is she telling the truth? Did she murder Molly Lauck? Let us find out.” He turned and got sharp.