The Bloodied Ivy by Robert Goldsborough

Author:Robert Goldsborough [Goldsborough, Robert]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2011-06-09T07:00:00+00:00

TWELVE

As it turned out, the dinner merited our anticipation.

Wolfe pronounced the chicken and dumplings “more than adequate,” and I had to agree, scoring them at least a high B on my own scale, which is saying something, given my years dining on the creations of Fritz Brenner. Wolfe was anchored in his chair for the meal, which got wheeled in on a tablecloth-covered cart at precisely seven o’clock by none other than our mustachioed and minuscule dandy of a waiter, whom I rewarded with a finif, if only to see just how wide that grin could stretch. I pulled one of the straight-backed chairs up to the cart and mainly chewed and listened while Wolfe expounded on why terms of members of the House of Representatives should

be extended from two years to four. He was surprisingly amiable, given that I’d uprooted him from home and routine and that he would soon be spending the night in a bed designed for mortals of standard proportions. His mood dived into the basement fast, though, when a call came from Cortland that indicated he would now have to do something to earn his fee.

I listened on the bedroom extension while the professor reported to Wolfe that, much to his astonishment, he had connected with all five subjects, and that three of them— Schmidt, Greenbaum, and Elena Moreau—had agreed to see Wolfe that night at nine. Potter and Gretchen Frazier claimed previous engagements, although the president, after much grumbling, said he would come at nine-thirty the next morning, while Gretchen was set for eleven.

“I should tell you that they weren’t exactly elated, though.” Cortland sounded none too pleased himself. “Particularly Schmidt and Greenbaum. The only way I sold Orville was to tell him that Ted and Elena already had agreed to see you. And then there was Potter: He took umbrage at first and voiced the opinion that the entire notion of murder was ridiculous. When I informed him several of the faculty had already agreed to come to your room, he retreated and said he would talk to you in his office tomorrow. My response was that you were not prepared to leave the Inn under any circumstances, and he snorted and said okay, he’d humor you. I think his primary concern is about bad publicity for the school.”

“Undoubtedly. How did the women react?”

“Elena didn’t seem terribly surprised for some reason. At least she didn’t fight the idea, although she complained that she was in the middle of grading papers. As far as the Frazier girl, she sounded shocked—and a little frightened, too, I’d have to say.”

“Very well,” Wolfe said. “You probably will hear from Mr. Goodwin sometime tomorrow.”

“You don’t want me to be there when you talk to the others?”

“Not necessary,” Wolfe said curtly, which caused a relieved sigh on the other end.

“You have to admit he did pretty well,” I said as I walked back to where Wolfe was polishing off the last of the strawberries Romanoff. “Adequate” was all I

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