The Sound of Murder by Rex Stout

Author:Rex Stout [Stout, Rex]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-11-01T17:12:46+00:00

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Thirteen

« ^ »

“Waiting for me?” Hicks asked.

Vail said yes.

Hicks stopped in front of him and surveyed him with a swift inclusive glance. The Vail corporeal substance presented no feature that appealed to him; it lacked all semblance of grace; and he was stirred to active and irritated dislike by the broad insensitive nose, the cold shrewd eyes, and the thin selfish mouth. His fingers twitched with a desire to pick the visitor up without further ado and toss him downstairs; controlling that, he unlocked the door of his room and invited him to enter, let him have the comfortable chair, and turned the other chair around to face him.

“I tried to phone you,” Vail said, “but you don’t seem to have one.”

“No. If I had a phone people might call me up. Also it costs too much.”

Vails thin lips twisted with what was presumably intended as a smile. “I was asking my friend, Inspector Crouch of the police, about you this morning, and learned that you’re a very interesting character.”

“I don’t suppose,” Hicks remarked, “that you came down here just to tell me that?”

“Oh, no. I came to ask the purpose of your call at my office yesterday.”

“To try to find out whether Mrs. Dundee had ever been there to see you, and if so when and how often. Is that all?”

“I see.” Vail leaned back in the chair and stuck his thumbs in his vest pockets. “Then she didn’t send you. You’re working for Dundee.”

Hicks didn’t speak.

“Aren’t you?”

“Try another one,” Hicks suggested. “Ask me who darns my socks.”

Vail frowned. “All I’m trying to do,” he said evenly, “is to establish a basis. We may be able to discuss things to our mutual advantage, but before we can do so we shall have to establish a basis. I am prepared to be quite frank. For instance, does this interest you? Mrs. Dundee did call at my office yesterday noon.”

“Not much.”

“That doesn’t interest you?”

“Not much.” Hicks gestured impatiently. “Forget the basis and start with the mutual advantage. What have I got that you want?”

“You have intelligence. According to my friend the inspector, an extremely acute intelligence.”

“You can’t have that. I’m planning to keep it.”

“I don’t want it. I manage well enough with my own. I merely want you to use your intelligence.” Vail removed his thumbs from his pockets and leaned forward with his palms on his knees. “And persuade Dick Dundee to use his, if he has any left, which seems dubious. I put the facts squarely to you. Over two years ago Dundee took a hostile attitude toward me, but it was a long time before I learned why, that he suspected me of getting his formulas. I tried to tell him his suspicion was absurd, but he wouldn’t listen. The fact is, of course, that coincidences continuously occur in all fields of scientific research, and that is especially true of a field as specialized as ours. Dundee ought to know that; he does know it. Somehow he got this idiotic idea in his head.

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