He was frowning at her. “Are you set on this?”
“Yes. Good and set.”
“Okay.” He settled back in his chair. “I stick here. I’m for the Frosts, but you’re the first one on the list. You’re... Oh, nothing.” He flushed a little. “Go to it.”
“Thank you, Lew.” She turned to Wolfe. “I suppose you want me to sign something?”
Wolfe shook his head. “That won’t be necessary.” He had leaned back and his eyes were half closed. “My charge will be adequate, but not exorbitant. I shan’t attempt to make you pay for your cousin’s volatility. But one thing must be clearly understood. You are engaging me for this job because of your affection and esteem for Mr. McNair and your desire that his murderer should be discovered and punished. You are at present under the spell of powerful emotions. Are you sure that tomorrow or next week you will still want this thing done? Do you want the murderer caught and tried and convicted and executed if it should happen to be, for instance, your cousin, your uncle, your mother — or Mr. Perren Gebert?”
“But that... that’s ridiculous...”
“Maybe, but it remains a question to be answered. Do you want to pay me for catching the murderer, no matter who it is?”
She gazed at him, and said finally, “Yes. Whoever killed Uncle Boyd — yes, I do.”
“You won’t go back on that?”
“No.”