“No, sir. I’ve got the murderer of Louis Rony, with evidence to convict, and I want to get rid of him.”
“The murderer—” A short silence. Then, “I don’t believe it!”
“Of course you don’t, but it’s true. He’ll be at my office this evening. I want your advice on how to handle it. I can ask Inspector Cramer of the New York Police to send men to take him into custody, or I can—”
“No! Now listen, Wolfe—”
“No, listen to me. If your dinner is waiting, so is mine. I would prefer that you take him, for two reasons. First, he belongs to you. Second, I would like to clean it up this evening, and in order to do that the matter of Mr. Kane’s statement will have to be disposed of. That will require the presence not only of Mr. Sperling and Mr. Kane, but also of the others who were there the evening Mr. Rony was killed. If you come or send someone, they’ll have to come too. All of them, if possible; under the circumstances I don’t think they’ll be reluctant. Can you have them here by ten o’clock?”
“But my God, this is incredible! I need a minute to think—”
“You’ve had a week to think but preferred to let me do it for you. I have, and acted. Can you have them here by ten o’clock?”
“I don’t know, damn it! You fire this at me point-blank!”
“Would you rather have had me hold it a day or two? I’ll expect you at ten, or as close to that as you can make it. If you don’t bring them along you won’t get in; after all, in this jurisdiction you’re merely visitors. If ends have to be left dangling I’ll let the New York Police have him.”
Wolfe and I hung up. He pushed his chair back and arose.