“I don’t know about proof, but I was. I can probably find the guy that was sitting next to me.”
“You didn’t leave your seat once during that time?”
“I did not.”
Wolfe looked around. “Well, gentlemen. That’s the fact I can’t explain. Can you?”
They were gawking at him. “Do we have to?” Baker demanded.
“Someone does.” Wolfe’s voice sharpened. “Consider the situation. Consider the relationship of those two men. The discovery of Ferrone is Durkin’s proudest achievement as a baseball scout. He fosters him and treasures him. Today — now yesterday — at the game that will be the climax of Ferrone’s triumphant season, Durkin is in the clubroom and sees Ferrone there in uniform, with the others, young, sound, mighty, valiant. He leaves the clubhouse and goes to a seat in the grandstand, and soon he sees the team cross the field to the dugout, but no Ferrone. Durkin keeps his seat. Before long the loudspeaker announces that Garth, not Ferrone, will play second base. Durkin keeps his seat. The players take the field, and the game starts, with no Ferrone. Durkin keeps his seat. They play the first inning badly. Durkin keeps his seat. They play the second inning badly. Durkin keeps—”
“Good God!” Art Kinney yelled, moving.
“Exactly.” Wolfe lifted a hand. “Please, gentlemen, keep your seats. It is clearly fantastic. The announcement that Garth would play second base could have been taken by Durkin merely as a blunder, but when they took the field without Ferrone his disquiet and consternation would have been insupportable. The one thing he couldn’t possibly have done was to stay in his seat. Why did you, Mr. Durkin?”
“I couldn’t think—” He tried to clear his throat and sounded as if he were choking. “There was nothing I could do. What could I do?”
“I don’t know. I said I can’t explain what you did do, but I can try. Suppose the nonappearance of Ferrone was no surprise to you, because you knew where he was and what had happened to him. Suppose, further, you were in a state of severe systemic shock because you had murdered him. I submit that that explanation of your keeping your seat is plausible. Is any other? Can you offer one?”