Johnny nodded.
“We were about there anyhow.
At Fifty-sixth Street he went into the Hotel Portland.”
“Indeed.”
“Yep. And he stayed there over an hour.
He used the phone and then took an elevator, but I stayed in the lobby because the house dick knows me and he saw me and I knew he wouldn’t stand for it.
I knew Walsh might have got loose because there are two sets of elevators, but all I could do was stick, and at a quarter past eleven he came down and went out.
He headed south and turned west on Fifty-fifth, and across Madison he went in at a door where it’s boarded up for construction.
That’s the place you told me to try if I drew a blank at Sixty-fourth Street, the place where he works as a night watchman.
I waited outside, thinking I might get stopped if I went in, and hoping he wouldn’t use another exit.
But he didn’t.
In less than ten minutes he came out again, but he wasn’t alone any more.
A snoop had him and was hanging onto him.
They walked to Park and took a taxi, and I hopped one of my own and followed to Centre Street.
They went in at the big doors, and I found a phone.”
Wolfe, leaning back, shut his eyes.
Johnny Keems straightened his necktie and looked satisfied with himself.
I tossed my notebook to the back of the desk, with his report in it, and tried to think of some brief remark that would describe how I felt.
The telephone rang.
I took it.
A voice informed me that Inspector Cramer wished to speak to Mr. Goodwin, and I said to put him on and signaled to Wolfe to take his line.
The sturdy inspector spoke.
“Goodwin?
Inspector Cramer.
How about doing me a favor?”
“Surest thing you know.” I made it hearty. “I’m flattered.”
“Yeah? It’s an easy one. Jump in your wagon and come down to my office.”
I shot a glance at Wolfe, who had his receiver to his ear, but he made no sign.
I said,
“Maybe I could, except for one thing.
I’m needed here to in spect cards or admission at the door.
Like search warrants, for instance.
You have no idea how they pile in on us.”
Cramer laughed.
“All right, you can have that one.
There’ll be no search warrants while you’re gone. I need you down here for something.
Tell Wolfe you’ll be back in an hour.”
“Okay.
Coming.”
I hung up and turned to Wolfe.
“Why not?
It’s better than sitting here crossing my fingers.
Fred and Johnny are here, and together they’re a fifth as good as me.
Maybe he wants me to help him embroider Mike Walsh.
I’d be glad to.”
Wolfe nodded.
“I like this.
There’s something about it I like.
I may be wrong.
Go, by all means.”