I swiveled and got it.
Right away I was in a scrap.
Some sap with a voice like a foghorn was going to have me put Wolf e on the wire immediately and no fooling, without bothering to tell me who it was that wanted him.
I derided him until he boomed at me to hold it.
After waiting a minute I heard another voice, one I recognized at once:
“Goodwin?
Inspector Cramer.
Maybe I don't need Wolfe.
I'd hate to disturb him.
Is Helen Frost there?”
“Who? Helen Frost?”
“That's what I said.”
“Why should she be?
Do you think we run a night shift?
Wait a minute, I didn't know it was you, I think Mr. Wolfe wants to ask you something.”
I smothered the transmitter and turned:
“Inspector Cramer wants to know if Miss Frost is here.”
Wolfe lifted his shoulders half an inch and dropped them.
Our client said,
“Of course. Tell him yes.”
I told the phone,
“No, Wolfe can't think of anything you'd be likely to know.
But if you mean Miss Helen Frost, I just saw her here in a chair.”
“Oh. She's there.
Some day I'm going to break your neck.
I want her up here right away, at her home-no, wait.
Keep her.
I'll send a man-”
“Don't bother.
I'll bring her.”
“How soon?”
“Right now.
At once.
Without delay.”
I rang off and whirled my chair to face the client.
“He's up at your apartment.
I suppose they all are.
Do we go?
I can still tell him I'm shortsighted and it wasn't you in the chair.”
She arose. She faced Wolfe and she was sagging a little, but then she straightened out the spine.
“Thank you,” she said. “If there really isn't anything…”
“I'm sorry, Miss Frost.
Nothing now.
Perhaps tomorrow. I'll get word to you.
Don't resent Mr. Cramer more than you must.
He unquestionably means well.
Good night.”
I got up and bowed her ahead and through the office door, and snared my hat in the hall as I went by. I had put the roadster in the garage, so we had to walk there for it.
She waited for me at the entrance, and after she got in and I turned into Tenth Avenue, I told her:
“You've been getting lefts and rights both, and you're groggy.