Tools?”
She nodded.
“He…he grew some flowers.”
“Good.
They can take the sedan.
Get extra things for digging if they need them, and they should have lights to continue after dark. The cottage is most likely-a hole in the wall, a loose floor-board.
Get them.
Wait.
First your notebook; take this and type it on a letterhead:
I hereby authorize the bearer, Saul Panzer, to take complete charge of the house and ground of Glennanne, property of Boyden McNair, deceased, and to undertake certain activities there in accordance with my instructions.
“Leave room for my signature above the designation,
‘Executor of the estate of Boyden McNair.’
I have not yet qualified, but we can tie the red tape later.” He nodded me off. “Now, Miss Frost, perhaps you can tell me-”
I moved to the phone and started dialing.
I got Saul and Orrie right off the bat, and they said they would come pronto.
Fred Durkin was out, but his wife said she knew where to get hold of him and would have him call in ten minutes.
Johnny Keems, when he wasn't on a job for us, had formed the habit of phoning every day at nine to give me his program, and had told me that morning that he was still on a watchdog assignment for Del Pritchard, so I tried that office.
They had Johnny booked for the day, but before I finished typing the authorization for Saul, Fred called, so I had three anyhow.
Saul Panzer arrived first and Wolfe had Fritz show him into the office.
He came in with his hat in his hand, shot me a wink, asked Wolfe how he did, got himself an everlasting blueprint of the two Frosts in one quick glance, and pointed his big nose inquiringly at Wolfe.
Wolfe gave him the dope and told him what he was supposed to find.
Helen Frost told him how to get to Glennanne from the village of Brewster.
I handed him the signed authorization and forty bucks for expenses, and he pulled out his old brown wallet and deposited them in it with care.
Wolfe told him to get the car from the garage and wait in front to pick up Fred and Orrie as they arrived.
Saul nodded.
“Yes, sir.
If I find the box, do I leave Fred or Orrie at the place when I come away?”
“Yes. Until notified. Fred.”
“If any strangers offer to help me look, do I let them?”
Wolfe frowned.
“I was about to mention that.
Surely there can be no objection if we show a preference for law and order.
With all courtesy, you can ask to see a search warrant.”
“Is there something hot in the box?” Saul blushed. “I mean, stolen property?”
“No. It is legally mine.
Defend it.”
“Right.”
Saul went. I reflected that if he ever got his mitts on the box I wouldn't like to be the guy to try to take it away from him, small as he was. He didn't think any more of Nero Wolfe than I do of my patrician nose and big brown intelligent eyes.
Wolfe had pushed the button for Fritz, the long push, not the two shorts for beer.
Fritz came, and stood. Wolfe frowned at him.
“Can you stretch lunch for us?
Two guests?”
“No,” Llewellyn broke in, “really-well have to get back -I promised Dad and Aunt Gallic-”
“You can phone them.
I would advise Miss Frost to stay.
At any moment we may hear that the box has been found, and that would mean a crisis.
And to provide against the possibility that it will not be found, I shall need a great deal of information.
Miss Frost?”
She nodded.
“I'll stay.