Read Online Corpus Corpus by Harry Paul Jeffers - Free Book Online Page B

special in the way of furnishings for my office. How did Wolfe find Archie Goodwin?"
    "Unlike Dr. Watson, who wrote about how he and Sherlock Holmes came to meet, Archie never said, except to indicate that he'd been working for someone else and Wolfe was impressed with the work. Like you, Archie's duties included bodyguard." "Did he ever save Wolfe's life?"
    "Many times. This included smacking a Cuban woman who had revenge on her mind. She'd smuggled a dagger into Wolfe's office in a sock."
    "How sweet of her. Good for Archie."
    "Exactly what would you do were someone to attempt such a thing this evening?" "Whatever I had to."
    "Even at the risk of injuring an innocent bystander?" "Absolutely."
    "Have you ever had to jump in to save his life?"
    "Thankfully, no," he said, looking toward the head table as Wiggins left it to stand at the podium.
    Holding a glass of white wine, Wggins said, "It's my pleasure to introduce the distinguished Wolfie who is to offer the toast to the genius whose life and legacy we salute this evening. The next toast will be given by none other than someone who is so much like both the author and the character he created. Namely, myself'
    With a grin of delight he basked in a chorus of groans, boos, and catcalls.
    "No, my friends, it's quite true. Like Nero Wolfe, I am-" Goldstein blared, "Fat."
    With feigned indignation, Wiggins turned and wagged a thick finger at him. "I heard that, Chief!"
    Goldstein winked. "I intended you to."
    "As I was about to say before being so rudely interrupted," Wiggins continued, "like Nero Wolfe, I am a genius." The room hissed.
    "As to my commonalities with the venerated author," he went on undaunted, "I am mad about books, food, music, people who work, and heated arguments. I dislike politicians, preachers, genteel persons, closed minds, loud noises, and oily people."
    Bogdanovic whispered to Dane, "Then what the hell is Janus doing here?"
    "That's why I have taken unto myself," Wiggins proceeded, "the honor of standing here and asking you to rise and join with me in lifting a glass of cheer in grateful tribute to the creator of Nero Wolfe, et al., the one and only Rex Todhunter Stout."
    As one voice, the audience invoked the hallowed name.
    Putting aside his drink, Wiggins began his introduction of Goldstein by talking rapturously of how the proprietor of the Usual Suspects bookstore himself had been considered a suspect in two recent sensational murder investigations. He continued, "That I immediately ranked high on the list of possible murderers and found myself eliminated much too quickly was due entirely to the efforts of a brilliant homicide investigator. He is a man I am certain Nero Wolfe would have hired in an instant and thoroughly enjoyed working with. And I am thrilled that Detective Sgt. John Bogdanovic is with us this evening!"
    Lowering his head and trying to sink from view, Bogdanovic let out a throaty groan.
    With hands clapping like flippers of a trained seal, Wiggins scolded, "Don't be shy, Sergeant B. Stand up and take a bow!"

STILL SAVORING THE amusement of Bogdanovic's embarrassed look at being forced by Wiggins to stand up and accept public acclaim, Goldstein realized with a start that Wiggins now spoke of him.
    "In Chief of Detectives Harvey Goldstein," he said, "this grand and beloved city of ours has for nearly twenty years had in its service a man with utmost dedication to leading such stalwart sleuths as Detective Bogdanovic in a relentless struggle against crime, especially the most fascinating one of all...murder. But he and his intrepid assistant have not come here tonight to solve a case, unless one of you has homicide on the mind. If you do have a plan, I caution you against acting it out. The chief is not here to solve a crime, but to lead us in a toast to the woman who has graciously accepted our invitation to represent Miss Lily Rowan and to present the Nero Wolfe Award. Therefore, with great pleasure and without further ado, I