The Conjure-Man Dies: A Harlem Mystery. Rudolph Fisher

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СКАЧАТЬ might not calls come in while he is out?’

      ‘Yes. But they are handled by a telephone exchange. If he doesn’t answer, the exchange takes the call and gives it to him later.’

      ‘I see. How long did stopping downstairs delay you?’

      ‘Only a minute. Then I came right up to the waiting-room.’

      ‘Who was there when you got there?’

      ‘Four men.’

      ‘Did you know any of them?’

      ‘No, but I’d know them if I saw them again.’

      ‘Describe them.’

      ‘Well there was a little thin nervous man who looked like he was sick—in fact he was sick, because when he got up to follow the assistant he had a dizzy spell and fell, and all the men jumped to him and had to help him up.’

      ‘He was the first to go in to Frimbo after you arrived?’

      ‘Yes. Then there was a heavy-set, rather flashily-dressed man in grey. He went in next. And there were two others who seemed to be together—the two who were in there a few minutes ago when you and Dr Archer came in.’

      ‘A tall fellow and a short one?’

      ‘Yes.’

      ‘About those two—did either of them leave the room while you were there?’

      ‘The tall one did, when his turn came to see Frimbo.’

      ‘And the short one?’

      ‘Well—when the tall one had been out for about five or six minutes, he came back—through the same way that he had gone. It was rather startling because nobody else had come back at all except Frimbo’s man, and he always appeared in the hall doorway, not the other, and always left by the hall doorway also. And, too, this tall fellow looked terribly excited. He beckoned to the short one and they went back together through the passage—into this room.’

      ‘That was the first and only time the short man left that room while you were there?’

      ‘Yes.’

      ‘And you yourself did not leave the room meanwhile?’

      ‘No. Not until now.’

      ‘Did anyone else come in?’

      ‘The other woman, who is in there now.’

      ‘Very good. Now, pardon me if I seem personal, but it’s my business not to mind my business—to meddle with other people’s. You understand?’

      ‘Perfectly. Don’t apologize—just ask.’

      ‘Thank you. Did you know anything about this man Frimbo—his habits, friends, enemies?’

      ‘No. He had many followers, I know, and a great reputation for being able to cast spells and that sort of thing. His only companion, so far as I know, was his servant. Otherwise he seemed to lead a very secluded life. I imagine he must have been pretty well off financially. He’d been here almost two years. He was always our best tenant.’

      ‘Tell me why you came to see Frimbo tonight, please.’

      ‘Certainly. Mr Crouch owns this house, among others, and Frimbo is our tenant. My job is collecting rents, and tonight I came to collect Frimbo’s.’

      ‘I see. But do you find it more convenient to see tenants at night?’

      ‘Not so much for me as for them. Most of them are working during the day. And Frimbo simply can’t be seen in the daytime—he won’t see anyone either professionally or on business until after dark. It’s one of his peculiarities, I suppose.’

      ‘So that by coming during his office hours you are sure of finding him available?’

      ‘Exactly.’

      ‘All right, Mrs Crouch. That’s all for the present. Will you return to the front room? I’d let you go at once, but you may be able to help me further if you will.’

      ‘I’ll be glad to.’

      ‘Thank you. Brady, call in Bubber Brown and one of those extra men.’

      When Bubber reappeared, Dart said:

      ‘You told me you could locate and identify the three men who preceded Jenkins?’

      ‘Yes, suh. I sho’ can.’

      ‘How?’

      ‘Well, I been seein’ that little Doty Hicks plenty. He hangs out ’round his brother’s night club. ’Cose ev’ybody knows Spider Webb’s a runner and I can find him from now till mornin’ at Patmore’s Pool Room. And that other one, the railroad man, he and I had quite a conversation before he come in to see Frimbo, and I found out where he rooms when he’s in town. Jes’ a half a block up the street here, in a private house.’

      ‘Good.’ The detective turned to the officer whom Brady had summoned:

      ‘Hello, Hanks. Listen Hanks, you take Mr Brown there around by the precinct, pick up another man, and then go with Mr Brown and bring the men he identifies here. There’ll be three of ’em. Take my car and make it snappy.’

      Jinx, behind a mask of scowling ill-humour, which was always his readiest defence under strain, sat now in the uncomfortably illuminated chair and growled his answers into the darkness whence issued Dart’s voice. This apparently crusty attitude, which long use had made habitual, served only to antagonize his questioner, so that even the simplest of his answers were taken as unsatisfactory. Even in the perfectly routine but obviously important item of establishing his identity, he made a bad beginning.

      ‘Have you anything with you to prove your identity?’

      ‘Nothin’ but my tongue.’

      ‘What do you mean?’

      ‘I mean I say I’m who I is. Who’d know better?’

      ‘No one, of course. But it’s possible that you might say who you were not.’

      ‘Who I ain’t? Sho’ I can say who I ain’t. I ain’t Marcus Garvey, I ain’t Al Capone, I ain’t Cal Coolidge—I ain’t nobody but me—Jinx Jenkins, myself.’

      ‘Very well, Mr Jenkins. Where do you live? What sort of work do you do?’

      ‘Any sort I can get. Ain’t doin’ nothin’ right now.’

      ‘M-m. What time did you get here tonight?’

      On this and other similar points, Jinx’s answers, for all their gruffness, checked with those of Bubber and Martha Crouch. He had come with Bubber a little before ten-thirty. They had gone straight to the waiting-room and found three men. The women had come in later. Then the detective asked him to describe in detail СКАЧАТЬ