Sunday the Rabbi Stayed Home

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Yes, I’ve got a key to Hillson House.” said Meyer Paff guardedly.

“And you were there this evening?” asked Lieutenant Jennings.

“I was there, but I didn’t go in. Say, what’s this all about?”

“There was a little trouble, and we’re just checking it over.” said Jennings easily. “Now, what time were you there?”

“Look, I was supposed to meet somebody at half past eight. I was a little late, and it was raining so hard I thought this party might not show. So when I got there and I saw that no one was around. I just drove on.”

“Didn’t it occur to you that this party you were supposed to meet might also be late? I’m surprised you didn’t wait a while.”

Paff shrugged. “Originally there were four of us supposed to meet. So first one calls and tells me he can’t make it.

And then another calls, and he can’t make it. So I was bothered to begin with—you know, disgusted—and I half had the feeling that the third one would have begged off if he could have reached me in time. So like I said, it was raining and there was thunder and lightning, so I thought. What the hell, two of them have disappointed me, so I’ll disappoint a little on my end. Good tiling, too. It turns out when I got home and called him, he said he thought he had a cold coming on and wasn’t about to go out in that kind of weather.”

“Well, that’s clear enough.” said Jennings, closing his notebook. “However, just to get things all cleared up. I’d appreciate it if you’d come down to the station house and make a statement.”

“So what do you call this?”

“Oh, I mean a regular statement that a stenographer can take down and you can sign.”

“Well…”

“It won’t take long, maybe half an hour or so.” Jennings assured him.

“All right, I’ll drop by in the morning—”

“I think the chief would like to have it tonight.”

“You mean right now?”

“Why not? You’re dressed. I can drive you down in ten minutes, and I’ll bring you back afterward.”

Paff was reluctant, but he could think of no reason to refuse. “Well, all right,” he said, “I’ll just tell my wife, and I’ll put on a pair of shoes. I don’t suppose I need to wear a tie,” he added with feeble humor.

“Beauty,” said Jennings appreciatively.

Paff headed for the door, then stopped. “Say, what happened down there? Was the place broken into, or—?”

“Why do you think that?” asked Jennings quickly. “Well, I understand it happened once before.”

Jennings nodded. “Yeah, it was broken into again, but this time it was a little more serious. Someone was found dead there. An employee of yours, as a matter of fact,” he added placidly.