The Rubber Band
The Rubber Band was published in 1936, making it the third Nero Wolfe novel. The story opens when Anthony Perry, president of the Seaboard Products Corporation, calls on Wolfe to figure out who stole 30,000 dollars from Seaboard Products vice-president Ramsey Muir's desk. The money was in the desk to be used to bribe a politician, but the politician had to cancel the appointment and the money stayed in Muir's desk. At some point in the day the money was taken from the drawer, and circumstantial evidence points to a woman named Clara Fox, an employee of the company. Muir wants to swear out a warrant for Fox's arrest, but Perry want Wolfe to investigate first. So, Archie and Wolfe dig into the matter and find that Mr. Perry has been "seeing" Clara Fox outside of work and that Muir also has a romantic interest in Clara Fox. They decide that the matter has too many personal connections and that they should not take the case. But before they tell Perry the news, Clara Fox comes to visit Wolfe on a different matter. It seems that her father and some friends once helped a man escape a certain death, and the man promised one half of his wealth to the bunch for freeing him. Clara Fox wants to collect on this debt, and has gotten all of the surviving members together for the purpose. (The group of men called themselves "The Rubber Band") Wolfe decides to take her case, and then tells Perry over the phone that he will not take his case, and that he is in fact taking Clara Fox on as a client. This is curious, since the Seaboard Products Corporation had deep pockets with which to pay Wolfe, and Clara Fox was far from rich. However, upon taking from Clara Fox one dollar as a retainer, Wolfe takes her case. Wolfe thinks that the two cases are connected, and he goes about trying to figure out the puzzle and collect the debt. Wolfe makes Clara Fox stay at his house to avoid any "accidents", and soon finds out the 30,000 dollars has been found in the back of her car, planted by someone. Also, one of the men that had come together with Clara to collect the debt has suddenly been murdered. In his pocket was a list of names, including Clara Fox and a man named Lord Clivers. Lord Clivers was a part of English royalty that was in New York after attending some governmental meetings with US representatives in Washington DC. This puts the New York police in a fit, since they now think there is some plot to kill Lord Clivers. At this point Inspector Cramer starts to badger Wolfe, wanting to speak to with Clara Fox. Wolfe tells Cramer that she is not there, which is clearly a lie. Soon Cramer becomes upset and a search warrant is issued for Wolfe's house! After a search of the house, Michael Walsh, another member of the Rubber Band that had teamed up with Clara to collect the debt, is found dead. Wolfe must put it together quickly to catch the killer, collect the debt, and get Inspector Cramer off his back!
I really enjoyed The Rubber Band. I liked it as much as Too Many Cooks, which is one of my favorites. I guess I was a little disappointed by the ending, although I'm not sure why. The Rubber Band is notable for a couple of reasons. First, Wolfe's house is searched by the police. Second, there is a lot of good banter between Cramer and Wolfe. We also learn in The Rubber Band that Archie keeps a picture of Sherlock Holmes over his desk and that Fred Durkin is married! (Actually, we first learn that Fred Durkin is married in The League Of Frightened Men)
I bought my copy of The Rubber Band at a small used bookstore in Toledo, Ohio for 1.50. It's in good shape and is complete with instructions on how to mail the book to a boy overseas...for only 3 cents!
Here's a picture of my copy of the book:
Here are some quotes from The Rubber Band:
Wolfe, to Clara Fox: "It is bulk, not boorishness, that keeps me in my chair."
Wolfe, to Cramer: "It might be better if everyone stayed at home."
Archie, to Clara Fox: "Wolfe has three wives and nineteen children in Turkey."
Wolfe, to Cramer: "Is it my fault if destiny likes this address?"