Character details
- First Name
- Fred
- Last Name
- Durkin
- Notes
- Hired hand used by Wolfe and Archie when extra manpower is needed. Not the best, but can tail better than anybody but Saul. The favorite "irregular" after Saul - Fritz: "I'm glad it's Orrie instead of Saul or Fred"; Archie: "Such a chore for Saul or Fred of course, but I didn't like doing it for Orrie."; Mr Wolfe: "He doesn't have the dignity of a man who has found his place and occupies it, as you have, Fred." Bald, burly, 5'10, 190 lbs; moves like a bear. Married with four children. Archie: "You can trust him to hell and back."
- Reserved Notes
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Character cases:
Ch. 1 - brings Maria Maffei, his wife Fanny's best friend, to the brownstone to confer with Wolfe about her brother Carlo's disappearance.
Ch. 15 - reports to Wolfe over the phone regarding Anna Fiore's movements (Wolfe had assigned him and Saul the task of protecting her).
Reserved notes for this caseOne of the masked bandits who waylay Anna Fiore.
Ch. 8 - Archie plans to assign Durkin to tail Chapin along with Keems and Gore.
Ch. 9 - visits the brownstone unannounced to explain to Archie that Wolfe's assignment to tail Chapin is "a washout."
Ch. 11 - reports via phone that Chapin had been to the barber and a drugstore; he goes on to describe the diverse group also monitoring Chapin's activities.
Ch. 13 - reports via phone that he had trailed Chapin to the brownstone and then back to Perry Street.
Ch. 16 - at Archie's direction, takes the city official camped on Perry St. for drinks on the expense account - clearing the area for Archie to take Pinkie to see Wolfe.
Ch. 16 - reports to Archie via phone that Dr. Burton had been murdered by Chapin and that the police had arrested Chapin.
Reserved notes for this case
Ch. 6 - comes to the brownstone for instructions. Later, he returns after retrieving Clara Fox's automobile, which a detective had been watching.
Ch. 10 - given instructions and money. Later, Durkin calls the office and informs Archie that he's been arrested; Wolfe involves Barber to have him released.
Ch. 12 - returns to the brownstone after release from NYPD headquarters on bail.
Reserved notes for this case
Ch. 11 - with Saul and Orrie, engaged by Wolfe to search the cottage and grounds at McNair's country estate, Glennanne, 50 miles upstate in Brewster, NY. Later, he calls to report that he has taken possession of Glennanne and that no one was there when they arrived.
Ch. 12 - at Saul's direction, Fred reports from Brewster, NY where he and Saul are searching McNair's cottage for the red box, to report that Gebert arrived followed by Rowcliff and state troopers.
Reserved notes for this case
Ch. 15 - mentioned by Wolfe who should have already summoned him to help.
Reserved notes for this case
He tailed the man that met Naomi Karn for dinner.
Reserved notes for this caseThe man turned out to be Eugene Davis, partner with the firm of Dunwoodie, Prescott, and Davis, who was keeping an apartment under the name of Earl Dawson.
Used to tail various of the women.
Reserved notes for this case
Assisted in investigation of Orchard murder.
Reserved notes for this case
Called in to help find Rony's murderer.
Reserved notes for this case
Archie hires him to tail Barry Rackham.
Reserved notes for this case
In charge of one shift of operatives tailing Heath.
Reserved notes for this case
Employed by Wolfe to find Carla Britten nee Carla Lovchen, Wolfe's adopted daughter.
Reserved notes for this case
Was assigned to investigate William Lesser.
Reserved notes for this case
Spent a lot of time checking facts at the Metropolitan Athletic Club.
Reserved notes for this case
Mentioned.
Reserved notes for this case
Wolfe instructs Archie to have Fred on call.
Reserved notes for this case
Employed by Wolfe to 'stake out' Porter cottage in Carmel, N.Y.
Reserved notes for this caseStands mute.
Hired by Wolfe to assist in the investigation of the Eisler murder.
Reserved notes for this case
Nets an unusual surveillance job in Saul's absence.
Reserved notes for this case
Assisted in Vail investigation.
Reserved notes for this case
Archie mentions that Wolfe once cracked a case because Fred reported that a boy bought bubble-gum at 2 different places.
Reserved notes for this case
Called in for the finale in Wolfe's office, in case anybody tries any rough stuff.
Reserved notes for this case
Reserved notes for this case
Archie says his rates aren't in Saul's class, but he's way above average.
Reserved notes for this case
Hired hand used by Nero and Archie when extra manpower is needed. Not the best, but can tail better than anybody but Saul. Bald, burly, 5'10, 190 lbs; moves like a bear, but never clumsy. Married with 4 children.
Reserved notes for this case
Uncertain of Orrie's guilt, but gives him the benefit of the doubt. Volunteers his services to Wolfe gratis after Saul does so.
Reserved notes for this caseShot in the leg while protecting Julie Jaquette.
Reserved notes for this case
Mentioned by Archie when Wolfe ridicules the idea of basing a firm conclusion on a man's guilt or innocence solely on Archie's knowledge of his character, in reference to the events of _Death of a Doxy_.
Reserved notes for this case
Investigated terrorist tie to Odell murder.
Reserved notes for this case
Hired by Wolfe to investigate murder of Pierre Ducos.
Reserved notes for this caseRealized that Orrie did it before anyone, as soon as Orrie offered to work for free, but felt he must be wrong because Wolfe didn't know.
Assisted Archie in tailing Jonas Putz.
Reserved notes for this case
Mentioned
Reserved notes for this case
Reserved notes for this case
Character quotations:
History: You might have thought I was Dillinger.
Fred describes how the police reacted to seeing him on the grounds of the McNair estate, drawing their guns. John Herbert Dillinger (June 22, 1903 – July 22, 1934) was an American gangster during the Great Depression. He led a group known as the "Dillinger Gang", which was accused of robbing 24 banks and four police stations. Dillinger was imprisoned several times but escaped twice. He was charged, but not convicted, of the murder of an East Chicago, Indiana, police officer who shot Dillinger in his bullet-proof vest during a shootout; it was the only time Dillinger was charged with homicide.