- Case
- Might as Well be Dead
- Year Published
- 1956
- Case Introduction
- 9 - 16 April, 1956. Nero Wolfe is employed by a Nebraska businessman to locate his missing son. The young man left his family in shame after being accused of embezzling from the family business. Now, after more than a decade, the family learns that the son was falsely accused, and they wish to make good on the mistake. Wolfe locates someone who looks like the son, except that this man denies being related to the family in Nebraska and is fighting a murder conviction.
- Notes
- Resolution
-
Patrick Degan murdered all four victims to hide the fact that he was involved with Michael Molloy in embezzling funds from the Mechanics Alliance Welfare Association. He killed Molloy because he suspected that Molloy was going to rat on him. He killed Johnny Keems because Fanny Irwin's maid, Ella Reyes, told him that Fanny did not complain of a headache until after she received a phone call from Patrick Degan. Degan then killed Ella Reyes to cover that up and killed Delia Brandt because he knew she had Molloy's records of the embezzlement.
Characters in the case:
Waited in the theatre lobby to give Tom Irwin his ticket. He and Tom did not come into the theatre until almost the end of the first act.
Character descriptionHusband of Rita Arkoff.
Reserved notes for this case
Called Selma Molloy to join them at the theatre the night that Michael Molloy was murdered.
Character descriptionWife of Jerome Arkoff.
Reserved notes for this caseSelma Molloy said that Rita thought that something was going on between Fanny Irwin and Pat Degan.
Archie posed as an editor's representative considering a possible magazine article about "The last year of a murdered man." Delia said the Molloy tried to take liberties with her but she had not allowed him. She also said that Molloy asked her to accompany him to South America.
Character descriptionSecretary of Michael Molloy.
Reserved notes for this caseDelia was storing Molloy's suitcase in her apartment and when she broke into it, she saw the documents detailing the embezzlement scheme between Pat Degan and Molloy. She tried to blackmail Degan and he murdered her but did not find the records because she had stored the suitcase in a locker in Grand Central Station.
Fritz prepared Mushroom and Celery Omelet, Pork Fillets Braised in Spiced Wine, Chicken Livers with Mushrooms, Rice Cakes, Kidney Pie and Endive with Martinique Dressing during this case.
Character descriptionMaster chef in Wolfe's kitchen, has a small apartment in the basement. (In "Fer-De-Lance," his apartment is across from the plant room, not in the basement.) Swiss; native French speaker, served in WWI. Uninterested in murder, except whether a client is in the offing; gets anxious about household finance when Wolfe isn't working. Doesn't like to talk while cooking. Changes to his old slippers at 9 pm because of "things left on his feet by the war to remember it by". Implied he was a member of the Swiss Alpine Patrol during WWI.
Reserved notes for this case
Wolfe assigned Orrie to investigate Molloy's business dealings.
Character descriptionSecond in line behind Saul Panzer when Nero and Archie need extra manpower.
Reserved notes for this case
Friend of Michael Molloy and chosen by Selma Molloy to administer Molloy's estate.
Character descriptionHead of the Mechanics Alliance Welfare Association.
Reserved notes for this caseWas involved with Michael Molloy in embezzling funds from the Mechanics Alliance Welfare Association. Killed Molloy because he suspected that Molloy was going to rat on him. Killed Johnny Keems because Fanny Irwin's maid, Ella Reyes, told him that Fanny did not complain of a headache until after she received a phone call from Patrick Degan. Degan then killed Ella Reyes to cover that up and killed Delia Brandt because he knew she had Molloy's records of the embezzlement.
Head of Senat Subcommittee investigating private welfare and pension plans for fraud.
Character descriptionDemocrat Senator from Illinois.
Reserved notes for this case
Was assigned to investigate William Lesser.
Character descriptionHired 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 for this case
Confronted Wolfe about the ad that Wolfe ran in the newspaper about "PH's" innocence.
Character descriptionAttorney for Paul Herrold.
Reserved notes for this case
Character descriptionNero Wolfe's tough and witty assistant.
Reserved notes for this case
A Nebraska businessman who hirs Wolfe to locate his missing son, who left his family in shame after his father accused him of embezzling from the family business. Now, after more than a decade, the father learns that the son was falsely accused and wishes to make good on the mistake.
Character descriptionFather of Paul Herrold
Reserved notes for this case
Was convicted of murdering Michael Molloy, husband of Selma Molloy, the woman that he was in love with.
Character descriptiona.k.a. Peter Hays.
Reserved notes for this caseWould not admit that he was Paul Herrold. On the night that Molloy was murdered, Herrold received an annonymous telephone call telling him that Molloy was beating Selma. When he arrived at the apartment, Molloy was dead. He took the gun from the murder scene because he thought that Selma had killed Molloy.
Admits that she was the one who suggested that Selma Molloy take her place at the theatre because she had a headache.
Character descriptionWife of Tom Irwin.
Reserved notes for this caseFanny was involved with Pat Degan and he called her suggesting that she get Selma Molloy to take her place at the theatre that night so they could meet.
He was the one who called Jerome and Rita Arkoff at the restaurant to tell them that Fanny had a headache and to see if Selma Molloy could take her place at the theatre. He came to the theatre late and he and Jerome Arkoff went to a bar for a drink and came in the theatre almost at the end of the first act.
Character descriptionHusband of Fanny Irwin.
Reserved notes for this caseMight suspect his wife, Fanny, of having an affair with Pat Degan.
Wolfe sent Keems to investigate the Irwins and the Arkoffs to see if the invitation for Selma to accompany them to the theatre was contrived to get her out of the house for the murder.
Character descriptionReserve manpower called in periodically. Looks like a Princeton boy with his face washed. With his satisfied handsomeness, Johnny unquestionably wants Archie's job, Archie believes; but Archie knows Wolfe would never be able to stand him.
Reserved notes for this caseHe bribes ythUncovers something *too* hot - he's deliberately murdered by a hit and run driver during this case.
Came to discuss the magazine article about his fiance, Delia Brandt, with Archie.
Character descriptionFiancee of Delia Brandt.
Reserved notes for this case
Peter Hayes (Paul Herrold) was in love with his wife and was convicted on his murder.
Character descriptionHusband of Selma Molloy.
Reserved notes for this caseWas in cahoots with Pat Degan embezzling money from the Mechanics Alliance Welfare Association. He decided to rat on Degan to save himself when he found out that a Senate Subcommittee was investigating private welfare and pension plans.
Was in love with Peter Hays (Paul Herrold) and believed that he was guilty of her husband's murder.
Character descriptionWife of Michael Molloy.
Reserved notes for this case
Wolfe assigned Saul to check into the safety deposit box rented to Richard Randall. Later, Saul tried to contact Ella Reyes.
Character descriptionTop hired hand Nero and Archie look to for manpower. Hosts regular Thursday night poker game at eight pm at his apartment in Brooklyn. Rust-colored hair, 5'7, 145 lbs, big nose and flat ears.
In the "Rubber Band" (ch. 6) Archie tells us that Panzer has a photographic memory when it comes to faces.
Reserved notes for this case
Served as Selma Molloy's attorney and arranged for Pat Degan to serve as her administrator and open the safety deposit box.
Character descriptionWolfe's lawyer -- the only lawyer Wolfe ever sent orchids to. A bachelor who plays bridge on winter Sundays. (Appears as "Henry" Parker in The Squirt & the Monkey and The Golden Spiders.)
Reserved notes for this caseHe and Archie refused to leave the room when Pat Degan wanted to open the safety deposit box in private.
Selma Molloy found a receipt in her husband's envelope for a safety deposit box rental in the name of Richard Randall.
Character descriptionSafety box is in his name.
Reserved notes for this caseWas really Michael Molloy--who rented the safety deposit box using an assumed name.
Character descriptionMaid for Tom and Fanny Irwin.
Reserved notes for this caseTook a hundred dollar bribe from Johnny Keems and told him that Fanny Irwin only said that she had a headache after Pat Degan called her. Was murdered by Degan to keep the secret.
Suspected Wolfe of being involved with Johnny Keem's murder.
Character descriptionInitially an employee in N.Y. D.A.'s office. Later Cramer's man.
Detective (sergeant). Unfriendly.
Reserved notes for this case
Character descriptionMaster detective. Genius. Estimated weight: 1/7 ton. Carries a large platinum watch in his vest pocket. Sends a check every month to his mother in Budapest ("Fer-de-lance, ch. 13)..
Reserved notes for this case
Meals in the case:
(no meals are currently in the NWD for this story)
Orchids in the case:
(no orchids are currently in the NWD for this story)
Quotations in the case:
(no quotations are currently in the NWD for this story)