Rules of Conduct in the Void, Chapter XI

The work of a private investigator, if you know what I mean, consists of several steps: gathering and reviewing facts, determining the motives for the crime, compiling a list of suspects, checking alibis, and sentencing. A classic example is the investigation of Maigret, Nero Wolfe, Holmes, Miss Marple etc. I have another case. I work for myself. I do not chase Jack the Ripper at night. I only need Mr. Bantam. Irene is still in "quarantine": I don’t trust Irene yet, too early. I must get to know her better. Then why or why did I hire Irene to work for my fictitious detective agency? Very simply. Because I have to give her the useless work that the Italians (or not?) сalled “monkey labour.” I'm not just suspicious, I'm sure that Irene is none other than a Mahjong Society agent, a scam trick, and our supposedly accidental meeting on the street wasn't an accident, though it didn't violate my plans. As they say, keep your friend close, and the enemy even closer. That's what I'm doing. Load the assistant with all sorts of nonsense, so that there was no time to spy me.