Out of Sight, also known as The Six Suspects, is a mystery short story by Isaac Asimov.
Part of the Black Widowers series, it was first published in the December 1973 issue of Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine. It was later collected in Tales of the Black Widowers.
Summary[]
Waldemar Long, a NASA scientist, is the guest at a Black Widowers dinner. He is in professional disgrace, suspected of leaking classified information during a cruise where he was a guest lecturer. He explains that after learning his planned lecture was still classified, he angrily mentioned at dinner that the written paper was in his cabin. Later, the paper was photographed, and the information leaked.
Long insists only the six other people at his dining table could have overheard him and committed the act: the ship's doctor, a single woman named Miss Robinson, and two married couples, the Smiths and the Joneses. However, a thorough investigation has cleared all six, leaving Long as the prime suspect and effectively ending his career.
After the members discuss the case and find no solution, the waiter Henry intervenes. He points out that everyone, including the investigators, has overlooked a crucial seventh person present at the scene: the Indonesian waiter serving their table. Henry argues that the waiter, who was "invisible" due to efficient service, could have understood English despite pretending not to, and could have used the commotion to access Long's cabin. This new suspect provides Long with the lead he needs to potentially clear his name.
Characters[]
Black Widowers[]
- Thomas Trumbull
- Geoffrey Avalon
- Emmanuel Rubin
- Mario Gonzalo
- Roger Halsted
- James Drake
- Henry (the waiter)
Others[]
- Dr. Waldemar Long (the guest)
- The Ship's Doctor
- Miss Robinson
- Mr. and Mrs. Smith
- The Indonesian Waiter