SAM SPADE

Spade has the qualities of a very capable detective and does quite well at his job. He takes in everything around him and is constantly thinking. Many times when Spade is talking with someone, especially when he is trying to extract information, he repeats either their response and occasionally some of his own statements.By restating them it gives him more time to process the information he just received and figure out how to get the information he wants. He is very talented at getting what he wants and twisting a situation so it meets his needs.
When Spade gets back home after going out to see Miles's body the police come to question him. Spade doesn't give them many answers, but they give him some. After his outburst at them he calms down and apologizes then begins to ask them questions. "I'll be reasonable Tom," he [Spade] promised. "How did I kill this Thursby? I've forgotten'" (pg 22). The police proceeds to divulge how Miles had been killed. Spade asks his question in a bit of a joking form, but he assumes they will give him the answer he's looking for. Spade sarcastically asks how he killed Thursby since the murderer remains a mystery at present. Yet when he asks this ridiculous he doesn't get a response that would match this question. Both of the police officers give him facts that will eventually help him pull his case together.
Another one of Spade's talents at being a qualified detective is being a good listener without making it look like he's interested in what's being discussed. While Brigid and Cairo are conversing Spade doesn't miss anything. "Spade, propped on an elbow on the sofa, looked at and listened to them impartially . In the comfortable slackness of his body, in the easy stillness of his features, there was no indication of either curiosity or impatience" (pg 68). Spade feigns the appearance of only half listening to what the two were talking about probably in the hopes that they would feel more relaxed and reveal more information. Not only is his face void of any emotion, his body also gives off an air of not paying full attention.
Spade picks up on minute details that most people wouldn't see or be able to piece together. With his ability to take the power in a situation and get more information than he gives out, along with being able to pretend he is uninterested in a conversation while not missing a word of what has been exchanged are only two of the components that make him a worthy detective.