Эллери Куин - Halfway House

“I’ve called you ladies and gentlemen together,” Ellery announced that afternoon in the Borden apartment on Park Avenue, “out of no idle desire to hear myself make a speech. There’s magic in the wind, and time is crowding me. Some of you may have lulled yourselves into a state of lethargy, feeling secure in the monotony of the status quo ante . If that’s so, it’s unfortunate; before the day is over I promise to awaken you with what may prove considerable rudeness.”

“What do you mean?” snapped Jessica. “Are we never to have any peace? And what right have you—?”

“None whatever, legally speaking. Nevertheless,” sighed Ellery, “it would be wisdom to humor my little fancy. You see, the tragedy of Joseph Kent Gimball’s death is about to be exhumed.”

“You’re reopening the case, Mr. Queen?” growled old Jasper Borden with a bitter half-twist of his lips. He had insisted upon being wheeled downstairs; he sat among them with the immobility of a corpse, only his one good eye alive.

“My dear sir, it has never been closed. Lucy Wilson of Philadelphia has been convicted of the crime, but her conviction did not solve it. Certain forces have been continuously at work since that grotesque débâcle in Trenton. They have never relaxed. I’m happy to announce,” Ellery said dryly, “that their efforts have been rewarded.”

“I can’t see that that concerns these good people,” said Senator Frueh sharply, playing with his beard, his shrewd little eyes intent on Ellery. “If you have new evidence take it to the prosecutor of Mercer County. Why continue to harass this group? If you want to make a fight of it,” he added in a grim tone, “I’ll be glad to oblige personally — I know the rules.”

Ellery smiled. “Oddly enough, Senator, that reminds me of something that was said some time ago by our friend Marcus Valerius Martial. African lions, he pointed out, rush to attack bulls; they do not attack butterflies. As an epigram—”

The lawyer was purple. “You leave these people out of whatever devilry you’re up to!” he shouted.

“Spare the rod?” sighed Ellery. “You wrong me, Senator. If I could, obviously I would. I’m afraid you’ll have to endure the nausea of my company for just a while longer. After that... well, let’s not discuss the future. I’ve found that the future generally gets where it’s going despite every effort of mere Man to arrest its progress.”

Jessica toyed with her handkerchief in an annoyed way, but she was stiff with enforced self-control. Grosvenor Finch stirred uneasily, watching her. Only Andrea, sitting quietly to one side, and Bill Angell, standing behind Andrea’s chair, seemed unaffected. Both kept their eyes riveted on Ellery. “No further objections?” murmured Ellery. “Thank you.” Glancing at his wristwatch, he said, “Then I think we had better be on our way.”

“On our way?” Finch was puzzled. “Where are you taking us?”

Ellery picked up his hat. “To Trenton.”

“Trenton!” gasped Andrea’s mother.

“We are going to revisit the scene of the crime.”

They all went pale at that, and for a moment were too startled to speak. Then Senator Frueh jumped up, brandishing a fat fist. “Now, that is going too far!” he roared. “You’ve no authority — I shall forbid my clients—”

“My dear Senator. Have you a personal objection to visiting the scene of the crime?”

“I’ve never been there!”

“You relieve me. Then that’s settled. Shall we go?”

Nobody stirred but Bill. The old millionaire asked quietly, in his bass voice: “May I ask what you hope to achieve by this unusual procedure, Mr. Queen? I know you would not make such a painful request unless you felt it to be necessary to some end you have in mind.”

“I had rather not explain my hopes, Mr. Borden. But the plan is simple. We are going to engage in a very dramatic undertaking. We shall re-enact the murder of Joseph Kent Gimball.”

The eyelid drooped. “Is that essential?”

“It was necessity that mothered the invention, sir, but the demonstration will be art in imitation of nature. Now, please, ladies and gentlemen. I shall greatly dislike having to exert official pressure to compel your attendance.”

“I shan’t go,” said Jessica Borden sullenly. “I’ve had enough. He’s dead. That woman is — why don’t you let us alone?”

“Jessica.” The old invalid turned his good eye toward his daughter. “Get your things on.”

The woman bit her thin lower lip. Then she said submissively, “Yes, Father,” rose, and went upstairs to her bedroom.

No one said anything until Jasper Borden again broke the silence. “I believe,” he said heavily, “that I shall go, too. Andrea, ring for the nurse.”

Andrea was shocked out of her immobility. “But, Grandfather—!”

“Did you hear what I said, child?”

Ellery retired to the door to wait. They all rose now and began to scatter, moving slowly. The piscine butler appeared loaded with hats.

“Ellery,” said Bill in a low voice.

“Hello, Bill. Well, how has your job worked out during the past few days? I don’t see any scars or wounds.”

Bill was grim. “It’s been hell. The duchess is a demon on wheels. I haven’t been able to get in here at all until today. But Andrea and I worked out a plan. I’ve been spending my days hanging around outside, watching. She agreed not to set foot from the apartment when I wasn’t on duty. At other times, we’ve been out together.”

“Promising start for a young couple with honorable intentions,” grinned Ellery. “Any signs of trouble?”

“No.”

Andrea came down, dressed for the street. She had a light coat on and her right hand was jammed into its pocket. It was almost as if within that pocket she were gripping a gun. Bill took a step toward her eagerly, but she shook her head, looked around, and signaled Ellery with her blue eyes. Ellery frowned, watching the pocket. Then his nod told Bill to wait where he was, and he stepped out into the corridor with Andrea.

She began in a swift whisper, “I had to talk to you before—,” and stopped to look around again, apprehensively.

“Andrea, whatever is the matter?”

“This.” The hand came out of the pocket. “This came in the mail this morning, wrapped in cheap paper, addressed to me.”

Ellery did not take it. His eyes rested on it for a moment and then searched her face. The hand holding the object trembled. It was a cheap little plaster group of figures, colored a mottled red. The group represented three squatting monkeys on a pedestal. One had his paw on his mouth, one on his eyes, one had both paws on his ears. “Speak no evil, see no evil, hear no evil,” said Andrea in the same whisper. “Or however it goes. Isn’t it insane?” She laughed rather hysterically. “But it frightens me. It’s—”

“Another warning.” Ellery frowned. “Our quarry is growing nervous. Did you save the wrappings?”

“Oh! I threw them away. I’m sure you couldn’t have got anything from them.”

“Tush. You confident people. And you’ve messed that thing up so that even if there were fingerprints on it they’re gone. Have you told Bill about this?”

“No. I didn’t want to worry him. Poor Bill! He’s been such a comfort these past few days—”

“Put it back in your pocket,” said Ellery sharply. “Someone’s coming.” The elevator-door opened and a tall figure stepped out. “Ah, Jones! Good man. Nice of you to come,” said Ellery.

Andrea blushed and fled into the apartment. Jones’s surly, blood-shot eyes remained fixed on the open doorway through which she had vanished. “Got your message,” he said thickly. He was apparently very drunk. “Don’t know why I came. They don’t want me here.”