The Egyptian Cross Mystery
- Автор: Куин (Квин) Эллери
- Серия: Ellery Queen #5
- Год: 1932
- Язык: английский
- Год: Frederick A. Stokes Company
- Жанр: Классические детективы
Электронная книга - «The Egyptian Cross Mystery». Краткое содержание книги:
“Because,” said the District Attorney, “it’s preposterous.
Feud or no feud. Nobody can tell me that three grown men will quit their homes and country and change their names just because a little shaver has the emotional incentive to kill them.”
“Very true,” said Ellery, gulping in the warm piny air. “So true that I wonder Inspector Vaughn didn’t arrest ’em on the spot for perjury.” Inspector Vaughn snorted. “It convinces me that, while the Krosac story is undoubtedly true, there was more to their departure than the fear of an eleven-year-old’s problematical vengeance.”
“What do you mean, Queen?” asked Professor Yardley. “I can’t see—”
“Surely it’s obvious! Why should three adults, as Mr. Isham says, desert their homeland and flee to a foreign country under assumed names? Eh?”
“The police!” muttered Vaughn.
“Precisely. They left because they had to leave, pursued by a danger much more immediate, I assure you, than the boy Krosac’s revenge. If I were you, Inspector, I’d make an overseas inquiry.”
“Cable Yugoslavia,” said the Inspector. “Good idea. I’ll do it tonight.”
“You see,” drawled Ellery to Professor Yardley, “life, as usual, plays shoddy tricks. They flee from a real danger, and twenty years later the potential danger catches up with them.”
20. Two Triangles
As Ellery, Professor Yardley, Isham, and Vaughn rounded the eastern wing of the house, someone hailed them from the rear. They all turned quickly; it was Dr. Temple.
“All through with the big powwow?” asked Temple; he had deposited his medical bag somewhere, and was strolling along the path empty-handed, smoking.
“Ah — yes,” said Isham.
At the same instant the tall figure of Jonah Lincoln came dashing along the path around the corner; he and Ellery collided, and Jonah stepped back with a scant mutter of apology.
“Temple!” he cried, ignoring the others. “What’s the matter with Megara?”
“Don’t excite yourself, Mr. Lincoln,” said the Inspector dryly. “Megara’s all right. Just a hernia. What’s eating you?”
Jonah wiped his forehead; he was panting. “Oh, everything’s so mysterious around here. Damn it all, haven’t we any rights left? I heard that the pack of you had gone over to the yacht after Temple, and I thought—”
“That Mr. Megara had met with foul play?” asked Isham. “No, it’s as Inspector Vaughn says.”
“Well!” The red tide ebbed from Lincoln’s sharp features, and he grew a little calmer. Dr. Temple was smoking peacefully, regarding him without perturbation. “The place is like a prison, anyway,” grumbled Jonah. “My sister had the hardest time getting into Bradwood. Just came back from Oyster Island and the man on the—”
“Miss Lincoln’s back?” said the Inspector quickly.
Dr. Temple removed the pipe from his mouth; the serene look went out of his eyes. “When?” he demanded.
“A few minutes ago. The detective wouldn’t—”
“Alone?”
“Yes. They—” Poor Lincoln’s indignation was fated never to be expressed. His mouth was open, and remained open. The other men stiffened.
From somewhere in the house came a wild screaming laugh.
“Hester!” shouted Dr. Temple, and plunged forward, bowling Lincoln over to one side and disappearing around the corner.
“My God,” said Isham hoarsely, “what the devil’s that?”
Lincoln scrambled to his feet and dashed after the physician, Ellery at his heels and the others streaming after.
The source of the scream had been the upper floor of the house. As they ran into the reception hall they passed Stallings, the butler, standing near the staircase, his face drained of blood. Mrs. Baxter’s rigid neck protruded from a rear door.
The upper floor contained the bedrooms. They reached the landing just in time to see Dr. Temple’s wiry figure hurtle through the doorway of one of the rooms... The screams persisted; peal after peal of a woman’s shrill hysteria.
They found Dr. Temple holding Hester Lincoln in his arms, smoothing her disheveled hair, hushing her gently. The girl’s face was crimson, her eyes fierce and unintelligent, her mouth crookedly open; the screams ripped out as if she had no control over her vocal chords.
“Hysterics!” snapped the physician over his shoulder. “Help me get her on the bed.”
Vaughn and Jonah leaped forward; the girl’s screaming laughter redoubled in volume, and she began to struggle. It was at this moment that Ellery heard quick steps from the corridor, and turned to see Mrs. Brad, in négligé and Helene appear in the doorway.
“What’s the matter?” gasped Mrs. Brad. “What’s happened?”
Helene hurried forward. Dr. Temple forced the kicking girl back on the bed and sharply slapped her face. A shriek trembled, and died. Hester half-rose on the bed and stared at the pale pudgy face of Mrs. Brad. Intelligence sprang into her eyes, and an inhuman hatred.
“Get out, you...you— Get out of my sight!” she cried. “I hate, hate you, and everything that belongs to you. Get out, I say, get out!”
Mrs. Brad flamed; her full lips trembled. Her shoulders shook as she gaped. Then she uttered a low cry, wheeled, and disappeared.
“Hush, Hester!” said Helene fiercely. “You don’t mean that. Be a good girl, now, and quiet down. You’re making a scene.”
Hester’s eyes seemed to turn over in their sockets; her head sagged, and she dropped like a crumpled sack on the bed.
“Out!” said Dr. Temple imperiously. “Everybody.”
He stretched the unconscious girl flat on her back as the others slowly left the room. Jonah, flushed, nervous, but in a way triumphant, closed the door softly.
“I wonder what gave her hysterics,” said Isham with a frown.
“The reaction of a violent emotional experience,” drawled Ellery. “Is the psychology correct?”
“The New England conscience,” murmured Professor Yardley, “in violent eruption.”
“Why’d she leave the Island?” demanded Vaughn.
Jonah grinned feebly. “It’s all over now, Inspector, so I guess there’s no harm in your knowing; nothing mysterious about it. Hester has been infatuated with that scoundrel Romaine on Oyster Island. But just now she came hotfooting it back. It seems he made — well, a pass at her.” His face darkened. “Another little score I have to settle with him, damn his black soul! But in a way I feel grateful to him. He opened her eyes and brought her back to her senses.”
The Inspector remarked dryly: “It’s none of my business of course, but did your sister think he’d recite poetry to her?”
The door opened and Dr. Temple appeared. “She’s quiet now; don’t bother her,” he growled. “You might go in, Miss Brad.” Helene nodded and went in, closing the door quickly behind her. “She’ll be all right. I’ll give her a sedative — get my bag...” He hurried down the stairs.
Jonah stared after him. “When she came back, she told me that she was through with Romaine and the whole damned nudist business. She wants to leave here and go off somewhere — New York, she said. Wants to be alone. Good thing for her.”
“Umm,” said Isham. “Where’s Romaine now?”
“On the Island, I suppose; he hasn’t shown his face around here, the dirty—” Jonah bit his lip and shrugged. “May Hester leave Bradwood, Mr. Isham?”
“Well... What do you think, Vaughn?”
The Inspector massaged his jaw. “Can’t see any harm in it, if we know where to get her when we want her.”
“You’ll be responsible for her, Mr. Lincoln?” asked Isham.