A Fine and Private Place by Ellery Queen

sir.”
    But Importuna persisted in a brittle, courteous way. “Perhaps you have a few questions for my wife, Inspector, now that she’s here.”
    â€œNo,” the old man said. “No more questions tonight.”
    â€œ Benone! Allora rivederla .” He clucked at his wife and Ennis as if they were small children. “ Andiamo, andiamo ! We still have work tonight, Peter, on that Midwest dairy combine. And I can’t keep Mr. E waiting upstairs forever.”
    The Queens stood silently by as the Importunas swept archward followed at some distance with lowered eyes by Peter Ennis. The survivor of the brothers halted so unexpectedly that his wife passed entirely under the arch and out of their view, and Ennis almost ran him down.
    â€œOh, Mr. Queen, it occurs to me …”
    â€œYes?” Ellery said.
    â€œBy the way, may I call you by your Christian name?”
    Ellery smiled. “You mean like, say, Peter?” He saw the neckline under Ennis’s dark blond hair redden, and he said, “No offense, Mr. Ennis. I was merely exemplifying a relationship.”
    â€œTouché, Mr. Queen.” Importuna smiled back; his teeth were very large and disconcerting. “Are you available for profitable employment? As an executive, of course. In a confidential capacity. I can use a man of your talents and temperament.”
    â€œThanks for the compliment, Mr. Importuna, but no, thanks. I’m the self-employed type.”
    â€œAh. Well. Too bad. If you should ever change your mind, Mr. Queen, you know where I am.”
    â€œI wonder,” Ellery said on the way home in the squad car.
    â€œWha’?” Inspector Queen was nodding.
    â€œImportuna’s parting shot. About knowing where he is. I wonder if anyone, including his wife, knows where Nino Importuna is. Where he is or what he is. A tough man. Dangerous man! Talking about his wife, dad, did you notice something remarkable about Peter Ennis?”
    â€œYou hop around like hot fat,” the Inspector complained. “If we’re talking about Mrs. Importuna—quite a knockout, by the way—why should I notice anything about Ennis? He hardly glanced at her all the time she was there.”
    â€œTo borrow from the old master, that’s what’s remarkable, dad. I suppose Ennis could be gay, although I don’t think so, but if he’s a red-blooded man how could he be in the same room with that ravishing female and not keep looking at her, reacting to her in some way?”
    â€œYou figure it out,” the old man mumbled. “Far as I’m concerned the murder of Julio Importunato was solved when his brother Marco hanged himself. And, son.”
    â€œYes, dad?”
    â€œDon’t tangle with Importuna. Take my advice, you’ll only come to grief. He carries too much clout for you.… What? What did you say?”
    â€œMr. E,” Ellery muttered.
    â€œWho?”
    â€œMr. E. Didn’t you hear Importuna? He mustn’t keep Mr. E waiting. I wonder who the devil Mr. E is.… Dad?”
    But the Inspector was asleep.

Sixth Month

JUNE, 1967
    The fetus takes on a leaner appearance .
    Eyelashes and eyebrows appear .
    The body grows rapidly .
    They were in his den. Ennis, his long torso hunched over his notebook and the pile of papers and cables, sat at the foot of the Florentine table. To his annoyance (a chronic one) he had had to drag a chair over and make room for himself. Although Ennis had his own workroom in the apartment, Importuna had never thought to make permanent provision for him in the den during these work sessions, which had taken place regularly for years. I’m a very modest confidential secretary, Ennis thought, except for my secret life with the boss’s wife; a small desk for my personal use in his sanctum isn’t too much to ask of one of America’s richest men. It would hardly encroach on the privacy or prerogatives of His Majesty,