Kill as Directed by Ellery Queen

him, that if I married him it would be because, as his wife, I could have all three. I told him I’d try to be a good wife, but I warned him I liked men. I told him he was old. I told him I’d probably cheat on him. If he’d marry me on those terms, I’d accept.”
    â€œPardon me,” said Harry, “if I reach for the salt.”
    â€œHe lapped it up, darling. You don’t know Kurt. He’s a man who hates to be fooled. He appreciates straight talk. He thought it over, and then he said he understood. He said he wasn’t a jealous man. He said he was old and used-up and had a bum heart; he didn’t expect me to love him. He said he wanted to own me; and in order to own, you have to buy.”
    Thinly Harry said, “Was he to get a bill of sale?”
    â€œThe marriage certificate.”
    â€œAnd what were you to get?”
    â€œA hundred thousand dollars in cash.”
    â€œCheap. Dirt cheap.”
    â€œDon’t get bitchy, lover, you’re not the type. How about stirring up some more sauce?” Karen held out her empty glass. He got up and in silence made new drinks, lit a cigarette for her, put an ash tray beside her on the bed. He lit a cigarette for himself, and went back to his chair. “That was only to be the down payment,” Karen said comfortably. “Petty cash for emergencies. There was more, much more, in the offing. Like millions.”
    â€œMillions?” Harry said, staring at her body.
    â€œMillions.”
    â€œHe agreed to turn over millions?”
    â€œI didn’t say that.”
    â€œBut didn’t you just say …?”
    For some reason his tone inflamed her. Her eyes flashed and she cried, “Listen, damn you! Listen, won’t you?”
    â€œSorry.” Harry smoked his cigarette.
    â€œWe continued our business conference. He wanted to buy me, so the terms became the issue. I went back to his being an old man. He could die suddenly and I’d be left with the short end of the stick. He said his will would take care of me. I said a will could be changed. He talked about a widow’s dower rights. I said, ‘And suppose you died broke?’ The more I dickered, the more respect he showed for me. I won’t bore you with all the details. We had a number of talks.”
    â€œAnd the final deal?”
    â€œThree million dollars in cash was deposited in a bank in escrow. On Kurt’s death the three million becomes mine. The trust is irrevocable except for one condition—if I divorce him. Otherwise, he can’t touch it.”
    â€œSuppose he divorces you?”
    â€œThe trust stands. I insisted on that, and he agreed. He wanted to own me in the worst way.”
    â€œHe got his wish, didn’t he?” said Harry. “Maybe he’s not as smart as he has everybody thinking. Was Tony Mitchell your lawyer?” he asked suddenly.
    Karen stretched in a lazy-cat way, and laughed. “Now don’t be a complete dope, Doctor. Tony Mitchell was his lawyer.”
    â€œAnd yours?”
    â€œNo one remotely connected with Kurt Gresham, I assure you. I was very careful about that. I retained a top attorney and, after the agreement was all drawn up, I secretly double-checked with another top man.”
    Harry shook his head. “You’re quite a woman, Karen. So when Kurt dies, you come into three million dollars, do you?”
    â€œOh, more than that, lover. I’d get the widow’s mighty mite by law, and then, of course, there’d be his will. I don’t know what’s in it, but I could conceivably come into everything.”
    â€œAnd how much would that be?”
    â€œOh, fabulous scads,” she said dreamily. “Who knows?” She raised her glass and sipped, and over its brim her green eyes flicked at him like a whip. “But I’d settle for the three million, the way I feel right now.”
    A queer little chill ran down Dr. Harrison