Kill as Directed by Ellery Queen Page A

Brown’s back. “I thought you said you couldn’t get the three million unless he died.”
    â€œThat’s right,” said Karen. Then she said softly, “Lover.”
    It seemed to Dr. Harrison Brown that the room was baking over an invisible fire.
    â€œWhat do you mean?” he asked in a croak.
    She murmured, “What you’re thinking I mean.”
    â€œYou mean … you wish he were dead?”
    â€œI wish he were dead. Yes, Harry. How’s his heart?”
    â€œPumping,” he said. “Karen.”
    â€œYes, darling?”
    â€œIf you were free … would you marry me?”
    â€œYes. Yes.”
    He was silent. She was silent. They drank. They smoked.
    Karen got off the bed and went into the bathroom and he heard her washing. She came back with a wet towel and, wiping his face tenderly, kissed his damp forehead. Then she took his glass and freshened their drinks and went back to the bed. It squeaked. “Now we come to you,” she said.
    â€œMe,” he said. “Yes. What about me?”
    â€œYou’re in,” she said. “And you don’t belong. I feel sorry for you.”
    â€œIn what?” he said.
    â€œAlready you’re afraid to talk, even to me.”
    â€œIn what?” he said.
    â€œOne word will do the job.”
    â€œSay the word.”
    â€œHeroin.”
    â€œI’m in,” he said. “Is Tony?”
    â€œI don’t know.”
    He grinned. “Oh, come on.”
    â€œI tell you I don’t. If Kurt propositioned him, Tony’s in. Otherwise, he’s only Kurt’s lawyer on legitimate stuff.”
    â€œWhat does that mean?”
    â€œIt means that once Kurt makes up his mind to proposition you, you’re either in, or you’re dead.” She drank and wiped her face with the towel and hung it around her neck.
    â€œHow did you know about me?” Harry grunted.
    â€œI asked Kurt.”
    â€œHow come?”
    â€œLynne Maxwell.”
    The name was like a cold shower. But on a cold day. “Yes?” Harry said. His skin was actually pimpling.
    â€œWhen Tony got Lieutenant Galivan to spill the story, I mean when Galivan was checking your alibi, I immediately recognized the fine Italian-or-whatever-the-hell-it-is hand of my dear husband. You see, I knew Lynne Maxwell.”
    â€œ You knew her?” he cried.
    â€œI’m still part of the screening apparatus, darling,” Karen smiled. “Especially valuable now that I move in exalted circles as Mrs. Kurt Gresham of Park Avenue. I did the prospective-client screening on Lynne Maxwell. Undercover Gal, that’s me. When Lynne was found dead in your apartment, I knew Kurt had selected his New York medical replacement for old Doc Welliver. That’s the way my husband works. I asked him, and he told me.”
    â€œAnd you mean to say that if I’d turned him down—”
    â€œHarry dear, you are sweet. He’d opened up to you, hadn’t he? Could he afford to let you say no and walk out on him? How do you think Kurt’s been able to keep his operation secret for so many years? But I gather that in your case he wasn’t taking much of a chance.”
    â€œI still find it hard to believe,” Harry said. “So damned melodramatic. Or are you pulling my leg?”
    â€œI wish I were.” She sat up on the bed and unhooked her brassiere and flung it away. She walked over to him and stooped over his chair and kissed him. His lips were cold and she slipped onto his lap and drew his head down to her. “He didn’t tell you about his liquidation department, did he? Or maybe he did and you didn’t’ believe him. It’s permanently staffed with experts, and I mean experts. If Kurt decides you’re dangerous, you have the damnedest accident. You slip in the tub and break your neck, or you get a dizzy spell and fall off a subway platform just as the express is coming in, or