The Black Hearts Murder by Ellery Queen Page A

around.”
    â€œLeRoy,” Wade said.
    â€œIt’s not the Black Hearts alone that brought me here,” McCall said. “It’s the threat of race trouble. The governor wants me to head it off if I can.”
    â€œBut it’s very simple,” Rawlings drawled. “Order Volper to drop the charges against Harlan and me, and tell Judge Graham to revoke Harlan’s bail forfeiture.”
    McCall looked the black leader in the eye. “Oh, come on, Rawlings. You’re not talking to an idiot, and I’m not talking to one, either. You know the governor has no authority to ‘order’ things like that. Are you and the Black Hearts bent on playing Volper’s game? Apparently he’d like nothing better than a full-scale riot situation in this town. It would certainly polarize the white backlash sentiment. If it were bad enough, it would make headlines and newscast lead-offs nationally, giving Volper a showcase he couldn’t get otherwise in a hundred years. You can’t be that stupid.”
    â€œDon’t call me stupid, man,” Rawlings said. The whites of his eyes were shot with blood. “Don’t ever! I’m not playing any game. It’s the black brothers and the black community that take all the punishment when a ghetto burns. The lousy few honky merchants who lose a few TV sets and some plate glass hardly count, considering the profits they’ve squeezed out of blacks for generations. When Whitey pushes too hard, man, nobody’s going to stop blacks from pushing back! Avoiding showdowns is up to you honkies.”
    â€œLeRoy,” the black lawyer said again; he was distressed.
    â€œI don’t want to get into a hassle about whose fault it will be if the city burns down,” McCall said. “I just want to keep it from burning down. And if you’d seen that mixed mob in front of the city hall this morning, you’d realize how close this town was to being reduced to ashes. Do you think Harlan James would be willing to use his influence to cool tempers in case another incident like this morning’s develops?”
    â€œWhat influence does a fugitive in hiding have?” Rawlings asked bitterly.
    â€œI’d like to discuss that with Mr. James personally. Can you arrange for me to see him?”
    Rawlings’s response was immediate and automatic. “Now how would I know where he is?”
    â€œMr. McCall,” Prentiss Wade said. “Even if LeRoy knew, arranging for you to see Harlan would amount to an admission that the charge against him is true. At least that would be the district attorney’s construction. Be reasonable.”
    â€œYou have my word as Governor Holland’s emissary that nobody but the governor will learn about it from me. In fact, I don’t even have to know where Mr. James is. I’m perfectly willing to be blindfolded. All I want is a face-to-face talk.”
    â€œNo, LeRoy, wait a minute,” the black lawyer said. “What could your seeing Harlan James accomplish, Mr. McCall?”
    â€œHe keeps sending taped speeches to BOKO. Another was scheduled for broadcast at ten this morning.” He glanced at his watch. “It must be over by now. I’d hope to persuade him to make a public plea for restraint.”
    Rawlings showed his teeth. “I’ve already told you I don’t know where he is.”
    â€œI find that hard to believe, Mr. Rawlings.”
    â€œI don’t give a damn what you believe, honky, y’ hear?”
    McCall’s eyes narrowed. “Up to now I considered this a conversation among reasonable men. Why the name-calling all of a sudden, Rawlings? You must know my reputation for fair dealing—”
    â€œYou don’t cut it, huh? ‘Honky’ pulls you uptight, huh? Now you know how a brother feels when a honky calls him nigger!”
    â€œI never in my life called anyone a racial or ethnic name,” McCall said coldly.