The Door Between by Ellery Queen Page B

masochistic way, glaring at his shoes.
    Terry said from the window: “All right, Sherlock. What’s the verdict?”
    Ellery went into his bedroom and shut the door. They heard the tinkle of the telephone. Then he came out and said: “I really can’t do anything until I’ve gone over that house. I’ve asked Morel, Miss Leith’s lawyer, to meet us there. There are some questions I want to ask him. Miss MacClure.”
    “Yes?” said Eva without opening her eyes.
    “I want you to get a hold on your nerves. You can help tremendously by being sane about this thing.”
    “I’m all right.”
    “She’s all right,” said Terry.
    “And you, Terry. You’re a professional. Apparently you spotted Miss MacClure’s predicament in a moment. What do you think?”
    “I think she’s okay just as long as you keep your mouth shut about that bolted door.”
    “Always the iconoclast,” murmured Ellery. He took a turn about the room. “I confess it’s a poser. If we assume Miss MacClure’s innocence, the thing’s impossible. It can’t have been done. And yet apparently it was … Terry, why were you in Karen Leith’s house Monday?”
    “None of your business.”
    “That’s hardly cooperative. And how did you know a Headquarters detective was due there by appointment with Karen Leith, at her own telephoned request Sunday morning, at five o’clock Monday?”
    “A little birdie told me.”
    “Most important of all, why did you become an accomplice of a girl whom the facts said was a murderess?”
    “I’ll tell you that,” rapped Terry, swinging about. “Because it’s too damned pat. Because she’s the only one. Because things just don’t happen that way. Because I think she’s being taken for a ride!”
    “Ah! Frame-up, eh?”
    “Frame-up?” Dr. MacClure shook his head wearily. “That’s impossible, Ring. There just isn’t anyone –”
    “But mostly,” said Terry, going over to Eva and smiling down at her, “because I think she’s telling the truth. Maybe I’m a sucker; I don’t know. But stick to it, kid. I’m with you to the end of the line.”
    Eva flushed; her lower lip quivered. Terry scowled then and began to march across the room.
    “I haven’t told you, Ring,” began the doctor awkwardly, “how much I appreciate –”
    “Thank him ,” said Terry, disappearing into the foyer. “He goes for that stuff in a big way.” And they heard the slam of the front door.
    “I think,” said Ellery dryly to Eva, “you’ve made a conquest. It’s the only time, to my knowledge, that the feat has been accomplished.”
10
    On the way downtown in a taxicab Ellery asked: “Did anyone know in advance that you were going to Karen Leith’s house Monday afternoon?”
    “No one except Dick.” Eva leaned against her father’s shoulder; they both seemed to take comfort from it. “And Dick only knew at a few minutes to four.”
    “You went on impulse?”
    “Entirely.”
    “Terry Ring is wrong then. You couldn’t have been framed.”
    To their astonishment they found the peripatetic Mr. Ring in the Washington Square house, guying Inspector Queen, who seemed to be doing nothing at all but enjoying the banter. The two Queens greeted each other with their eyes and then Ellery introduced Dr. MacClure, who looked tired and ill.
    “Why don’t you go on home, Doctor?” said the Inspector. “This can’t be pleasant for you. We’ll talk some other time.”
    Dr. MacClure shook his head and put his arm about Eva.
    The Inspector shrugged. “Well, son, here’s the layout. Kept just as it was found, except for the body.”
    Ellery’s nostrils were undulating a little. He gave only a glance to the sitting-room and went straight into the bedroom. They followed him in silence.
    Ellery stood on the threshold and looked. He looked and looked without stirring. “Find the weapon?”
    “Well – yes,” said the Inspector. “Yes, I think we have.”
    Ellery glanced up at his coy tone and began to prowl. “By