The Dragon’s Teeth by Ellery Queen Page A

snapped Beau.
    â€œMerely what it said. There’s only one thing about this case I feel sure of. And that is that it’s far less simple than it seems. In fact, I’ve the feeling it’s a case of complicated and subtle cross-purposes. You’ll have to be very careful, Beau, and I’ll help all I can from under cover. Keep your eyes open—to the four points of the compass. The break may come from the least-expected quarter.”
    â€œI don’t know what you’re talking about!”
    â€œThat’s not strange,” said Mr. Queen with a shrug, “since I scarcely know myself.”
    VI pleaded with Kerrie to run away. “If that she-devil doesn’t kill you,” she cried, “the suspense will. Kerrie, you’re such a—a fool I could shake you. Do you really love him that much? Or this money? A fat lot of good it’s doing you! You look like God’s wrath. Give it up and let’s get out of here—while we can!”
    â€œNo,” said Kerrie stiffly. “I won’t. I won’t. They won’t drive me away. I won’t give in. They’ll have to kill me first.”
    â€œThey will!”
    Kerrie trembled. “It’s something stronger than I am. It won’t let me go. Maybe it’s plain stubbornness. I’m scared too—I’m scared, Vi, but I’m more scared of what I don’t know. I’ve got to find out. I’ve got to.”
    Vi looked at her with a sort of horror.
    â€œI suppose you think I’ve gone dotty,” said Kerrie with a weak smile. “Maybe I have … I hate him!”
    So it was that. Vi shook her head.
    And then the enemy struck a third time.
    It was a Sunday, and when Kerrie opened her eyes that morning she saw it would be a day of sun and cloudless skies.
    â€œVi, let’s have an old-fashioned picnic, just the two of us!” she cried. “We’ll drive into the country somewhere, and camp, and eat pickles and shoo bugs away and swim raw if we can find a stream!”
    They found their stream, and gorged themselves on the good things the chef had packed in the bursting hamper, and for the first time in weeks Vi heard her friend’s unclouded laughter.
    By the time they drove through the gateway to the estate it was dusk, and rapidly growing dark.
    Vi yawned. “It’s the fresh air. Kerrie, I’m flopping right into bed.”
    â€œSleepy? With such beautiful stars beginning to come out? Here, I’ll let you out at the house and you can flop into your old bed if you want to. I’ll put the car away.”
    Vi got out under the porte-cochère and Sir Scram, as she called the butler, opened the front door for her. She disappeared. The butler took the hamper from the car and went back into the house.
    Kerrie sat still behind the wheel for a while, mooning up at the darkening sky, her thoughts dream-woven, afloat in a great peace. But soon the brightening stars made her think of what a lovely night it was, and the loveliness of the night led naturally to thoughts of romance, and romance …
    She drove off abruptly, headed for the garage.
    The garage, located behind the stables, was really six garages under one roof. It was a wide shallow brick building with six double-doors, and each car-compartment was separated from its neighbors by brick and plaster walls, making the individual sections complete in themselves.
    Kerrie housed her roadster in the second compartment from the right, between the one where the station-wagon was kept and the one reserved for De Carlos’s powerful limousine.
    In the glare of the roadster’s headlights the four double-doors to the left were closed; the two on the right stood open.
    Kerrie noticed that the station-wagon was in its garage and wondered why the doors were not closed. But it was the wispiest kind of thought. She drove into her garage, raced her motor, turned off the ignition, withdrew the key, and