The Roman Hat Mystery (40 page)

A woman
’
s timid white hand fluttered aloft.

“
Yes, madam?
”
commanded Queen, pointing his finger.
“
Do you recall anything unusual?
”

A withered old lady rose embarrassedly to her feet and began to stammer in a squeaking voice.
“
I don
’
t know whether it
’
s important or not, sir,
”
she said tremulously.
“
But I do remember some time during the second act a woman, I think it was, walking down the aisle and a few seconds later walking up again.
”

“
Yes? That
’
s interesting, madam,
”
commented the Inspector.
“
About what time was this
―
can you recall?
”

“
I don
’
t remember the time, sir,
”
shrilled the old lady,
“
but it was about ten minutes or so after the beginning of the act.
”

“
I see . . . . And do you recall anything of her appearance? Was she young or old? What did she wear?
”

The old lady looked troubled.
“
I don
’
t exactly remember, sir,
”
she quavered.
“
I wasn
’
t paying
―”

A high, clear voice interrupted from the rear. Heads twisted about. Madge O
’
Connell had jumped to her feet.

“
You don
’
t have to mess around with that any more, Inspector,
”
she announced coldly.
“
That lady saw
me
walking down the aisle and back again. That was before I
―
you know.
”
She winked pertly in the Inspector
’
s direction.

People gasped. The old lady stared with pitiful bewilderment at the usherette, then at the Inspector and finally sat down.

“
I
’
m not surprised,
”
said the Inspector quietly.
“
Well, anybody else?
”

There was no answer. Realizing that the company might feel shy of announcing their thoughts in public Queen started up the aisle, working from row to row, questioning each person separately in tones inaudible to the rest. When he had finished he returned slowly to his original position.

“
I see that I must allow you ladies and gentlemen to return to your peaceful firesides. Thank you very much for your help . . . . Dismissed!
”

He flung the word at them. They stared at him dazedly, then rose in muttering groups, took up their coats and hats and under Velie
’
s stern eye began to file out of the theatre. Hilda Orange, standing in the group behind the last row, sighed.

“
It
’
s almost embarrassing to see that poor old gentleman
’
s disappointment,
”
she whispered to the others.
“
Come on, folks, let
’
s be going, too.
”

The actors and actresses left the theatre among the departing company.

When the last man and woman had disappeared, the Inspector marched back up the aisle and stood gloomily staring at the little group who were left. They seemed to sense the seething fire in the old man and they cowered. But the Inspector, with a characteristic lightning change of front, became human again.

He sat down in one of the seats and folded his arms over the back, surveying Madge O
’
Connell, Parson Johnny and the others.

“
All right, folks,
”
he said in a genial tone.
“
How about you, Parson? You
’
re a free man, you don
’
t have to worry about silks any more and you can speak up now like any self-respecting citizen. Can you give us any help in this affair?
”

“
Naw,
”
grunted the little gangster.
“
I told you all I knew. Ain
’
t got a thing to say.
”

“
I see . . . . You know, Parson, that we
’
re interested in your dealings with Field.
”
The gangster looked up in shocked surprise.
“
Oh, yes,
”
continued the Inspector.
“
We want you to tell us sometime about your business with Mr. Field in the past. You
’
ll keep that in mind, won
’
t you? . . . Parson,
”
he said sharply,
“
who killed Monte Field? Who had it in for him? If you know
―
out with it!
”

“
Aw, Inspector,
”
the Parson whined,
“
you ain
’
t pullin
’
that stuff on me again, are you? How should I know? Field was one slick guy
―
he didn
’
t go around welching on his enemies. No, sir! I wouldn
’
t know . . . . He was pretty good to me
―
got me off on a couple of charges,
”
he admitted unblushingly.
“
But I didn
’
t have no more idea he was here Monday night than
―
hell, than anything.
”

The Inspector turned to Madge O
’
Connell.

“
How about you, O
’
Connell?
”
he asked softly.
“
My son, Mr. Queen, tells me that on Monday night you confided in him about closing the exit doors. You didn
’
t say anything to me about that. What do
you
know?
”

The girl returned his stare coolly.
“
I told you once, Inspector. I haven
’
t a thing to say.
”

“
And you, William Pusak
―”
Queen turned to the wizened little bookkeeper.
“
Do you remember anything now that you forgot Monday night?
”

Pusak wiggled uncomfortably.
“
Meant to tell you, Inspector,
”
he mumbled.
“
And when I read about it in the papers it came back to me . . . . As I bent over Mr. Field Monday night I smelled a terrible smell of whisky. I don
’
t remember if I told you that before.
”

“
Thank you,
”
remarked the Inspector dryly, rising.
“
A very important contribution to our little investigation. You may go, the whole lot of you . . . .
”

The orangeade boy, Jess Lynch, looked disappointed.
“
Don
’
t you want to talk to me, too, sir?
”
he asked anxiously.

The Inspector smiled despite his abstraction.
“
Ah, yes. The helpful purveyor of orangeade . . . . And what have you to say, Jess?
”

“
Well, sir, before this fellow Field came over to my stand to ask for the ginger ale, I happened to notice that he picked up something in the alleyway,
”
said the boy eagerly.
“
It was shiny, sort of, but I couldn
’
t see it clear enough. He put it in his hip pocket right away.
”

He concluded triumphantly, glancing about him as if to invite applause. The Inspector seemed interested enough.

“
What was this shiny object like, Jess?
”
he inquired.
“
Might it have been a revolver?
”

“
Revolver? Gosh, I don
’
t think so,
”
said the orangeade boy doubtfully.
“
It was square, like . . . .
”

“
Might it have been a woman
’
s purse?
”
interrupted the Inspector.

The boy
’
s face brightened.
“
That
’
s it!
”
he cried.
“
I
’
ll bet that
’
s what it was. Shined all over, like colored stones.
”

Queen sighed.
“
Very good, Lynch,
”
he said.
“
You go home now like a good boy.
”

Silently the gangster, the usherette, Pusak and his feminine charge, and the orangeade boy rose and departed. Velie accompanied them to the outer door.

Sampson waited until they had gone before he took the Inspector to one side.

“
What
’
s the matter, Q?
”
he demanded.
“
Aren
’
t things going right?
”

“
Henry, my boy,
”
smiled the Inspector,
“
we
’
ve done as much as mortal brains could. Just a little more time . . . . I wish
―”
He did not say what he wished. He grasped Djuna firmly by the arm and bidding Panzer, Neilson, Velie and the District Attorney a placid good night, left the theatre.

At the apartment, as the Inspector wielded his key and the door swung open, Djuna pounced on a yellow envelope lying on the floor. It had evidently been stuck through the crack at the bottom of the door. Djuna flourished it in the old man
’
s face.

“
It
’
s from Mr. Ellery, I
’
ll bet!
”
he cried.
“
I knew he wouldn
’
t forget!
”
He seemed more extraordinarily like a monkey than ever as he stood grinning, the telegram in his hand.

The Inspector snatched the envelope from Djuna
’
s hand and, not pausing to take off his hat or coat, switched on the lights in the living room and eagerly extracted the yellow slip of paper. Djuna had been correct.

ARRIVED SAFELY [it ran] CHAUVIN WILD WITH DELIGHT FISHING PROSPECT EXCEPTIONAL Stop THINK I HAVE SOLVED YOUR LITTLE PROBLEM Stop JOIN DISTINGUISHED COMPANY OF RABELAIS CHAUCER SHAKESPEARE DRYDEN WHO SAID MAKE A VIRTUE OF NECESSITY Stop WHY NOT GO INTO BLACKMAILING BUSINESS YOURSELF Stop DON
’
T GROWL DJUNA TO DEATH AFFECTIONATELY ELLERY

The Inspector stared down at the harmless yellow slip, a startled comprehension transmuting the harsh lines of his face.

He whirled on Djuna, clapped that young gentleman
’
s cap on his tousled head and pulled his arm purposefully.

“
Djuna, old son,
”
he said gleefully,
“
let
’
s go around the corner and celebrate with a couple of ice-cream sodas!
”

For the first time in a week Inspector Queen was genuinely himself as he strode cheerfully into his tiny office at the headquarters building and shied his coat at a chair.

It was Monday morning. He rubbed his hands, hummed
“
The Sidewalks of New York,
”
as he plumped down at his desk and briskly ran through his voluminous mail and reports. He spent a half-hour issuing instructions by word of mouth and telephone to subordinates in various offices of the Detective Bureau, studied briefly a number of reports which a stenographer placed before him and finally pressed one of a row of buttons on his desk.

Velie appeared at once.

“
Howdy, Thomas,
”
said the Inspector heartily.
“
How are you this fine Fall morning?
”

Velie permitted himself a smile.
“
Well enough, Inspector,
”
he said.
“
And you? You seemed a little under the weather Saturday night.
”

The Inspector chuckled.
“
Let bygones be bygones, Thomas, my lad. Djuna and I visited the Bronx Zoo yesterday and spent a delightful four hours among our brethren, the animals.
”

“
That imp of yours was in his element, I
’
ll bet,
”
growled Velie,
“
among the monkeys especially.
”

“
Now, now, Thomas,
”
chided the Inspector.
“
Don
’
t be mistaken about Djuna. He
’
s a smart little whippersnapper. Going to be a great man some day, mark my words!
”

“
Djuna?
”
Velie nodded gravely.
“
Guess you
’
re right, Inspector. I
’
d give my right paw for that kid . . . . What
’
s the program today, sir?
”

“
There
’
s a lot on the program today, Thomas,
”
Queen said mysteriously.
“
Did you get hold of Michaels after I telephoned you yesterday morning?
”

“
Sure thing, Inspector. He
’
s been waiting outside for an hour. Came in early, with Piggott hanging on his heels. Piggott
’
s been tailing him all over creation and he
’
s pretty disgusted.
”

“
Well, I always said a man
’
s a fool to become a policeman,
”
chuckled Queen.
“
Bring in the lamb.
”

Velie went out, to reappear a moment later with the tall, portly Michaels. Field
’
s valet was dressed sombrely. He seemed nervous and ill at ease.

“
Now, Thomas, my lad,
”
said the Inspector after he had motioned Michaels to the chair beside his desk,
“
you go out and lock that door and don
’
t let the Commissioner himself disturb me. Get that?
”

Velie repressed a curious glance, grunted and departed. A few moments later a bulky figure was dimly discernible in silhouette through the frosted glass of the door.

At the expiration of a half-hour Velie was summoned by telephone to his superior
’
s office. He unlocked the door. On the desk before the Inspector reposed a cheap square envelope unsealed, a sheet of notepaper partly visible as it lay inside. Michaels was on his feet, pale and trembling, his hat crushed in two beefy hands. Velie
’
s sharp eyes noticed a generous ink stain on the fingers of the man
’
s left hand.

“
You are going to take
very
good care of Mr. Michaels, Thomas,
”
said the Inspector genially.
“
Today, for instance, I want you to entertain him. I have no doubt you
’
ll find something to do
―
go to a movie
―
there
’
s an idea! In any event be friendly with the gentleman until you hear from me . . . . No communication with anybody, Michaels, do you hear?
”
he added brusquely, turning to the big man.
“
Just you tag along with Sergeant Velie and play nicely.
”

“
You know I
’
m on the square, Inspector,
”
mumbled Michaels sullenly.
“
You don
’
t have to
―”

“
Just a precaution, Michaels
―
just an elementary precaution,
”
interrupted the Inspector, smiling.
“
Have a nice time, boys!
”

The two men left. Seated at his desk, Queen tilted his swivel chair, picked up the envelope before him reflectively, took out the slip of cheap white paper and read it over with a little smile.

The note bore neither date nor salutation. The message began abruptly.