A Room to Die In by Jack Vance & Ellery Queen

Author:Jack Vance & Ellery Queen [Vance, Jack & Queen, Ellery]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: detective, mystery
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 7

“That,” said Jehane, “is the story of what happened to the mortgage. I’m sorry it took so long, but I could hardly explain it any other way. . . . If you will examine the black king, you’ll notice that the crown is bent.”

“I noticed,” said Ann.

Jehane made a gesture toward their glasses. “Sherry?”

Ann and Tarr both accepted.

“Roland was a strange man,” said Jehane. “I’m sure I did what was right. Neither of us would have gained—though Roland might still be alive, which I suppose could be considered a gain. Things happened as they had to happen. Now that he’s dead, I notice the gap he leaves, but I feel no grief. Certainly not as much as Pearl would have felt.”

“Out of sheer curiosity, Mrs. Cypriano,” asked Tarr in a peculiarly respectful voice, “what are your plans?”

Jehane smiled. “Perhaps you’ll think me perverse, but I have an urge to go to Ireland. I don’t know what I’ll find there, but I think I’ll be going soon.”

“With your husband?” asked Ann.

“No.”

Ann rose. “Thank you for being so honest.”

“I had no choice. You would have thought us thieves otherwise.”

In San Rafael, Tarr lured Ann into a coffee shop. He ordered two hamburgers and a milkshake, explaining that he had not yet had lunch. Ann ordered coffee, in spite of Tarr’s insistence that she eat. “Have a sandwich, or a sundae, or pie. Shoot the works. It’s on me.”

“No, thanks. I’m not hungry.”

“You’re dieting?”

“Not at the moment.”

“I’m relieved. It would be a terrible mistake. Every one of your pounds is important. There’s not one wasted.”

“I suppose you intend that as a compliment,” said Ann. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. I’m not the heavy-handed lout I seem.”

“You don’t seem heavy-handed,” said Ann. “Just light-headed.”

Tarr grinned and ate his hamburgers. Presently he said, “Now you know what happened to the mortgage.”

Ann shuddered. “If I were Jehane I’d have hated him.”

“And Alexander wants his chess set back—which is rubbing it in.”

“He’s willing to pay for it, or so he says.”

“Everyone is so fair,” said Tarr cynically. “But somewhere among the group is a blackmailer.”

“Why ‘among the group’? It seems to me it might have been practically anyone.”

“The blackmailer took great pains to conceal his identity—which argues that he, or she, is someone your father knew well. I’d certainly like to talk to your mother.”

“You probably can in a day or so.”

Tarr looked up. “How come?”

“Her letter said as much.”

“Oh, the letter.” Tarr seemed to lose interest. He leaned back in the booth. “You’re a wealthy gal now. A poor slob of a cop doesn’t stand much of a chance.”

Ann laughed. “Which slob did you have in mind?”

“I was referring to Inspector Tom Tarr. I have scruples, but luckily they don’t stand in the way of living off my wife.”

“My father tried it,” said Ann. “He didn’t seem to like it.”

“I’m of a different temperament. More independent.”

“More independent?”

“Certainly. Your father couldn’t figure out how to adapt.”

“You’re confusing ‘independence’ and ‘hypocrisy.’ ”

“There may be a difference,” conceded Tarr. “Still, it all seems simple enough to me.

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