“That’s a damnable lie!” thundered the doctor. His light blue eyes flamed so dangerously Dr. Scott paled still more.
“I think,” said Ellery from the window in a cold tone, “that we’re beginning to divagate. You mentioned something about a case.” Father and son eyed each other. “I haven’t heard a whisper about motive.”
“The State doesn’t have to prove motive,” snapped the old man.
“But it comes in handy when you’re trying to convince a jury that a harmless young woman of spotless reputation and no previous criminal record stabbed her father’s fiancée to death with murderous intent.”
“The funny part of it is,” said the Inspector, teetering in his chair, “that I was puzzled at first about the motive, too. I couldn’t figure why a girl of Miss MacClure’s bringing-up and family should turn killer. It’s one reason I held back. But all of a sudden I find a motive — a motive any jury will understand, even sympathize with.” He shrugged. “But that’s out of my line.”
“Motive?” Eva raised her head from the arm of her chair. “I had a motive to kill Karen?” She laughed wildly.
“Morel.” The Inspector swiveled. “What did you tell me to-day?”
Morel struggled as he felt cold eyes on him; it was apparent he would have welcomed escape with open arms. He dabbed at his forehead with an already wet handkerchief. “I— Please understand, Dr. MacClure. It was pure accident. I mean I didn’t intend to meddle. But when I found out — naturally, my duty to the law—”
“Cut the baloney,” growled Terry Ring.
The lawyer did not seem to know what to do with the handkerchief. “Years ago Miss Leith left a certain — well, large envelope in my care with instructions to — well, open it on her death. I’d... well, completely forgotten about it until this morning. Then I opened it, and the papers in it all related to Esther Leith MacClure — old letters between Dr. MacClure and Miss Leith dated 1919, a written statement by Miss Leith making certain arrangements for the disposition of her sister — in case of her own death — to send her back to Japan secretly—”
“They’re all here,” said the old man, patting his desk. And now, as he looked at Dr. MacClure, there was pity in his eyes. “You’ve kept the secret well, Doctor. I know why you did. But I’m sorry — I’ve got to reveal it.”
“Don’t tell her. Let that one — thing — be,” whispered Dr. MacClure. He hovered over the Inspector, his hands shaking.
“I’m sorry. It’s a good show you’re putting on, Doctor, but the girl knows. Even if you don’t think she knows, I tell you she does.” He took a long document from a basket on his desk and caught Eva’s eye. He cleared his throat. “I have here, Miss MacClure, a warrant for your arrest, charging you with the murder of Karen Leith.”
“I think,” began Eva, swaying on her feet, “I think—”
“No. Wait, Inspector.” Terry Ring was in front of the desk, speaking fast. “That deal we spoke about. I’ll make it. Give the kid a chance. She’s no common criminal. Hold off on the pinch. You can’t go off half-cocked with this Esther at large.” The Inspector said nothing. “She could have done it, I tell you! She had two motives. One was the dirty deal her sister gave her. The other was the money — the Leith woman’s money coming from her great-aunt.”
“Yes?” said Inspector Queen.
“Morel will tell you! Karen Leith died before forty. The aunt’s fortune then goes to Karen’s nearest blood-relative. But with Esther alive, she’s the relative! Her sister! She gets that dough! Morel.”
“Y-yes.”
“How much is involved?”
“Nearly a million and a quarter.”
“There! See, Inspector? That’s dough, isn’t it? She falls into that dough, doesn’t she?” Terry’s gray eyes glittered. “And where’s your motive for this kid here? It can’t stand up against a million and a quarter!”
The Inspector said: “What’s the deal, Terry?”
Terry straightened up. “If you ask me hard enough,” he said coolly, “I think maybe I might be able to find Esther Leith for you.”
The old man smiled. “No dice, Terry. You’re forgetting one thing. Morel, what would have happened to that money if Karen Leith had lived another month?”
“She would have inherited it,” said Morel nervously. “It would have gone to her estate.”
“And she left all her money to charities and institutions, didn’t she?”
“Yes.”
“In other words, Terry, if Eva MacClure hadn’t killed Karen Leith when she did, she would never have got her hands on that fortune at all — neither she nor Esther Leith.” Terry frowned, puzzled. “And then the fingerprints on the weapon are the girl’s. The handkerchief is the girl’s. And there’s no evidence to show that Esther was even in the house during the commission of the crime. Nothing doing, Terry.” He paused. “But... you say you know where she is? I’ll remember that.”
“Never have got her hands on the fortune!” sneered Terry. “What’s the matter with you, pop — you crazy? How could Eva ever get her hands on it? It could go only to a blood-relative—”
Dr. Scott broke his bonds. He said unsteadily: “Inspector Queen. Was that the motive you mentioned — I mean, my fiancée committed murder for money?”
“That,” said Inspector Queen, waving the warrant, “and revenge.”
“Daddy,” said Eva. “Did you hear what he said? Revenge!”
“Stop acting!” said the Inspector sternly. “Dr. MacClure’s no more your father than I am!”
“Not — Eva’s — father—” said Dr. Scott, dazedly.
“Revenge?” repeated Eva, swaying a little more.
“Revenge for what Karen Leith did to Esther — keeping her prisoner for nine years, stealing her work, her life, her family, her happiness.”
“I think,” said Eva faintly, “I think I’ll go mad if someone doesn’t — tell — me — what...”
“What the hell difference could it make to her,” demanded Terry fiercely, “what Karen Leith did to her sister Esther? You little dumb-bell!”
The Inspector replied: “What difference? Oh, I don’t know. Mightn’t it possibly make you boil a little if a woman like Karen Leith did what she did to your own mother?”
“Her — mother—” gasped Dr. Scott.
“Yes, Dr. Scott. Esther Leith MacClure is your fiancée’s mother.”
Eva gaped. Then she screamed in an unrecognizable voice: “My mother!”
Terry Ring and Ellery Queen jumped for her as she tottered, but it was the brown man who got there first.
Part Four
17
“I’m all right,” said Eva, pushing him away. “Just let me alone, please.” She felt for the back of a chair.
“I’m telling you she didn’t know,” said Dr. MacClure to Inspector Queen. “I tell you I’ve kept it from her...” But there was no belief in the Inspector’s face, and the doctor made a gesture of despair. “Eva. Eva, honey.”
“Did you say my mother?” asked Eva, looking at the Inspector in a very strange way. She seemed quite calm.
But Dr. MacClure saw her eyes, and he brushed aside Dr. Scott, who was standing helplessly by, and took Eva’s elbow and led her like a child to the Inspector’s leather settee. “Get me some water.”
Terry was out and back in a matter of strides with a brimming paper-cup from the cooler in the outer office. The big man chafed Eva’s arms and legs, put water to her lips. And Eva’s eyes filled with awareness, and pain.