"Monica, let me get you a drink; you look a little pale."
He went into the kitchen, brought back a bottle of Frascati and two glasses. Then he sat down again, and poured the wine.
"Was I too graphic? I'm sorry. But do you see any holes in the story? It hangs together, doesn't it? Makes a crazy kind of logic?"
"I suppose," Monica said hesitantly.
"But why, Edward?
Was it just the woman scorned?"
"That was part of it, sure, but there was more to it than that. I completely misjudged that woman. I thought her cold, always in control, always thinking before she acted. But now I believe that behind that facade is a very passionate woman."
There were other things Delaney wanted to tell his wife.
Why Diane Ellerbee had crushed her husband's eyes, for instance. But he thought Monica, now looking forlorn and shaken, had heard enough gore and violence for one night.
"Let's go watch some TV comedy," he suggested.
"Or just sit and talk. We haven't had an evening together in a long time."
She smiled warmly.
"No, we haven't. What are you going to do now, Edward?
Arrest her?"
He shook his head.
"I don't have enough for that yet.
Everything I told you is just supposition. We'll have to try and come up with hard evidence. Maybe we will, maybe we won't. But I can tell you one thing: That bloody lady is not going to walk away from this whistling a merry tune."
Early on the morning of December 28th, a Saturday, Delaney called Boone and Jason and asked both men to come to the brownstone at 1 1:00 A.m. By the time they had arrived, he had assembled more reports, notes, and data he felt clearly pointed to the guilt of Dr. Diane Ellerbee.
He sat them down and went through his presentation again, much as he had related it to Monica the night before.
"As I see it," he finished, "there's no way we're going to prove or disprove she went up to Brewster that night at the time she claimed.
Unless an eyewitness comes forward which is about as likely as a blizzard in July. But let's assume she had the opportunity to waste him. That leaves the motive and method."
"Seems to me you've got the motive, sir," Boone said.
"A wife being dumped for another woman. I've handled a dozen homicides like that."
"Sure you have," Delaney said.
"Happens all the time. But I think there was more to it than that. This gets a little heavy, but bear with me. Here we have a beautiful young woman who's enjoying all the perks that beautiful young women enjoy.
Then she becomes Ellerbee's student. He sees her pa tential and tells her that if she doesn't use her brain, she's nothing but a statue. Get it? He's saying that her looks don't mean damn-all; it's just a lucky accident of birth. He's not impressed by her beauty, he tells her, but he's impressed by her brain and convinces her that she's got to use it if she wants a fulfilling life. Okay so far?"
"He's trying to improve her," Jason Two said.
"Like we talked about before."
"Right! He's telling her that beauty is only skin deep. She goes along with that, makes a happy marriage and a successful career. Then, suddenly, she finds out he's got eyes for another woman. Get that-he's got eyes for another woman." The Sergeant said, "So you think that's why she put his eyes out?"
"Had to be," Delaney said definitely.
"Not only was he being unfaithful to her, but he was going back on everything he had told her. So, after he was dead, she blinded him. Now you'll never find anyone more beautiful than me, you son of a bitch-that's what she was saying."
"Hey," Jason said, "that's one crazy lady."
"Maybe she was when she did it," Delaney admitted, "but after it was done she covered up like an Einstein and diddled us with no trouble at all. I mean she was thinking every step of the way, acting like the outraged widow seeking justice and making a great show of cooperating with us any way she could. No dummy she."
"We're never going to hang it on her," Boone said.
"What have we got?"
"It's all circumstantial," Delaney said.
"And thin at that.
But we've got to try to flesh it out. Here's what I want you men to do today… You can divide it up any way you like.
First, check out that Manhattan garage where the Ellerbees kept their cars when they were in town. Find out if the garage does any servicing or repairs. If so, did they lose a ball peen hammer in the last three months?
If that doesn't work, go up to Brewster. They keep that Jeep station wagon up there; they must have a local garage or gas station doing their servicing.
Ask the same question: Are you missing a ball peen hammer?
I've got a couple of things I want to check out. Let's all meet back here at, say, nine o'clock tonight and compare notes.
Boone you look doubtful. Aren't you convinced she did it?"
"I'm convinced," the Sergeant said mournfully.
"After listening to Joan Yesell's story, Diane becomes the number one suspect. The only thing that bothers me is that I think she's going to walk."
"Jason?"
"Yeah, I think the lady killed her husband. But like the Sergeant says, pinning her is something else again."
"We'll see," Delaney said stolidly.
"We'll see."
After they left, he went into the kitchen to fortify himself.
The women had gone shopping and then planned to catch the Christmas show at Radio City Music Hall. So Delaney had the house to himself. More important, he had the refrigerator to himself.
There was a marvelous loaf of marbled rye: half-rye, halfpumpernickel baked in a twist. With thick slices of smoked turkey, chips of kosher dill pickle, and a dousing of Tiger sauce, a great condiment he had discovered. At first taste it was sweet-and-sour. A moment later, sweat broke out on your scalp and steam came out of your ears.
He took that sandwich and a frosty bottle of Tuborg into the study and ate while he worked.
What was bothering him was this: In the first interview with Diane Ellerbee, she stated that she had noticed no recent change in her husband's behavior. Then, days later, she had come over to Delaney's brownstone and said yes, on second thought, she realized his manner had altered.
Now what in hell caused her to change her mind?
It took him almost a half-hour to find it, but find it he did.
When he first phoned Carol Judd, he had suggested she call Diane Ellerbee to check him out. Carol had called, and met with him-at which time she had described the changes in Dr. Simon's personality; how he had started to wear a flower in his lapel.
Comparing the dates of his meeting with Judd and Diane's visit to the brownstone, Delaney guessed what had happened.
But he had to confirm it. He dialed Carol Judd's number and, because he was a superstitious man, he told himself that if she was home, it would be a good omen and his theory would prove out.
She was home.
"Miss Judd?" he boomed.
"Edward X. Delaney here."
"Oh, hi, Mr. Delaney. That was a nice lunch we had.
When are we going to do it again?"
He laughed.
"It looks like I owe you a lot of lunches. But meanwhile there's one little question you can answer for me.
Remember when I first called you, I suggested you check with Diane Ellerbee to make sure I wasn't just a telephone freak."
"Sure, I remember that. I called and she said you were okay and I could talk to you."
"Uh-huh. Now for my question: Did she call you back later and ask you what questions I had asked?"
Silence for a second. Then: "Let's see… I think she called the next day. She was trying to find me a job, you know. We talked about that for a while and… Yes, you're right; she wanted to know what questions you had asked."