The Roman Hat Mystery (33 page)

“
My dear Mrs. Russo,
”
returned the Inspector in a pained voice, a little puffed smile in his cheeks,
“
we know already what you were doing in Mr. Morgan
’
s office this morning, so you won
’
t be conferring such a great favor on us after all . . . . I
’
m really surprised that you should be willing to incriminate yourself to that extent, Mrs. Russo. Blackmail is a mighty serious offense!
”

The woman grew deathly white. She half rose in the chair, gripping its arms.

“
So Morgan squealed after all, the dirty dog!
”
she snarled.
“
And I thought he was a wise guy. I
’
ll get him something to squeal about, take it from me!
”

“
Ah, now you
’
re beginning to talk my language,
”
murmured the Inspector, leaning forward.
“
And just what is it you know about our friend Morgan?
”

“
I know this about him
―
but look here, Inspector, I can give you a redhot tip. You wouldn
’
t frame a poor lonely woman on a blackmail charge, would you?
”

The Inspector
’
s face lengthened.
“
Now, now, Mrs. Russo!
”
he said.
“
Is that a nice thing to say? Certainly I can
’
t make any promises . . . .
”
He rose, his slender body deadly in its immobility. She shrank back a little.
“
You will tell me what you have on your mind, Mrs. Russo,
”
he said deliberately,
“
on the bare chance that I may show my gratitude in the generally accepted fashion. You will please talk
―
truthfully, do you understand?
”

“
Oh, I know well enough you
’
re a tough nut, Inspector!
”
she muttered.
“
But I guess you
’
re fair, too . . . . What do you want to know?
”

“
Everything.
”

“
Well, it isn
’
t my funeral,
”
she said, in a more composed voice. There was a pause while Queen examined her curiously. In accusing her of blackmailing Morgan he had made a successful stab in the dark; now a flash of doubt assailed him. She seemed much too sure of herself if all she knew were the details of Morgan
’
s past, as the Inspector had taken for granted from the beginning of the interview. He glanced at Ellery and was apprehensively quick to note that his son
’
s eyes were no longer on the book but riveted on the profile of Mrs. Russo.

“
Inspector,
”
said Mrs. Russo, a shrill triumph creeping into her voice,
“
I know who killed Monte Field!
”

“
What
’
s that?
”
Queen jumped out of his seat, a flush suffusing his white features. Ellery had straightened convulsively in his chair, his sharp eyes boring into the woman
’
s face. The book he had been reading slipped out of his fingers and dropped to the floor with a thud.

“
I said I know who killed Monte Field,
”
repeated Mrs. Russo, evidently enjoying the sensation she had caused.
“
It
’
s Benjamin Morgan, and I heard him threaten Monte
the night before he was murdered/
”

“
Oh!
”
said the Inspector, sitting down. Ellery picked up his book and resumed his interrupted study of
“
The Complete Guide to Handwriting Analysis.
”
Quiet descended once more. Velie, who had been staring at father and son in struggling amazement, seemed at a loss to understand their suddenly changed manner.

Mrs. Russo grew angry.
“
I suppose you think I
’
m lying again, but I
’
m not!
”
she screamed.
“
I tell you I heard with my own ears Ben Morgan tell Monte Sunday night that he
’
d put him away!
”

The Inspector was grave, but undisturbed.
“
I don
’
t doubt your word in the least, Mrs. Russo. Are you sure it was Sunday night?
”

“
Sure?
”
she shrilled.
“
I
’
ll say I
’
m sure!
”

“
And where did this happen?
”

“
Right in Monte Field
’
s own apartment, that
’
s where!
”
she said bitingly.
“
I was with Monte all evening Sunday, and as far as I know he wasn
’
t expecting company, because we didn
’
t usually have company when we spent the evening together . . . . Monte himself jumped when the doorbell rang about eleven o
’
clock and said,
‘
Who in hell could that be?
’
We were in the living room at the time. But he got up and went to the door, and right after that I heard a man
’
s voice outside. I figured Monte wouldn
’
t want me to be seen by anybody, so I went into the bedroom and closed the door, just leaving a crack open. I could hear Monte trying to stall the man off. Anyway, they finally came into the living room. Through the crack in the door I saw it was this fellow Morgan
―
I didn
’
t know who he was at the time, but later on I got it during the talk they had. And afterward Monte told me.
”

She stopped. The Inspector listened imperturbably and Ellery was paying not the slightest attention to her words. She went on desperately.

“
For about a half hour they talked till I could have howled. Morgan was sort of cold and set; he didn
’
t get excited till the last. From what I gathered, Monte had asked Morgan not long before for a big wad of dough in return for some papers; and Morgan said he didn
’
t have the money, couldn
’
t raise it. Said he
’
d decided to drop into Monte
’
s place for one last reckoning. Monte was kind of sarcastic and mean
―
he could be awfully mean when he wanted to. Morgan kept getting madder and madder, and I could see he was holding his temper in . . . .
”

The Inspector interrupted.
“
Just what was the reason for Field
’
s demand for money?
”

“
I wish I knew, Inspector,
”
she returned savagely.
“
But both of
‘
em were mighty careful not to mention the reason . . . . Anyway, it was something about those papers that Monte wanted Morgan to buy. It wouldn
’
t take much brains to guess that Monte had something on Morgan and was pushing it to the limit.
”

At the mention of the word
“
papers
”
Ellery
’
s interest in Mrs. Russo
’
s story had revived. He had put the book down and begun to listen intently. The Inspector gave him a fleeting glance as he addressed the woman.

“
Just how much money was Field demanding, Mrs. Russo?
”

“
You wouldn
’
t believe me if I told you,
”
she said, laughing disdainfully.
“
Monte was no piker. All he wanted was
―
fifty thousand dollars!
”

The Inspector seemed unmoved.
“
Go on.
”

“
So there they were,
”
she continued,
“
jabbering back and forth, with Monte getting colder and Morgan getting madder. Finally Morgan picked up his hat and yelled,
‘
I
’
ll be damned, you crook, if I
’
m going to be milked any more! You can do what you please
―
I
’
m through, do you understand? I
’
m through for good!
’
He was blue in the face. Monte didn
’
t get up from his chair. He just said,
‘
You can do as you please, Benjamin my friend, but I give you exactly three days to hand that money over. And no bargaining, remember! Fifty thousand, or
―
but surely I don
’
t have to remind you of the unpleasant consequences of refusal.
’
Monte sure was slick,
”
she added admiringly.
“
Could sling the lingo like a professional.

“
Morgan kept fiddling with his hat,
”
she went on,
“
just as if he didn
’
t know what to do with his hands. Then he exploded with,
‘
I told you where you get off, Field, and I mean every word of it. Publish those papers, and if it means ruin to me
―
I
’
ll see to it that it
’
s the last time you
’
ll ever blackmail
anybody
/
’
He shook his fist under Monte
’
s nose, and looked for a minute as if he was going to do him in then and there. Then all of a sudden he quieted down and without saying another word walked himself out of the apartment.
”

“
And that
’
s the story, Mrs. Russo?
”

“
Isn
’
t it enough?
”
she flared.
“
What are you trying to do
―
protect that murdering coward? . . . But it isn
’
t all. After Morgan left, Monte said to me,
‘
Did you hear what my friend said?
’
I made believe I didn
’
t, but Monte was wise. He took me on his lap and said playfully,
‘
He
’
ll regret it, Angel . . . .
’
He always called me Angel,
”
she added coyly.

“
I see . . . .
”
The Inspector mused.
“
And just what did Mr. Morgan say
―
that you took for a threat against Field
’
s life?
”

She stared at him incredulously.
“
Good gravy, are you dumb, or what?
”
she cried.
“
He said,
‘
I
’
ll see to it it
’
s the last time you
’
ll ever blackmail
anybody
/
’
And then when my darling Monte was killed the very next night . . .
“

“
A very natural conclusion,
”
smiled Queen.
“
Do I understand that you are preferring charges against Benjamin Morgan?
”

“
I
’
m not preferring anything except a little peace, Inspector,
”
she retorted.
“
I
’
ve told you the story
―
now do what you want with it.
”
She shrugged her shoulders and made as if to rise.