Read Online A Fine and Private Place by Ellery Queen - Free Book Online Page A

ours.”
    â€œI think,” Nino Importuna rasped, “I do not understand.”
    â€œSomebody not only had it in for your brother Julio, Mr. Importuna,” Ellery said, “but apparently he’s out to do your brother Marco dirt as well. Or at least he didn’t shrink from setting Marco up for the rap, which hardly classifies him as a friend. Who hated Julio? And possibly Marco as well? Enough to murder the one and frame the other for it?”
    â€œI already told Inspector Queen and the other police officials who’ve been here today, Mr. Queen, about Julio in that respect. I can’t even imagine it in Julio’s case. He was like a fat and frisky dog, a Saint Bernard puppy bumping into things in his play, knocking people over with his affection. He had no meanness, no wish to hurt anyone. Full of fun and jokes and good nature. Generous with money, always helping people. A pious man—”
    â€œYou’re describing a saint, Mr. Importuna,” Ellery murmured. “But his portrait in this apartment suggests that the saint did have a few weaknesses. Gambling, for one.”
    â€œIf you’re supposing that he was in financial difficulties with, say, the Mafia, or anyone in the world of violence, Mr. Queen, that would be very amusing. I assure you he was not. And if Julio had been, Marco and I would have bailed him out a hundred times over.” The soft lips were actually smiling.
    â€œWomen, for another,” Ellery said.
    â€œOh, yes, women,” Nino Importuna said with a shrug. “Julio had many women. By the time he was finished with them, they were richer and happier.”
    â€œWomen sometimes have husbands, Mr. Importuna. Jealous ones.”
    â€œJulio didn’t play around with married women,” the multimillionaire said sharply. “This has always been strictly forbidden in our family. The sanctity of the marriage vows was lashed into us from childhood. Julio would have been as likely to rape a nun as bed another man’s wife.”
    â€œWhat about your business empire, Mr. Importuna? You three could hardly have risen to where you are without having stepped on a great many toes—without, in fact, having ruined some lives. Was Julio a saint in your business affairs, too?”
    The lips lifted again. “You don’t hesitate to speak your mind, Mr. Queen, do you?”
    â€œNot when murder is involved.”
    The multimillionaire nodded. “A dedicated man, I see. No, Mr. Queen, Julio didn’t care for big business. As he often remarked, he would have been happier as a venditore di generi alimentari , selling pasta and tomatoes and cutting cheese all day. I don’t deny what you say. To make great sums of money in the international marketplace one must be—how do you say?— inumano … spietato … without feeling. Marco and I, mostly I, have been spietato when it was necessary. I never asked Julio to join us in such things, and he would have said no if I asked. I kept him clean for the sake of his peace of mind—for the sake of his soul, he’d say, laughing. As I said, a pious, a good, man. Everyone, everyone loved him.”
    â€œNot everyone, I’m afraid,” Ellery said. “We know of at least one dissenter. And Marco, Mr. Importuna? Does everyone love Marco, too?”
    The massive head shook, whether negatively or in irritation at the question Ellery could not decide. He said something softly and rapidly in Italian that Ellery could not catch. Observing Importuna’s extraordinary eyes, he thought that perhaps it was just as well.
    â€œI think,” Inspector Queen remarked suddenly, “we’ll mosey on over across the hall, Mr. Importuna, and have ourselves an overdue session with your brother Marco.”
    If his surroundings bespoke the man, Ellery ruminated en route, Marco Importunato was the mad sophisticate of the three brothers. His apartment was as unlike