Read Online Inspector Queen’s Own Case by Ellery Queen - Free Book Online Page B

baseboard nightlight, and not only saw a handprint on the pillow, but saw it clearly enough to be able to say that it seemed made by a human hand filthy with dust?”
    â€œI can’t help what you believe,” Jessie said. “That’s what I saw.”
    â€œIt would be a feat of observation even if we found the handprint to back it up,” the tieless man said. “But as you see, Miss Sherwood, there’s not a mark on either side of the pillow. Isn’t it possible, in your shock and excitement—and the feeble light in the room—that it was an optical illusion? Something you imagined you saw that never was here?”
    â€œI’ve never had an optical illusion in my life. I saw it just as I’ve described it.”
    â€œYou stick to that? You don’t want to reconsider your recollection?”
    â€œI most certainly do not.”
    The tieless man seemed displeased. He and Chief Pearl conferred. The old man caught Jessie’s eye and smiled.
    Then they went to the window overlooking the driveway, where a man was doing something with some bottles and a brush, and the tieless man looked out and down while the chief said something about an aluminum extension ladder.
    â€œLadder?” Jessie blinked over at Richard Queen.
    He came quickly to her. “Just like that night last month, Jessie. The same ladder, in fact. Didn’t you notice it standing against the wall when you drove into the driveway?”
    â€œI didn’t drive into the driveway. I left my car on the road.”
    â€œOh, that was your car.” His face said nothing at all.
    â€œThen that’s how that—that monster’s hand got all dirty! The dust on the ladder while he was climbing up.” Jessie was staring at the pillow. “Why didn’t I notice that before?”
    â€œNotice what, Jessie?” He was instantly alert.
    â€œThis isn’t the same pillow slip!”
    â€œIsn’t the same as what?”
    â€œAs the one I saw that had the handprint on it. Inspector Queen, this is a different slip.”
    The old man looked at her. Then he called his friend and the State’s Attorney’s man over.
    â€œMiss Sherwood says she now notices that this isn’t the same pillowcase that had the handprint on it.”
    â€œIt isn’t?” Chief Pearl glanced at the tieless man. “That’s an interesting addition to the story, Merrick.”
    The tieless man said to Jessie, “How can you tell?”
    â€œThe edging—Mr. Merrick, is it? The other slip was edged with a different kind of lace. Both slipcases are made of very fine batiste, but the edging of the other one was Honiton lace, while this, I think, is an Irish crochet. Anyway, it’s not the same.”
    â€œYou’re sure of this, Miss Sherwood?” Merrick demanded.
    â€œPositive.”
    â€œChanged,” Richard Queen remarked. “If you accept Miss Sherwood’s story, somebody removed the soiled case from the pillow afterward and substituted this clean one. It’s a break, Abe.”
    The big policeman grunted, looking around the nursery. He pointed to what looked like a drawer in the wall near the door. “Is that a laundry chute, Miss Sherwood?”
    â€œYes.”
    He went over to the wall and opened the chute door, trying to peer down. “Where does this lead to?”
    â€œTo the laundry in the basement.”
    â€œWho does the laundry here?”
    â€œMrs. Smith, Mrs. Sadie Smith.”
    â€œSadie Smith.” Abe Pearl’s heavy brows bunched. “Who’s she? There’s nobody of that name in the house.”
    â€œShe’s an outside laundress from Norwalk. She comes in twice a week to do the hand laundry and ironing for the better things. The … baby’s diapers I’ve been doing myself.” Jessie closed her eyes. Friday was one of Mrs. Smith’s days. Tomorrow—today—she would show up, and she would