Read Online The Madman Theory by Ellery Queen - Free Book Online

been a wealthy man indeed.
    A Filipino houseboy in white jacket and black trousers ushered Collins into a great beamed living room, where Opal Genneman presently appeared: a tall woman of pleasant good looks. She seemed drained of emotion. She was perhaps forty years old, with dark hair and dark eyes; she wore a tweed skirt with a black sweater, and no jewelry other than her wedding ring.
    Collins introduced himself and uttered the usual condolences; Mrs. Genneman nodded mechanically and led him to a sofa. “I’ll be glad to talk to you, Inspector, but you’ll have to forgive me if I sound vague; I feel so detached, rootless … I hardly know what to think. It’s strange being without Earl. He was such a strong, vital man.” Her eyes began to glisten.
    â€œIt’s a pity that I’m forced to bother you—”
    â€œYou have your duty to perform. I want to help in every way I can … Such a terrible thing; I just can’t believe that a sane human being …”
    â€œRight now we’re in the dark,” said Collins. “Which is why I’m here. Unless the person who killed your husband was an utter lunatic—”
    â€œHe must have been!”
    â€œâ€”then he must have had an extremely strong motive for his act. In other words, someone very badly wanted your husband dead. Who, in your opinion, fits that description?”
    â€œI can’t think of a soul.”
    â€œHe had no enemies?”
    Opal Genneman gave her head a helpless shake. “Everyone has people who don’t like him; that’s only natural. But to kill … to make so many other people suffer …” She smiled forlornly. “The sad truth is that I can’t think of a thing to tell you.”
    â€œDid Mr. Genneman have brothers or sisters?”
    â€œNo. He was an only child.”
    â€œHis parents are alive?”
    â€œThey’re retired, live in Honolulu. I can’t bring myself to telephone them. I know I must. The funeral is Friday.”
    â€œPerhaps Mr. Retwig would call them for you.”
    Opal Genneman twisted her fingers together. “I know he would. But it’s my duty—I’ll do it.”
    â€œMr. Genneman had no business troubles?”
    â€œNone whatever. I don’t think he’d ever done better than this past year. He was planning to expand, to become one of the really large pharmaceutical firms.”
    â€œWhat will happen to the business now?”
    â€œI’ve hardly thought of it. Mr. Retwig has agreed to look after things—I suppose he’ll be general manager, or whatever the title is.”
    â€œYour husband thought highly of Mr. Retwig?”
    â€œMyron was his closest friend. They seemed dissimilar on the surface, but they had a great deal in common. For instance—” She thought a moment, a sad ghost of a smile on her lips. Then she rose. “I’ll show you Earl’s hobby. He and Myron were always trying to outdo each other …”
    Collins followed her patiently along a hall and out a side door, then across a lawn to a greenhouse.
    The interior was suffused in a pleasant green light, partly from the ancient panes of glass in the roof, partly from the ferns and orchids along the walls. The greenhouse no longer served its original function. It was almost entirely given over to a model railroad, laid out on a table twenty-five feet long by ten feet wide. The tracks, hundreds of glistening feet of them, ran through a landscape of miniature pines and firs, over ponds and lakes and small swirling rivers crossed by quaint timber bridges. At one end loomed a conical mountain with a white peak. Collins touched the peak. The white stuff was real snow. Opal Genneman smiled sadly. “Earl spent heaven only knows how much money in here. A special refrigerator cools the tip of the mountain. The water in the air condenses, and there is Earl’s snow.”
    Collins walked around the