Read Online Which Way to Die? by Ellery Queen - Free Book Online Page A

can check with the company.”
    Corrigan said, “Look here, Harry. I don’t doubt you stopped off and bought a new brace after you saw me. But I spotted your car twenty miles south of Ossining, and I know a tail when I see one. You were following Mrs. Grant, probably have been ever since that court decision.”
    Barber shook his head. “You’ve got me all wrong, Captain.”
    â€œAll right, Harry,” Corrigan said. “But will you take some friendly advice? Don’t try anything.”
    â€œYou think I’d risk prison for those lice?” Barber said. “I’ve had plenty of time to cool off. Anyway, they’ll be taken care of by Audrey’s old man, that hood Martello.”
    â€œDon’t bank on it, Harry. We’re covering Marty and his mob like a roll of adhesive tape.”
    He retrieved his hat, then paused at the door to tell Pat Chase he was glad to have met her. She said she was glad, too, in a subdued voice.

8.
    Corrigan unhooked the phone at the elevator on the eleventh floor and pressed the button in the middle of the dial.
    Norma answered, but it was Chuck Baer who met him when he stepped off in the penthouse foyer. Corrigan approved. He knew Baer’s quality on a job; no doubt the private detective had insisted that no one but he was ever to touch the switch that operated the penthouse lift.
    â€œHow’s it going, Chuck?”
    The redhead made a face. “If it wasn’t for Norma, I’d be stir-crazy. I may marry her.”
    â€œGo find your own chick. This one’s mine. I mean I’m going to give it the old college try.”
    â€œYeah,” Baer said. “Every time I back her into a corner, she wants to talk about you. I think I’m wearing her down, though. I’ve been telling her the truth about you.”
    â€œThat can only make her love me more.”
    â€œNot the way I tell it,” Baer said. Then they grinned at each other and went into the living room.
    Gerard Alstrom was seated in a chair before the cold fireplace reading a book, but not as if he enjoyed it. Elizabeth Grant was on the settee mooning fondly through the sliding glass doors at her son and Andy Betz, who were slouched at the lawn table on the roof. Young Grant and the chauffeur had a cribbage board between them, and Frank was dealing the cards.
    Mrs. Grant acknowledged Corrigan’s arrival with a distant nod. He nodded back, just as distantly. Gerard raised one hand in a thumb-to-nose salute. Corrigan ignored him. The pair on the roof glanced around and immediately went back to their game.
    Corrigan looked around. Baer read his mind. “She’s out in the kitchen knocking out a soufflé, Tim.”
    At that moment Norma, in an apron, appeared in the doorway to the hall. “Hi,” she said. “Lunch in five minutes. Mrs. Grant, would you ask Frank and Andy to break up that silly game? We’re going to use the lawn table.”
    â€œWith pleasure.” Elizabeth Grant jumped up. “They’ve been at it since breakfast. I might as well have stayed on Long Island for all the attention I’m getting from my son.”
    She stamped out, the picture of neglected motherhood.
    Gerard said, without raising his eyes from the book, “If that stupid woman didn’t bug him so much, maybe Frank would pay some attention to her. How he can stand her is beyond me. All mothers should be strangled at birth.”
    He made no attempt to lower his voice. The sliding doors were open, but Elizabeth Grant gave no indication that she had heard him. She was stooping over Frank, fondling his hair. He pushed her hand away.
    Norma said quickly, “There will be seven of us, Tim, and the lawn benches only accommodate three on a side. Would you and Chuck put a couple of straight chairs out there so we’ll have more elbow room?” She went back to the kitchen quickly, too.
    Each man picked up a chair and carried it