Free A Fine and Private Place by Ellery Queen Page B

Importuna.”
    â€œI don’t want to seem uncooperative, but if you’re going to keep this up, I’ll have to demand that one of our attorneys be present. I should have insisted on it from the start. You can see Marco’s condition, Inspector. This has been a very bad day for us all—”
    â€œWhat about my condition?” Marco cried. “What’s wrong with my condition?” He tottered to his feet and began to wave his bony fists. “Next thing they’ll be calling me a drunk. Why, I’ll take any old test they wanna throw at me …”
    Importuna nodded curtly, and Peter Ennis jumped forward once more to help him with the now bellicose man. While they were cajoling him and easing him back to the chair, the Queens took the opportunity to commune out of earshot.
    â€œWith Marco himself snipping that button off,” Inspector Queen muttered, “and slicing into his shoe accidentally, there goes the frame-up theory, Ellery. The button simply fell out of that hole in his pocket, and the shoeprint in the cigar ash showing the cut is a legitimate clue. With these admissions of his, they both place Marco in that library of Julio’s for real.”
    â€œWith every cock-eyed thing that’s happened so far, is it all right with you if I wonder?” Ellery had transferred his yanking and hauling from nose to lower lip. “Look, dad, there seem to be ifs all over this case. Let’s try to clear some of them up. Do you want to tackle Marco, or shall I?”
    â€œI’d better do it. Importuna’s set to throw his weight around. It’s harder for him to give me the heave.… Feeling a little feisty, Mr. Importunato? I don’t think—the way things look for you right now—you can afford it.”
    Marco twitched. The sallow skin was beginning to show a greenish undertinge.
    â€œTake it easy, Marco,” his brother said. “Just what do you mean, Inspector Queen?”
    â€œIt’s very simple. We know now that Marco was not framed; he’s knocked that theory out by his admissions here. But we did find his button and shoeprint in Julio’s library. In my book that places your brother Marco on the scene of the crime legitimately. So before the district attorney gets into the act, if Marco has an explanation I’d strongly advise him to give it.”
    â€œHe does not have to tell you anything,” the multimillionaire said harshly. “In fact, I’m growing very tired of this—”
    â€œNino.” Marco Importunato raised his head from his trembling hands. “I think I’d better.”
    â€œI’d rather you kept quiet. At least until I can get Emerson Lundy up here.”
    â€œWhy should I yell for a lawyer, Nino?” Of a sudden he was hysterically sober. “As if I were guilty? I have nothing on my conscience! If these people think I could kill Julio … My God, Julio was famiglia … blood brother. It’s true, Inspector Queen, that I was in Julio’s library last night. And we did have a quarrel. But—”
    â€œWhat time was this, Mr. Importunato?” the Inspector asked casually, as if Marco had said something trivial.
    â€œI don’t know exactly. It was before 9 o’clock, because I do know it wasn’t quite 9 when I left him.” The man’s blood-streaked eyes sought the Inspector’s. “Left him,” he said. “Alive and well.”
    â€œWhat about the condition of the room? The broken furniture, the knocked-over lamps—”
    â€œI don’t know a thing about that. When I walked out of Julio’s library everything was in place. We didn’t have a fist fight, for the love of Christ! It was just an argument, Inspector. Some hot talk between brothers. Julio and I argued a lot. Ask Nino. Ask anybody.”
    â€œMarco, I want you to keep your mouth shut,” his brother said. “I order you! Do you hear