Free The Copper Frame by Ellery Queen Page B

A.M . and usually slept until 3 P.M . when she was on the third shift, Saxon didn’t disturb her until the late afternoon. It was almost four when he arrived at her apartment. He had timed it correctly, for she told him she had just finished showering and dressing.
    â€œWhere’s Julie?” he asked as he removed his hat and coat.
    â€œShe’s on three to eleven this week. As a matter of fact, I’m her relief. What did Arn Kettle have to say?”
    Sinking into the center of the sofa, he stretched out his long legs and glumly regarded his toes. “I’m to be booked and have a preliminary hearing tomorrow morning. Meantime he’s trusting me not to run.”
    â€œWill they put you in jail, Ted?”
    â€œNot unless I’m convicted. And the trial may not come up for months. There seems to be a general reluctance to jail the chief of police. I’ve retained Ben Foley as my lawyer.”
    â€œOh, I’m glad,” she said. “He’s not only good; he’s nice.”
    â€œI chose him primarily for the first reason,” Saxon said dryly. “Incidentally, he believes in my innocence.”
    â€œI told you he was nice.”
    â€œIt isn’t just blind faith. He reasoned it out. He thinks if I were guilty, I wouldn’t have run to you for sympathy the minute I got away from headquarters. He says I wouldn’t have been able to face you.”
    After contemplating this, she said, “I suppose he has a point, but I wouldn’t have believed you did it even if you had avoided me. I’d figure you were just embarrassed by the charge, not by guilt.”
    â€œBoy, are you prejudiced,” he said with a grin. “We’ll try to get you on the jury. Have you had anything to eat?”
    â€œToast and coffee when I got up at three. I’m not hungry, but I’ll fix you something.”
    â€œI had lunch,” he said. “I was going to offer to take you out for some. It isn’t snowing and the sun’s shining. Or was.”
    â€œMaybe later on,” she said. “Would you like a beer?”
    â€œThat sounds good.”
    As she moved into the kitchen, he walked over to turn on the TV set. Channel 4 was broadcasting the Rose Bowl game, which, because of the three-hour time difference, was just about to start. A marching band filled the screen. Then the station cut in on the preliminary features of the game to give its regular five-minute summary of the four-o’clock news.
    At that moment Emily brought in two bottles of beer.
    The newscaster turned to local news. The first item was:
    A one-car accident at Halfway Creek on Route Twenty just southwest of Buffalo claimed the life of one person and caused minor injuries to another early this morning. Instantly killed when the car driven by Sergeant Harry Morrison of the Buffalo Police Force skidded on snow and went over a twenty-foot bank was alleged murderess Grace Emmet, who was being transported in handcuffs from Erie, Pennsylvania to Buffalo by the police officer. Thrown from the car as it went over the bank, Sergeant Morrison suffered superficial bruises. He was treated for minor injuries at Meyer Memorial Hospital and released. The accident occurred at about 1:45 A.M .
    The dead woman, wanted for the month-old murder of Buffalo industrialist Michael Factor, had been picked up by Erie police on December 30 and had waived extradition to New York. Sergeant Morrison was bringing her back to face the murder charge.
    Saxon lost all interest in the football game. As the newscaster went on to another local item, he set his beer bottle on the floor, rose, and switched off the set. Crossing to the phone, he dialed Ben Foley’s home number.
    Alice answered. Saxon asked for her husband.
    When the lawyer came on, Saxon said, “Did you happen to hear the newscast just now?”
    â€œI heard it on the two P.M . news,” Foley said. “I imagine it’s been on all day,