Chapter 26 Chapter 25 Before the Truth Comes Out

Sunday evening was, as usual, a relaxing leisure time at the Quinns' house.Only then did Officer Quinn completely relax and take a good rest; and there was an unwritten rule in this family that during this time no one was allowed to talk about official business, analyze reasoning, quote facts, or even read detective novels. Or do anything else to spoil the laid-back vibe. So, after supper, Ellery shut himself up in his bedroom.He picked up the extension phone lightly, dialed the number of Barclay Hotel, and asked the other party to call Miss Horne to answer. "Hello, this is Ellery Queen speaking here. Yes . . . What do you want to do tonight, Miss Horn?"

She smiled slightly: "Is this an invitation?" "I have a dumb mouth, and it's worse to put it another way," Ellery admitted. "Can I get a definite answer?" "Oh, sir," she said firmly, "I have other plans." "What? Explain, you mean..." "A gentleman has invited me for the weekend." "The man with the curly hair?" "You're so clever, Mr. Quinn! You guessed right, it's the curly-haired man. Although I don't think it takes much deduction." Then she paused for a moment, "Is there... any news? I've been waiting I'm bored...I mean, is there anything important you want to see me tonight, Mr. Quinn?"

"It's important to me to see you any night," said Ellery gallantly, "but I think there's a man with beautiful curly hair and such a good shot at the top of your long list of pursuits." I'm not on the list, so I'll stop fooling myself. No, my dear, I don't have any other important business with you, let's talk about it another day." "Oh," she said, and there was a moment's silence, "you know Curley's taking me to the movies tonight. He's a big fan of those kinds of movies. And I haven't... since then, for a long time... please You understand."

"I quite understand," said Ellery mildly. "Is Crazy Bill going with you?" "He's got better plans," she laughed. "He's going to dinner with Mars and the other big shots. He's got new plans. Poor Bill! I don't know . . . " "Looks like I'm having bad luck today," Ellery said pathetically, before hanging up the phone. He stood quietly in the bedroom, wiping his glasses thoughtfully.Then he got into action. Five minutes later, he appeared in the living room, neatly dressed, as if he was about to go out. "Where are you going?" Officer Quinn asked, looking up from the day's paper.

"Walk around," Ellery said lightly. "I need to move around. I feel a bit sick to my stomach. Be right back." Officer Quinn sniffed at his excuse and went back to his entertainment program.Ellery scratched Dijuna's hair and ran out quickly. He returned home more than an hour later, flushed and nervous.He went into the bedroom, and after a while came to the living room, this time without a coat.He sat down in an armchair beside Sergeant Quinn and stared blankly at the fireplace. Sergeant Quinn put down the science section of the newspaper: "How's your walk going?"

"Oh, very comfortable." Sergeant Quinn stretched his feet toward the fire, took a snuff shot, and said to Ellery, still staring straight ahead, "Son, if only I knew how to think about this case. I really..." "Don't talk about the child." Di Juna, who was squatting on the chair like a monkey, warned. "That's right," Ellery said. "Thank you, Dijuna." "The thing is," continued Officer Quinn, "I'm stuck where I am. Wish . . . what do you know, son?" Ellery threw the cigarette butt into the fire and folded his hands calmly on his stomach. "Knows everything," he replied.

"What is what?" Officer Quinn asked blankly. "I mean, I know everything." "Oh," Constable Quinn relaxed, "another joke. Of course, you've always been like this, and you know everything. You're God's favorite. There's nothing you're not proficient in—like a detective story exaggerates." — Clairvoyance, wind ear, predicting things like a god, omnipotent... Ha!" Ellery said gently, "I said everything I knew about the Horn-Woody murder." Officer Quinn gave up his cynicism and sat for a while in silence.Then he stroked the beard on his chin and said, "You... are you telling the truth?"

"I swear, it's not true that I'm going to die. The case's over. It's over. There's no more side issues. We're done. I'm sorry. . . the truth is . . . " Ellery sighed tone, "You're mistaken by its uncanny simplicity." Officer Quinn stared at his son for a long time.There was no joke on Ellery's stern face.And there was indeed a nervousness and a suppressed excitement, which gradually stirred Officer Quinn's blood hot.Although he was calm, his eyes had already begun to shine. "So," he asked suddenly, "when will the case be closed?"

"Whenever you like," Ellery said slowly, "such as now. I'm getting tired of its mystery and just want to clear it from the depths of my consciousness as soon as possible." "Then stop chatting and act quickly." Officer Quinn said, walking towards the bedroom. Ellery followed quietly behind his father, watching Officer Quinn change into his shoes.He also picked up a fashionable overcoat for himself, with piercing eyes. "Where are we going?" asked Constable Quinn unhappily, putting on his hat and coat at the same time. "Barclay's Inn."

Officer Quinn froze.Ellery straightened his coat and hat without paying attention. "Where in Barclay's Inn?" "one room." "Oh! Thank you for your advice." They left their apartment and walked down Seventeenth Street toward Broadway. On the corner of Broadway, they paused to wait for the traffic light to change from red to green.Sergeant Quinn put his hands in his pockets: "Excuse me, please," he said mockingly, "if it's not too much to ask—what do you think we're going to do in those damned rooms?" "Search that room," murmured Ellery, "we've missed something."

"Is there anything else found in Barclay?" Sergeant Quinn snapped. "What are you trying to say?" "Oh, I have to admit that didn't seem to make sense at the time. We searched the Horns' room and Woody's room, and others...but..." He glanced at the watch on his wrist, the time Just past midnight, "Well, Dad, I think we're going to need reinforcements, I'm afraid. Get Willie, the big capable guy. Hold on, I'll give him a call." He led his father hastily across the road and into a pharmacy.He came out five minutes later, smiling. "He'll be waiting for us over there. Come on, Dad." Officer Quinn continued to follow the son. Fifteen minutes later they stepped into the lobby of the Buckley Hotel.It's still pretty crowded here.Ellery said in the elevator, "To the third floor, please." They went to the third floor and got off the elevator.Ellery took his father's arm and walked down the narrow corridor to the door of a room.Officer Willie greeted him from the shadows.None of the three made a sound. Ellery knocked lightly on the door.There were faint voices and the turning of a doorknob from inside the door.Presently the door opened, revealing a face--the sullen, suddenly startled face--the face of Crazy Bill Grant.