The Madman Theory by Ellery Queen Read Free Book Online Page B

Would you be good enough to ask Mr. Retwig to step in?”
    Myron Retwig came quietly into the room and lowered himself into the chair.
    â€œWhere do you live, Mr. Retwig?” asked Collins.
    â€œIn the country west of San Jose. The address is 6901 Monterey Road.”
    â€œYou’re married?”
    â€œYes, indeed.”
    â€œChildren?”
    â€œTwo sons.”
    â€œI’ve asked the others this question and got no very definite answer: Who would want to kill Earl Genneman?”
    â€˜I can’t think of anyone,” said Myron Retwig promptly.
    â€œDid he have any enemies?”
    â€œA number of people had no particular liking for him. Enemies? I don’t think so.”
    â€œDid he play around with women?”
    â€œIf he did, he was extremely discreet.”
    â€œMeaning yes?”
    Retwig shook his head. “It means that I don’t know. I suppose it’s not impossible. He was a virile man.”
    â€œYou worked for him at one time?”
    â€œYes. I was offered an opportunity at Pacific Chemicals and accepted. As of now, however, I’m once more working for Genneman Pharmaceuticals.”
    â€œEh? What’s this?”
    â€œI telephoned Mrs. Genneman an hour or so ago. She asked me to take charge of the business. I agreed to do so.” He smiled dryly. “I suppose you could consider that a motive for murder.”
    Collins shook his head. “My thinking doesn’t leap around quite like that,” he said in a wry tone. “To tell you the truth, I don’t know what to think. What’s your opinion, Mr. Retwig?”
    â€œIt seems a cliché to postulate a madman, but for the life of me I can’t make a more reasonable suggestion … Well, yes, I can, too. Is it possible that the killer shot the wrong man? Suppose he expected another party to come by his ambush, with another man in the lead?”
    â€œConceivably,” said Collins, “but unlikely. We can’t let ourselves be hypnotised by the man who came up the trail behind you, but he’s certainly our basic suspect. And such being the case he’d hardly make the kind of mistake you suggest.”
    â€œUnless he were hired to kill and made contact with the wrong party. If I were you I’d check to see if another party of five set out on Copper Creek Trail.”
    â€œI can’t dismiss your theory out of hand,” said Collins, “because I don’t have a theory any more convincing to put in its place … You’ve known Earl Genneman a long time?”
    â€œFifteen years.”
    â€œHe had a harmonious family life?”
    â€œI would say so. There’s recently been a certain amount of friction with his son.”
    â€œWhat of his stepdaughter?”
    â€œThey got along very well. Jean wanted to come on this particular trip, but Earl wouldn’t allow it. Possibly because Buck would be along.”
    â€œWhy would that interfere with her coming?”
    Myron Retwig raised his gray eyebrows. “It’s a delicate matter. But you might as well know. The two were engaged to be married. The arrangement, so I am given to understand, was terminated—on his initiative, not hers. I suspect that Earl didn’t want to expose her to a possibly humiliating situation. Jean, who has no guile and no self-consciousness, wouldn’t consider such a possibility.”
    â€œIt might be uncomfortable for James as well,” suggested Collins.
    â€œTrue enough. Earl did the right thing.”
    â€œAnd how does Mr. Kershaw fit into the situation?”
    Retwig smiled thinly. “He comes and goes. The children like him. Opal does what she can for him. I was surprised to learn that he was joining the pack-trip.”
    â€œHe doesn’t seem the type,” Collins agreed, and rose. “You people are free to return to your homes. All of you brought your own cars?”
    â€œAll except Red Kershaw. He rode up with Earl.