Note: In case it wasn't blatantly obvious, this is an alterniverse fanfic. I had to do some serious tweaking of both Jonny Quest and Ellery Queen to achieve a doable compromise; however, I don't think the results will make either Doug Wildey or Frederic Dannay and Manfred B. Lee roll in their graves. (In other words, *please* don't clobber me! :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Jonny Quest, Ellery Queen, or any of the persons depicted herein (except myself, of course). I don't expect to make a penny off of this, and I'm going to wonder if I do!

'Ellery Quest,' Chapter 1
--by the girl called Egon Starcollector
Jack MacDougal settled his fedora onto his red hair in such a way that it shaded his cold, dark eyes. He looked around nonchalantly. Hundreds of people had gathered in front of the British Embassy in downtown Manhattan to await the arrival of the new ambassador. Milt LeBon, fresh from his key role in the division of Germany after the war, was one of the world's most eligible bachelors--rumored to be loaded up to his eyeballs with loot. That was why Jack was there.
A woman with bobbed brown hair and glasses commandeered a fleet of children. "Becky, get back here. Tom, stay with your partner." One of the girls tugged on her teacher's blue skirt and lisped, "Is he here yet, Mrs. Carley?" only to hear the tenth no in ten minutes.
Alyce McCue shifted nervously, dropping her pen. She stooped to pick it up and nearly lost her hat in the process. She took a deep breath. *Easy, girl,* she thought as she tucked her chestnut curls back in place. *This is just another story--yeah, my first big story, HA!--it's not like it's going to change your destiny. You'll just get a decent byline for a change.* She discreetly straightened her red dress and waited.
At last, the ambassador stepped out of the doors. His military bearing added an extra touch of grace to his tailored suit. A lock of dark hair fell down above his hazel eyes. "See, Judy, children, there he is!" cried Mrs. Carley.
Jack looked the ambassador over. Bond Street suit, very good; matching jade tie bar and cufflinks, even better. This was going to be a *sweet* job, all right; might even net enough to retire in the tropics somewhere.
Alyce readied her pen and notebook, prepared to ask all the questions she could scream...then Milt LeBon looked her right in the eyes, and she fell silent. When she recovered her breath, she heard herself gasp, "My God, I could fall in love with that man!"
LeBon surveyed the sea of people, studying the microcosm of the city where he would live for...how long? He wasn't sure; until he was reassigned, whenever that might be. It looked like a promising home base. He turned towards the reporters on his right--and choked up. He was looking into the soulful chocolate eyes of a woman in a red dress. Milt LeBon knew he would never be the same.
Suddenly, Judy--Wendy Carley's curious charge--screamed horribly. When people followed the scream, not a few responded in kind. Jack MacDougal hung over the velvet rope, a slim dagger protruding from his back.