'Ellery Quest,' Chapter 2 --by the girl called Egon Starcollector Ellery Quest and his faithful secretary Jessie Porter were in his study arguing out the details of the next chapter in his book when the phone rang. Ellery answered. "Hello?"
The voice of his father, Inspector Richard Quest, crackled in his ear. "Ellery, we need you down at the British Embassy. A man was murdered in the middle of a crowd of thousands."
"What? Didn't anyone see anything?"
"That's what I'm trying to find out. Just get down here!"

Twenty minutes later, an old Deusenberg pulled up in front of the Embassy. Ellery and Jessie climbed out and ran to a sturdy, bearded man standing on the steps talking to a dark-haired man in a morning suit. "There you are! Ambassador, this is my son Ellery and his friend Jessie Porter. Ellery, Jessie, this is Milt LeBon, the new British ambassador. This reception was in his honor."
"And someone's been murdered in the middle of it. I hope this is not a bad sign, Inspector," the ambassador said with a kind twinkle in his eyes.
Ellery broke in, "Ambassador, did you notice anything?"
The man sighed. "Nothing that can be of use, I fear. I was rather, er, distracted."
"Jessie, I think you and Ellery will be interested in speaking to one of the witnesses. Come here."
"Well, I think Ellery would like to speak to all of them--Alyce? Alyce McCue!" Jessie ran forward and gathered her old friend in a hug. The girl was making an effort not to cry.
"My God, Jessie...this was supposed to be my big break. My first big story. Looks like it's going to be a little bigger than I expected," she said with a rueful smile.
"Alyce, good to see you again!" Ellery said. "I just wish the circumstances were different. Can you tell me what happened?"
"Hmmm...well, I was trying to elbow my way up front so I could ask the Ambassador a few questions. Suddenly, I heard a little girl scream...then I looked towards the direction the scream came from and saw a man hanging over the rope with a knife in his back."
"You didn't see anyone who looked like he or she was hurrying away from the victim?"
"Not a soul. Sorry, Ellery."
"Ellery, over here." Ellery left Jessie to calm her friend and walked over to his father. "Ellery, this is Wendy Carley, a schoolteacher from the Bronx. She was on a field trip with several of her students as part of their social studies class."
"The great Ellery Quest? This is an honor, sir."
"Thank you, ma'am. Where were you when the--incident occurred?"
"Not ten feet away. I was trying to keep a dispute between two of my students from becoming a fight when Judy Carstairs screamed. I looked to see what was the matter...and I think I must have screamed myself. There was that poor man, dead!"
"Don't feel sorry for him, ma'am," came a voice behind her. Seargent Roger Velie--Inspector Quest's right-hand man and Jessie Porter's stepfather--stood there holding a report in his massive hand. "That was Jack MacDougal, one of the most notorious jewel thieves on either side of the Atlantic. Somebody did the world a favor."
"Any luck yet, Velie?" asked the Inspector.
"Sort of. I found the place that was the cover for his operations--Frankie's Moonlight Nightclub. Two of the women agreed to meet with us. There's Katherine McManus, a lady from Greenwich Village who charges a buck-fifty to tell club patrons their fortunes, and Roxanne Sullivan, Frankie's star singer."
"The Divine Roxie?" Ellery blurted.
"Yeah, Maestro, that same one who was at the Policeman's Ball last year!"
"Well, what are we waiting for?" the Inspector demanded.

A slight, dark-haired woman in a blue-and-white dress greeted the small group at the club. "Katherine McManus?"
"Why yes, and you must be Inspector Quest. Come in."
"Ms. McManus, this is Seargent Velie...my son Ellery...and my son's friend Jessie Porter. Ms. McManus, where were you when Jack MacDougal was killed?"
"Grocery shopping, Inspector, at Lewiston's in the Village."
"Did anyone see you?"
"Well, Mrs. Lewiston...Harry Thomas, the watchmaker...I think that's all."
"Do you know of anyone who'd have reason to kill Jack MacDougal?"
"Where should I start? Frankie, for one. He wanted to go straight...make the club legit and try for the big time. Jack didn't want to let go of his cover; I heard them arguing about it many times. Then...let's see. I heard Jack had stiffed someone on the take from a robbery, but I don't know the man's name...he was from Brooklyn, I think. Tall, blond, about forty-five...."
"Okay, thank you. We'll be in touch. Velie, what about your friend the Sullivan woman?"
Velie made a face. "She said she'd meet us backstage."
A petite, voluptuous blonde waited at the stage door. "Inspector Queen? I'm Roxanne Sullivan."
"Charmed. These men are Seargent Velie and my son Ellery, admirers of yours. This is Ellery's friend Jessie Porter."
She smiled brightly. "Well, you'll probably want to know where I was. I was visiting my sister on 53rd street; I spoke to her doorman on the way in."
"Velie, get the address. Miss Sullivan, do you know anyone who'd have had reason to kill Jack MacDougal?"
"How many days have you got?" she smiled wryly. "Hm...start with Debbie Jordan. She was engaged to Jack, but he threw her over for one of the new showgirls here. She swore she'd get revenge. Debbie used to be my best friend; I know she'd get back at him somehow."
"Thank you, Miss Sullivan; I think that'll be all for now."

"Well, what do you think, Dad?"
"I think I need lunch. Then ask me what I think." He and Velie climbed into their car, with Ellery and Jessie following in the Deusenberg.
Jessie leaned her head on Ellery's shoulder, her red hair spilling down over his tweeds. "Ellery...there's something about that Sullivan woman. I don't think she did it...but she's holding something back, Ellery, I just know it!"
"Jessie, I think you're right," Ellery said, kissing the top of her head.