“Murder at the Library of Congress”, Margaret Truman.
A well-known researcher/scholar, a suspect, who is about to be murdered is interviewed by a reporter. She is reporting on an art theft possibly related to a rare book. He is very uncooperative about questions. They both leave. Two female researchers talk about the interview, one saying, “A brilliant foul ball.”
A foul ball in baseball is not playable as it is outside of the playing field area.