“Sir, the traffic problem and the rise in juvenile crime are two of the matters I was specifically told to address when I was appointed Safety Director.”

“Times have changed, Ness.” Sweeney was grandstanding, and Ness couldn’t help but notice how fast the reporters’ pencils were moving now that they sniffed a little conflict in the air. “You have a new assignment.”

“Only the mayor’s office can-”

“Are you saying you refuse to get involved? Our vaunted safety director has no interest in the safety of our citizens?”

“Of course not.” Ness felt as if he were treading invisible water. “If we could all just… remain calm. Working the public into a frenzy accomplishes nothing.”

“I demand action!” Sweeney bellowed, and he was met with an audible chorus of assents. “This should be our Golden Age. We’re hosting the Republican National Convention. We’re hosting the Great Lakes Exposition to celebrate the centennial of this fine city. The American Legion is having their national convention here in September. So is The Townsend Club. This could create the economic ripple we need to get back on our feet. But not if nobody comes! And who would be foolish enough to come here when we have a crazed killer chopping people into bits!”

Ness held up his hands, trying to hold him at bay. “I assure you, the Cleveland homicide department-the people who have the job of trying to catch this killer-are on the case. I personally met with Chief of Police Matowitz recently and he told me he has assigned his top men to it. They’re doing everything they know-”

“Apparently it isn’t enough,” remarked the reporter in the rear.

“Maybe they don’t have enough manpower,” His Girl Friday remarked, her voice dripping. “Since you fired half the police officers.”

Ness pursed his lips. “I most certainly did not fire half the police officers.”

“How many replacements have been hired for the men you let go?”

“We’re trying to be careful,” Ness explained. “To screen more carefully and to require more rigorous training. I have a plan to develop a formal police academy.”

“How does that help us now?”

“It would be pointless to release men who are corrupt or useless and then replace them with others just like them.”

“But who’s going to catch this killer?”

“You’re so concerned about the youth of this city.” This came from another woman, a blonde. Ness didn’t think she was a reporter. She didn’t have a notepad. He was almost certain he’d seen her enter with Congressman Sweeney. “I have an eleven-year-old girl and I can’t even get her to go play outside because she’s afraid to leave the house. She’s not sure she’s safe in the house. She’s afraid that monster will get her.”

“Surely you can explain that there is no monster, only one ruthless lawbreaker who is being aggressively hunted by skilled and capable detectives with-”

“Do you have any children?” the woman shot back.

Ness’s neck stiffened. “Well-no.”

“I didn’t think so. If you did, you wouldn’t be worrying about booze and blackjack players. You’d be hunting this madman!”

A rousing cry followed, and after that there were so many people talking at once Ness couldn’t even make out what they were saying. The press conference had descended into chaos. He wanted to blame the reporters; they were being blatantly unfair. But when he looked into their eyes, he didn’t see spite or anger. He saw fear. And Congressman Sweeney was effectively exploiting that fear.

Ness might never come near the Torso Killer, but at this rate, there was a good chance he could become the killer’s next victim.

“Please,” Ness said, trying to quell the outrage. Out the corner of his eye, he saw Chamberlin hovering at the fringe, wondering if he should intervene and make some excuse to get Ness out of this mess. The press would see through that, though. They would perceive it as cowardice. And they would be right. He had to do something to turn the tide.

“Please. If I could just say a few words.” In this rare instance, Ness raised his voice several notches. “Please!”

Eventually, the noise of the crowd diminished to a degree that would permit him to speak. “I understand your concern. I truly do. But these other problems have been plaguing Cleveland for a long time, and they will continue to do so unless we adopt the vigorous plans I have outlined. We must build on the progress we have already made.”

He drew in his breath and proceeded quickly, before the mob had a chance to start bellowing again. “But I also understand that fear can be a dangerous thing. Whether rational or not. And as safety director, it is my sworn duty to tackle the dangers in our city and to try to eradicate them.”

He laid his hands flat on the lectern. “Therefore, as of this moment, I hereby announce that I am personally taking charge of the torso murder investigation.”

The reporters cheered. They actually cheered. The faces in the crowd smiled. The pencils flew.

Only Congressman Sweeney’s face seemed inscrutable. “With the mayor’s permission, and the cooperation of the police department, I will make this case my number one priority. I will become personally involved in this investigation. I will make sure every child can walk to school without fearing for their safety. I will put an end to these murders once and for all.”

He leaned back, finally feeling his heartbeat subsiding. “And then we can all relax and go back to tackling the fundamental problems preventing this city from reaching its fullest potential.”

There was a spattering of applause, none of it from Sweeney or the blond woman who Ness was certain was aligned with him. Ness thanked them all and raced back up the steps as quickly as he could- without making it obvious that he wanted to get far away as fast as possible.

He removed the handkerchief from his lapel pocket. He was dripping with perspiration. He had walked up to the door of The Harvard Club alone and not even felt his heart race. He had faced down a clan of moonshiners and never blinked. But these reporters and one congressman had made him sweat like a dog in the desert.

“Don’t say it,” Ness said as Chamberlin joined him on the front steps.

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” he replied, pushing his glasses up his nose. “Too obvious. Besides, I like my job.”

“Do you think I saved it? At the end?”

Chamberlin didn’t answer.

“They cheered? Did you hear that? They cheered. So that means I saved it. Right?”

Chamberlin took so long to respond it made Ness’s skin crawl. “That depends upon whether you catch the murderer.”

“Surely it’s just a matter of time. But if they’d hammered me in the press, I’d never get the funding I need for the Boys Clubs. Or the police academy. It was all going down the tubes. So I saved myself. Right?”

Chamberlin tilted his head to one side. “You either saved yourself,” he said quietly, “or crucified yourself.”