“Women always say stuff like that. It’s the only way they can get the divorce.”

“She says he started drinking much more heavily. Says he would become, and I quote, ‘erratic and violent.’ I’ll just bet. Abusive to his wife and children. Says he hallucinated. Had weird delusions.”

“Does it say what the delusions were about?”

“No, but I can guess. It’s just like the alienist said. First he fantasizes about killing someone. And then, eventually, he starts doing it!”

“There’s still no proof.”

Merylo continued reading. “Says he showed up for work drunk, sometimes didn’t show up at all. Says he would disappear for days without telling anyone where he was going.”

“Probably on a bender. Sleeping it off in a ditch somewhere.”

“Or trolling through Shantytown, looking for losers and hacking them to bits!”

“Merylo, get a grip…”

He continued reading. “The wife also filed a petition in probate stating that her husband was insane.”

“She wasn’t content with half the money. She wanted it all.”

“As a result, he was committed to City Hospital-at the same time that Andrassy worked there. In the psychiatric ward.”

“Coincidence.”

“He got out a month later. But by that time he’s lost his job and his license. The wife moves in with her sister, takes the kids with her. All in the same month.”

“Tough month for the poor boozehound.”

“Do you remember what the alienist said about how a combination of difficult events could cause the killer to break? To make the jump from fantasizing about murder to doing it? In the same month, this guy loses his wife, his family, and his job. His head was probably messed up from the start and he makes it worse with hooch. And get this-the next month, the very next month, according to the coroner, the Lady in the Lake, the first of the Torso Killer’s victims, was murdered.”

Merylo took a breath and waited patiently for a response. He got nothing. Ness stared straight ahead, apparently lost in thought.

“Do you not see how perfect it is? It all fits!”

From the back of the office, Chamberlin cleared his throat. “I think you’re the one who doesn’t see, Detective.”

“I don’t see what?” He was practically screaming. “I just gave you the killer. What’s your problem?”

Chamberlin kept his voice on a calm, level plane. “Our problem, Detective, is that your suspect’s last name is Sweeney.”

“Who cares?”

“We have to,” Ness said. “We have no choice. Congressman Sweeney has been criticizing me about not catching the killer. What’s he going to do when I bring in his cousin as a suspect? He’ll claim I’m retaliating against him.”

“I don’t care. I’m telling you-Frank Sweeney is the killer.”

“But you can’t prove it. And neither can I.”

“Let me bring him in. Work on him for a few days.”

“He’ll ask for a lawyer.”

“Tell him to take a flying-”

“We’ll have to allow it. He’ll be instructed to say nothing. We won’t get anything. We’ll have to release him. The press will have a field day.”

“Maybe we can keep it quiet. Maybe-”

Ness shook his head. “If Congressman Sweeney weren’t a Democrat, I might take the risk. But he is. Anything I do to his cousin, he’ll say it was political.”

“He’s the one who’s been trying to make it political. I told you, that’s why he sent Lyons to the sheriff-”

“You and I know that. But the press doesn’t and we can’t prove it. If we bring in the cousin of a political opponent, everyone will think we’re trying to get even. To do the same kind of shady political back-stabbing they’ve been doing.”

“The important thing is that we get this monster off the street and let the people of Cleveland stop being terrified.”

“Yes, that was the county sheriff’s argument. And it was good-till the next corpse turned up. Then he looked like a fool.” Ness’s eyes seemed to recede and darken. “I don’t want to look like a fool. Like some kind of… big mess.”

“Just let me bring him in!”

Ness and Chamberlin looked at each other. They were clearly in agreement. “No. Too risky. Burton wouldn’t like it. Could impact his reelection. You can watch the man if you want. Look for more evidence. But you may not make contact. And under no circumstances will you interrogate him or bring him into custody. Do you understand?”

Merylo felt as if his head were smoldering. He leaned across Ness’s desk, close enough to slap him. “You told me I could do whatever it took to catch this killer. You said you would support me. Right down the line.”

“Well, the line stops at political suicide.”

“You don’t care about catching the killer. You’re afraid you’ll lose your job. Your driver. Your invitation to society parties.”

“You’re way out of line, Detective.”

“I don’t care. You’re putting yourself before the people.”

“Am I?” Ness’s neck stiffened. He spoke in short, clipped words, increasing in volume with each sentence. “Where will the people be if I’m not in this office? What will happen to the traffic situation, huh? The Boys Clubs. Mobsters and labor racketeers. I’ve done a lot of good for this town and I’m not going to see it undone because I make a stupid mistake on this stupid case!”

Merylo grabbed his rumpled hat and headed toward the door. “I’m going over your head.”

“There is no one over my head.”

“Then I’m going to the press.”

“And tip off Sweeney? You do that and you’ll never catch him.” Ness looked at him levelly. “Don’t make me take you off this case, Detective.”

“You wouldn’t dare.”

“I would. The press might see it as a positive development.”

“Matowitz knows I’m the best detective he’s got.”

“Matowitz will go along with anything I want.”

Merylo could feel the bile rising in his throat. Ness’s words wouldn’t sting so much-if he didn’t know they were true.

“Look, Detective, you’ve been under a lot of stress. Go home. Spend some time with your wife. Have a drink or two. You’ll see things differently in the morning.”

“I don’t think so.”

“And then, if you want to continue tailing your suspect, you do that. From a discreet distance. Maybe eventually you’ll get some real evidence, something that might justify the gigantic risk of bringing in the congressman’s cousin. Something so telling that the press couldn’t possibly criticize us for bringing him in.” He paused. “But you don’t have it yet. And we’re not touching this man until you do.”

Merylo opened the office door. “I will be back.”

Ness nodded. “I’m counting on it.”

48

Ness tiptoed quietly into the house. Once again, he was late. Probably he should’ve gone to the apartment. But he had told Edna he was coming home tonight. He felt as if they were making a little progress-had been ever since that party for the mayor. If only he didn’t have to spend so much time on this torso case. And then there was a flare-up on the labor front. Then Burton summoned him in for an emergency strategy meeting. And…

And the next thing he knew, he was late. Exactly what Edna had been complaining about for so long. He’d done it again.

He poked his head through the bedroom door. She was asleep. Wearing her best, silken nightgown, too, he noticed.

Maybe he should give her a gentle nudge, see if she woke up. Or maybe that would lead to more embarrassment…

She was a lovely woman, Edna was. Tender. Sweet. She looked beautiful lying there, her head on the pillow, her brown curls poking out from under the covers. Absolutely lovely…

But when he was on the job… on the chase… bursting through doors and catching thugs with their pants down… well, there was nothing like that. Nothing at all.

He gently closed the bedroom door. He’d see her in the morning. If she got up before he went to work. They’d have a chance to talk then, with any luck.