Read Online Murder in Alphabet City by Lee Harris - Free Book Online

Hartwell,” she heard him croon, “this is Detective Sean MacHovec at One Thirty-seven Centre Street. I wonder if . . .”
    Jane smiled and went out for a cup of coffee, stopping to chat with Lieutenant Ellis McElroy, the second whip. He was up to speed on the case although he hadn’t participated in any discussions. Built like a tank, McElroy lacked Graves’s natural good looks and appeal, but he was a straight shooter.
    When she got back to the office, MacHovec was putting down the phone with a grin. “She’ll do a rush job and let me know in three weeks.”
    Defino laughed.
    â€œSo I guess I’ll take a look myself tomorrow morning.”
    Remembering a past incident, Jane said, “Let Annie know, OK?”
    â€œWould I go anywhere without telling Annie?”
    It didn’t deserve an answer.
    Steak, baked potato, salad, half a pink Florida grapefruit to start with. It was good eating and little work, a winning combination. After dinner, she called two numbers that hadn’t answered this afternoon, people who lived near Stratton. Neither answered tonight. Where did old people go at night in the winter? Maybe to church. Maybe to the hospital. Maybe to Florida.
    When she hung up, the phone rang almost immediately. “Hello?” She drew her legs up onto the sofa.
    â€œJane.”
    Her heart flipped. “Hi.” It was a voice she would know in a coma.
    â€œJust thinking about you. I can’t see you tonight.”
    â€œHow are you?”
    â€œBored. Working my tail off. You’re on the Stratton case?”
    â€œThe Stratton death by starvation case. Only a sister could see a homicide here.”
    â€œShe’s made a lot of trouble for us. Give her a pound of paper.”
    â€œThat’s what Graves wants.”
    â€œYou think there’s a chance she’s right?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œYou can’t end up a hero every time.”
    â€œDon’t want to. Flora Hamburg called, Hack. She asked me about my love life.”
    â€œWhat’s eating her?”
    â€œI don’t know. We’re having dinner next Wednesday. Maybe she’ll say something. I won’t.”
    â€œShe doesn’t know anything. She’s just putting out feelers. I miss you like crazy.”
    â€œMe too.”
    â€œMaybe I’ll see you after your dinner. I’m staying overnight in the city. Got a meeting at dawn on Thursday.”
    â€œI’ll skip dessert.”
    â€œWe’ll have it together.”
    â€œI’m glad you called.”
    The nature of the relationship had changed in the last couple of months. It had been on for ten years and then Jane had turned it off, partly because Hack’s daughter had started asking questions. It had been resurrected by circumstances and now had a sporadic quality. Meetings were less frequent and less planned, more volatile when they happened. She wondered sometimes what she would do if Hack’s wife decided to leave him. There it would be, the golden opportunity, but would she take it? It was a question she never answered. She smiled thinking how good it would be to see him next week.
    It was later on, while she was getting ready for bed, that a different question posed itself. She had been rummaging through the Stratton file since talking to Hack, nothing leaping out at her. Now, as she settled under the comforter, just the lamp beside her bed lighting the room, something about the super, Larry Vale, set off a silent alarm. He had seen the little Chinese girl delivering Stratton’s laundry. From his front window, he had a view of the sidewalk and he could see at least the bottom half of anyone who arrived at the outside stairs. How did he know she was taking the laundry to Stratton?
    She recalled that after he mentioned it to them, he had screwed up his face as though a flicker of pain had passed through him. He hadn’t told the police or Wally Shreiber about Rose even though