Read Online The Body Looks Familiar by Richard Wormser - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Richard Wormser
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climbed back into the sedan. As the door closed and the car moved ahead, Jim Latson said, “Traffic. I never had a day of it till I got to be deputy chief. You ever bothered with it, Marty?”
“Only co-operation, when I was precinct lieutenant.”
“Yeah,” Latson said. They slowed up for a streetcar stop and he frowned again. “Those tracks ought to go… Marty, you got something more on Guild, or is this a fishing expedition?”
Cap Martin said, “Fishing.”
Latson chuckled politely, and turned to Harry Weber: “Mind telling me why your paper’s out on a limb over a dumb cluck?”
“We’re not on a limb,” Harry said, promptly. “We feel that even dumb clucks shouldn’t be railroaded for what they didn’t do.”
Latson stopped smiling. “That’s kind of rough language, young man.”
Harry said he was sorry.
The broad street turned here to follow the river. What had been a slight breeze in town became a wind here, and Latson looked with appreciation at the fluttering skirts of the office girls. There were enough of them on the street to indicate that it was lunch hour; but none of the men suggested eating.
When they had crossed the poor district that was Guild’s, and stopped at the Guild house, the detective car with Lyons and Koch in it was already there, and Lyons was standing on the porch. Koch appeared from a neighboring house, dangling a key. He and Lyons said polite hellos to their superiors; Latson returned them, Cap Martin grunted, and Harry Weber said, “Hi, John,” to Koch.
Koch unlocked the door. “What do you want us to do, Chief?”
“It’s Captain Martin’s detail. I just came along to get some fresh air.”
Cap Martin said, “Lyons and Koch. Go over the place first. I want any changes since you made the arrest.”
Jim Latson leaned just inside the front door, watching them, his hands in his pockets, his face relaxed. They had not shut the front door, and the police radio could be heard faintly, as Cap Martin’s driver kept in touch with headquarters. Harry Weber moved around, looking at things.
John Koch came out, and said, “There’s baby stuff in the bedroom that’s new. A bassinet, a rubber bathing table, a little chest to keep diapers and stuff in.”
Cap Martin said, “New to here, or new from a store?”
Koch seemed to blush slightly. He said. “I’m sorry, Captain. Secondhand, but new to this house.” He went back into the bedroom.
Jim Latson said, “What’s this all about, Marty?”
Cap Martin looked at him. There was a long silence; the noise of the car radio seemed to get louder. Finally, Cap cleared his throat. “Routine.”
Lyons and Koch stopped their bustling, and came to a sort of semi-attention in front of the homicide captain. Lyons said, “Those are about the only changes, Captain. Of course, there were dirty dishes, an unmade bed before; they’ve been cleaned up.”
Cap Martin nodded. He said, “Good. Now. Guild makes a waiter’s pay and tips. Check. See if he made any more.”
They went off, and Latson said, “I see. If you can hang one more theft on him, we’ll have a pretty good case. But what if you can’t?”
Cap Martin shrugged.
Harry Weber said, “What does the district attorney’s office think of their case, Chief Latson?”
Jim Latson smiled without charm this time. “I ought to tell you to find out for yourself. You did a good job this morning, rubbing Dave Corday the wrong way. You know a newspaper man without entree doesn’t last long. Dave Corday is an important man, and a good one.”
Harry Weber said, “I’m sorry. I was trying to needle a story out of him. I didn’t think he’d hold it against me; just doing my job.”
“I didn’t say he did, kid,” Jim Latson said. “Why, you’d have to go to him to get the district attorney’s point of view. From the angle of the police department, let’s say we feel we’re justified that we arrested Guild; and that we’re still investigating. Say that
“Only co-operation, when I was precinct lieutenant.”
“Yeah,” Latson said. They slowed up for a streetcar stop and he frowned again. “Those tracks ought to go… Marty, you got something more on Guild, or is this a fishing expedition?”
Cap Martin said, “Fishing.”
Latson chuckled politely, and turned to Harry Weber: “Mind telling me why your paper’s out on a limb over a dumb cluck?”
“We’re not on a limb,” Harry said, promptly. “We feel that even dumb clucks shouldn’t be railroaded for what they didn’t do.”
Latson stopped smiling. “That’s kind of rough language, young man.”
Harry said he was sorry.
The broad street turned here to follow the river. What had been a slight breeze in town became a wind here, and Latson looked with appreciation at the fluttering skirts of the office girls. There were enough of them on the street to indicate that it was lunch hour; but none of the men suggested eating.
When they had crossed the poor district that was Guild’s, and stopped at the Guild house, the detective car with Lyons and Koch in it was already there, and Lyons was standing on the porch. Koch appeared from a neighboring house, dangling a key. He and Lyons said polite hellos to their superiors; Latson returned them, Cap Martin grunted, and Harry Weber said, “Hi, John,” to Koch.
Koch unlocked the door. “What do you want us to do, Chief?”
“It’s Captain Martin’s detail. I just came along to get some fresh air.”
Cap Martin said, “Lyons and Koch. Go over the place first. I want any changes since you made the arrest.”
Jim Latson leaned just inside the front door, watching them, his hands in his pockets, his face relaxed. They had not shut the front door, and the police radio could be heard faintly, as Cap Martin’s driver kept in touch with headquarters. Harry Weber moved around, looking at things.
John Koch came out, and said, “There’s baby stuff in the bedroom that’s new. A bassinet, a rubber bathing table, a little chest to keep diapers and stuff in.”
Cap Martin said, “New to here, or new from a store?”
Koch seemed to blush slightly. He said. “I’m sorry, Captain. Secondhand, but new to this house.” He went back into the bedroom.
Jim Latson said, “What’s this all about, Marty?”
Cap Martin looked at him. There was a long silence; the noise of the car radio seemed to get louder. Finally, Cap cleared his throat. “Routine.”
Lyons and Koch stopped their bustling, and came to a sort of semi-attention in front of the homicide captain. Lyons said, “Those are about the only changes, Captain. Of course, there were dirty dishes, an unmade bed before; they’ve been cleaned up.”
Cap Martin nodded. He said, “Good. Now. Guild makes a waiter’s pay and tips. Check. See if he made any more.”
They went off, and Latson said, “I see. If you can hang one more theft on him, we’ll have a pretty good case. But what if you can’t?”
Cap Martin shrugged.
Harry Weber said, “What does the district attorney’s office think of their case, Chief Latson?”
Jim Latson smiled without charm this time. “I ought to tell you to find out for yourself. You did a good job this morning, rubbing Dave Corday the wrong way. You know a newspaper man without entree doesn’t last long. Dave Corday is an important man, and a good one.”
Harry Weber said, “I’m sorry. I was trying to needle a story out of him. I didn’t think he’d hold it against me; just doing my job.”
“I didn’t say he did, kid,” Jim Latson said. “Why, you’d have to go to him to get the district attorney’s point of view. From the angle of the police department, let’s say we feel we’re justified that we arrested Guild; and that we’re still investigating. Say that
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