Read Online The Crossword Connection by Nero Blanc - Free Book Online Page A

who’d arrived at the scene ten minutes before Rosco and Lever.
    â€œI haven’t altered the body position. I’m waiting for the ME. He’ll have to determine the cause of death.” As if he’d been reading Rosco’s mind, Jones added, “She looks kind of peaceful, doesn’t she?”
    â€œWell, death’ll do that for you.…” Lever coughed. “Maybe we’ll get lucky here. Maybe she died of natural causes … just had a heart attack and expired in her sleep. Money or ID?”
    Jones shook his head. “Neither … I hope you’re right about natural causes, but unfortunately, this scene bears a striking resemblance to yesterday’s. That’s why I thought you should be called before anything was moved … day off or not. Sorry, boss.” Jones pointed up and down the narrow street. “Like the situation with Freddie, we have a mainly deserted alley—especially after dark—and a body positioned on newspapers: the Evening Crier and Boston Sentinel. All we’re missing is the blood and the dog food.”
    â€œAnd the pint of booze.” Lever reached for his cigarettes.
    â€œRight. No booze this time. In fact, the woman doesn’t look too badly off. Wet, dirty overalls … not what you’d call filthy, though. We have some death stench.… That’s certainly not her fault. And her boots aren’t in great shape, but hey, I’ve seen far worse.”
    â€œA good deal of mud on them,” Rosco observed.
    â€œProbably from walking through the park down on Third. I’ll take samples and run a comparison.”
    Lever nodded. “Who found her?”
    â€œThe lead came in on the tip line. Anonymously. But that’s another reason I wanted the dispatcher to notify you, Al. The call was traced to a pay phone at Eleventh and Hawthorne.”
    â€œThe Crier building?” Rosco asked. Recognizing the location of Belle’s office, he made no attempt to mask his surprise.
    â€œNot the actual building,” Abe Jones answered. “There’s a pay phone on the corner. However, we’re talking about eight or nine blocks from here. The person who phoned didn’t want to be anywhere near the scene when we arrived. I dispatched one of my men to dust the phone box for prints, but if the caller was cautious enough to establish a credible distance, I doubt we’ll find much. I also contacted Sister Mary Catherine at Margaret House Women’s Shelter. I figured she and Father Tom have a better handle on Newcastle’s street people than anyone. If she doesn’t recognize the woman, she should be able to provide other sources.”
    â€œThanks, Abe.” Lever turned his attention to Rosco. “Do you know how we get in touch with this Gus character you told me about?”
    Rosco shook his head. “No. Apparently, he roams back and forth between here and Boston. Why?”
    â€œJust want to talk, that’s all. Maybe he knew her.”
    â€œWell, if he’s still in Newcastle, my bet is he’ll leave as soon as he hears about this.”
    â€œLet’s not jump to conclusions, Rosco. It’s possible she died of natural causes.”
    â€œWishful thinking.” Jones nodded toward the end of the alley. “Don’t look now, Al, but your hopeful demeanor is about to evaporate.”
    Rosco and Lever followed Jones’s gaze and watched Carlyle plod heavily toward them. He carried a large black case in his right hand, a black umbrella in his left. If he’d had a hood on his coat, he would have looked like the Grim Reaper. When he reached the three men, he said, “What have we got?” No other salutation passed his lips. He gazed perfunctorily at Jones and Lever. Rosco, he completely ignored.
    â€œDead Jane Doe this time,” Lever answered. “I was hoping the causes might be natural.”
    Carlyle remained standing while he scanned the