Read Online The Headsman by James Neal Harvey - Free Book Online

decided he probably did.
    “Is it true,” the reporter asked, “her head was chopped off?”
    Pearson’s face was somber, his tone grave. “The victim was decapitated, yes.”
    “What with?”
    “The preliminary examination indicates it was a sharp object.”
    Jesus Christ, Jud thought, could it have been done with a dull one?
    “What kind of object?”
    “We’re not sure.”
    “Was it an ax?”
    “We don’t know,” Pearson said.
    As soon as he got the words out, the reporters all started yammering again. The guy who had been doing the questioning put one hand behind him and signalled frantically for them to shut up. When they quieted down a little, he said, “We understand Braddock once had a public executioner who used an ax to carry out his—ah—duties.”
    “Is that so? I wasn’t aware of that.”
    Jud glanced sideways again. Pearson seemed to be enjoying this. Probably getting his rocks off over occupying the limelight.
    The reporter pressed on. “A lot of people in Braddock believe the executioner—the headsman—is still around, and that he may have been responsible for this killing. What’s your reaction?”
    “I think it would take a lot of imagination to come up with an idea like that.”
    The others were rumbling once more, and the TV reporter tried again to draw Pearson into making a controversial statement. “But if this girl’s head was chopped off, don’t you think that’s a possibility, and wouldn’t you want to investigate it?”
    “We’re investigating all possibilities,” Pearson said.
    One of the reporters yelled, “If the headsman didn’t do it, who did?”
    Before Pearson could respond, more questions erupted, and the crowd pressed in on him. The TV reporter gave up in disgust, while the detective went on fielding inquiries.
    Watching this, Jud decided he’d had enough. As he turned away, he saw Sam Melcher striding up the walk, approaching the house.
    Melcher was the mayor of Braddock, and the owner of a successful insurance and real estate business. His daughter was also a senior at the high school. He was almost totally bald, but despite the cold he wore no hat on his shining pate. He was staring at the commotion on the porch, and as he caught sight of Jud he frowned. He ascended the steps and took MacElroy’s arm, drawing him aside.
    The mayor made an effort to keep his voice down, but its tone was a rasp. “Chief, what the hell has gone on here? Who did this, for God’s sake? What have you found out?”
    “At this point we have no idea,” Jud said. “The state police are running the investigation. That’s Inspector Pearson over there, talking to the media.”
    Melcher glanced again at the swarm of reporters around Pearson, and then his gaze swung back to fix on Jud. “That’s fine, and I’m glad you’ve got their help. But I want to tell you something. This is the most shocking thing that could happen. Marcy Dickens wasn’t just a nobody. Her family are some of the best people in this town. To have her murdered like this, in cold blood, is just, just— unthinkable .”
    Jud was well aware that people often have strange reactions in times of crisis, but Melcher’s attitude was hard to fathom. He was angry, which was certainly understandable, but his manner made it seem as if he were holding Jud responsible not merely for solving the crime, but for not having prevented it.
    “Now goddamn it,” Melcher grated, “what are you doing about it?”
    Jud wished the man would calm down. “We’ll do everything we can, Sam. But as I told you, Inspector Pearson is in charge. You know we don’t have detectives in our department.”
    Melcher looked at Jud as if he were some strange species of animal. He thrust out his lower jaw. “Let me remind you that the reason we appointed you chief of police was because we wanted a go-getter. Somebody who’d bring young blood and energy to the job. Leadership, do you understand? I personally went all out pushing for you