Blood Relatives by Ed McBain Read Free Book Online

Carella said, “are you aware of the fact that we’re talking about a homicide here? Are you aware of that? Are you sure you realize that a girl was brutally murdered on Saturday night and that—?”
    “Yes, I’m aware of it, I realize it.”
    “Then why are you giving us this bullshit about a bowling alley, and a girl you met in the park, now what is that supposed to be, Mr. Donatelli? Are we supposed to believe that goddamn story? If you want my advice—I’m not supposed to give you this kind of advice, Mr. Donatelli—I’d get a lawyer in here right away, because the bullshit you’re giving us, it sounds to me like you’re going to be in very serious trouble before too long. Now that’s my advice.”
    “I don’t need a lawyer,” Donatelli said. “I didn’t kill that girl you’re talking about.”
    “Mr. Donatelli,” Carella said, “I think we’re going to have to hold you in custody, in what amounts to something more than a routine interrogation, and that being the case, I’ll have to advise you of your rights. In keeping with the Supreme Court decision in Miranda versus Arizona, we are not permitted to ask you any questions until you are warned of your right to counsel and your privilege against self-incrimination. First, you have the right to remain silent if you so choose. Do you understand that?”
    “Yes.”
    “Second, you do not have to answer any police questions if you don’t want to. Do you understand that?”
    “Yes.”
    “Third, if you do decide to answer any questions, the answers may be used as evidence against you. Do you understand that?”
    “Yes.”
    “You have the right to consult with an attorney before or during police questioning. If you do not have the money to hire alawyer, a lawyer will be appointed to consult with you. Do you understand everything I’ve told you?”
    “Yes, I understand.”
    “Are you willing to answer questions without an attorney here to counsel you?”
    “Yes,” Donatelli said. “I didn’t kill that girl.”
    “Then what did you do?” Carella asked at once. He was able to question Donatelli more freely now; the man had signified that he understood all the warnings, and had waived his right to have an attorney present. This did not give the police license to keep him there for four days and four nights while successive teams of interrogators bludgeoned him with questions. As a matter of fact, if Donatelli changed his mind at any point during the questioning, he could simply say, “I don’t want to answer any more questions,” and that would be that; the police would have to respect his wishes and cease all questioning at once. In many respects, America is a very nice country.
    “I didn’t do anything,” Donatelli said.
    “Where were you on Saturday night? And please skip the bowling-alley bullshit, if you don’t mind.”
    “I told you where I was.”
    “We don’t believe you.”
    “Well, that’s where I was.”
    “If you’re hiding something, Mr. Donatelli, it can’t be anything as serious as this homicide, I’m sure you realize that. So if you’re hiding something, I suggest you tell us about it, because otherwise we’re going to start thinking things you don’t want us to think, and then you’d better change your mind and get a lawyer in here to help you. What do you say?”
    “I can’t tell you where I was Saturday night.”
    “Then you weren’t at the bowling alley, huh?”
    “I didn’t say that.”
    “Where were you?”
    “I can’t tell you that.”
    “Why not?”
    “Because if I tell you that…no, I can’t tell you that.”
    “Mr. Donatelli, we’ve got an eyewitness to the murder. We’ve got a girl who can identify the man who killed Muriel Stark. Now we can bring that girl up here, Mr. Donatelli. We can have a car pick her up, and she’ll be here in five minutes flat, and we can ask her to identify that man for us, we’ll put him in a lineup with six detectives and ask her to pick out the man who