Ten Days in August by Kate McMurray Read Free Book Online Page A

trouble than it was worth to maintain those friendships. Or else he was just having a really bad day.
    â€œWell, Mr. Hines,” Andrew said. “As a representative of the police department, I will remind you the last time the SPC decided to conduct a raid—on a theater off Delancey Street if I recall correctly—they illegally searched and arrested several innocent people. If your society is really for the prevention of crime, you might have a stronger argument if you did not break the law while carrying out your mission.”
    Mr. Hines bristled. “We were merely doing the work this department refuses to do.”
    Andrew stood. “As it happens, an inspector has taken charge of the Bowery case and intends to investigate the murder and perhaps shut the club down.” Andrew doubted this was actually the case—Hank, who had little interest in shutting down vice when there were bigger crimes to solve, was as likely to shut down a club as he was to grow a second head—but the statement seemed to mollify Hines. “If the SPC raids the resorts tonight, it’s only going to interfere with a legitimate investigation. It could destroy valuable evidence that would assist the police in eliminating some of the crime on the Bowery. Eliminating crime is your end, is it not?”
    Hines frowned. “It is, yes.”
    â€œGive the police time to do their jobs, all right? In the meantime, if you’d like to report an actual crime, please see Mr. Thornton at the front desk.”
    Hines blustered a bit before turning and walking out of the room. Andrew turned to give his attention to the piles of paper that awaited his sign-off. Polk lingered for a moment. “You put an end to him swiftly.”
    â€œYes, well. Not the first time one of the SPC members has shown up to tell me about how no one in the police department is doing his job. And if it’s not them, it’s somebody who thinks we ought to shut down every theater and dance hall in the city because they are the root causes of so much immoral behavior, or some such nonsense.”
    Polk laughed softly. “I’m sorry to have added to the pile, Andrew.”
    â€œIt’s fine. I’m glad I was able to defuse Mr. Hines.”
    â€œIt’s not my precinct, but it might be a good idea to talk to the captain there about putting a few extra men on patrol tonight to keep away any trouble. And by trouble, I mean the SPC.”
    Andrew nodded. “Probably a smart idea. Under the circumstances, it seems good to have a few extra patrolmen about to prevent a recidivist criminal.”
    â€œYou think this murderer will strike again?”
    â€œI do not know, but given he has yet to be apprehended, I would not rule out the possibility.”
    Polk pursed his lips. “All right. I’ll talk to my captain.” He glanced at the wall clock. “I should be going. Take care of yourself, Ritchley.”

Chapter 4
    A s the sun set over the Hudson, Hank walked from the precinct house a few blocks west to the Bowery. He’d stripped to his shirtsleeves again before leaving the precinct, and he’d borrowed a tie and hat from another detective. He thought he looked fairly nondescript and hopefully unrecognizable as a police officer.
    The heat was still unrelenting.
    Hank knew a request had come down from headquarters to put a few extra men on patrol in this part of the neighborhood, and Hank understood the wisdom of doing so, although he was worried about being recognized. Logically, he knew there was a reasonable explanation for his presence—he was tracking down a witness to the crime he was investigating—and as Inspector, he had some discretion over how he conducted his business. But tonight was not a night he wanted to be spotted, and he worried the increased presence would make him much more conspicuous. All it would take would be a friendly officer from his precinct saying hello too loudly, and