Murder on Tin Pan Alley: A 1920's New York Murder Mystery (Bobbie Flynn Mysteries) by Jack Murray

Author:Jack Murray [Murray, Jack]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2024-05-03T00:00:00+00:00

17

Detectives Nolan and Yeats sat in an office, alongside Lieutenant Grimm, listening to their, highly un-esteemed captain, Frank O’Riordan’s pep talk which consisted of eighty percent criticism and twenty percent threat. The lack of progress on the Rankin murder was beginning to get noticed in high places, specifically the Commissioner, Richard Enright. When that happened, his displeasure was communicated directly to Inspector Flynn and then communicated to O’Riordan. Sometimes Inspector Flynn was bypassed, as he was on this occasion and O’Riordan was the happy recipient of a call directly from 240 Centre Street, which housed the office of Enright and his staff.

The call with Enright had lasted barely two minutes and had not permitted O’Riordan much opportunity to rebut the accusations of incompetence in the handling of the case. Part of O’Riordan’s issue in dealing with the Commissioner was that Enright had once been a cop himself and risen through the ranks. Pulling wool, or any other item of clothing, over his eyes was next to impossible. Enright’s final warning had been ominous.

‘If you don’t get this solved in two days, I’m handing it over to Midtown South precinct.’

This was the ultimate indignity and O’Riordan knew he would never live it down if this came to pass. His ambitions would be thwarted. City Hall, 240 Centre Street, would all go up in smoke. He would not allow this to happen and he needed someone to blame. Lieutenant Grimm was too new and Yeats was a little too much of a loose cannon. He’d never liked Nolan and had many reasons to want to take him down a little.

He stood over the three men after haranguing them for five minutes on what the Commissioner had said. Then he leaned over and fixed his eyes on them one by one.

‘Now, what do you intend doing about it?’

The clock struck five as he said this and the sound of the hand hitting the number twelve resounded like a gunshot in the office.

Ever the politician, Grimm decided to up the ante.

‘Good question, captain,’ said Grimm turning towards the two young detectives and glaring at them.

‘Exactly how do you intend bringing this to a resolution? I’ve been reading your reports and don’t get me started on the spelling and grammar…’

O’Riordan had no intention of getting Grimm started on the spelling and grammar, instead he stared at the diminutive lieutenant open-mouthed.

Nolan took it upon himself to become the lightning rod. He cleared his throat and addressed O’Riordan, ignoring his lieutenant entirely.

‘We have spoken to everyone in the tenement, including the superintendent. No one saw Rankin come home that night and no one saw anyone leave his apartment. We have a list of the people who entered and left the building that night and morning. All of them check out. It’s like the killer was a ghost. The fire escape was bolted from the inside of Rankin’s apartment and we both tried to leave through it and shut it behind us. It wouldn’t lock. We’ve spoken to everyone that knew him and he hadn’t an enemy in the world.

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