Manhunt Magazine November 1953 by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery, Pulp
Publisher: Manhunt Magazine
Published: 1953-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

Six Stories Up

by Raymond J. Dyer

The kid stood out on the ledge, ready to jump—because they’d accused him of murder. And at least one man wanted the kid to jump…

Chief of Police Charlie Shannon leaned a little further out the window of room 607 and said, “Paul…Paul, listen to reason.” The boy on the narrow, slanting ledge of the City Hail building didn’t look at Shannon. He was staring down at the crowd that had gathered six stories below to watch and wait. It was almost four o’clock now, and he had been out on the ledge since shortly after two.

“Paul…” Shannon said.

“Let me alone,” the boy said. “I’m not coming in.” He glanced at Shannon, and then away again. The eyes in the pinched, sweat-sheened face were sick with fear. “I tell you I didn’t kill him!”

“No,” Shannon said. “Of course you didn’t. We all know that, Paul.”

“He was a good guy,” Paul said. “He was real good to me. I—” His voice broke.

“You’ve got nothing to fear,” Shannon said. “I give you my word on that. Now, why don’t you let the firemen put the ladder up? You can climb down, and we’ll talk it over.”

“No,” Paul said. “If they try to put a ladder up, or spread a net out down there, I’m going to jump.”

“Paul, listen to reason, Your father’s on his way here now. He—”

“Get away from me!” Paul said. “If you don’t leave me alone, I’m going to jump right now!”

Shannon looked down at the street, at the policemen working to keep the crowd back from the place where Paul’s body would land. He moistened his lips. They’d never be able to get a ladder up or spread a net, he knew. The kid was crazed with fear; he’d do just what he’d said he would. When he saw the net or ladder, he’d jump.

Behind him someone said, “Chief…” and Shannon drew his shoulders back through the window and faced the room. They were all still there; the priest and Detective Sergeant Bailey and the two uniformed cops.

“Chief,” Sergeant Bailey said, “the commissioner just called. He’s on his way over.” He shook his head. “He’s plenty hot, Chief.”

“So he’s plenty hot,” Shannon said. “What the hell can I do about it? Right now, I’m more interested in getting that kid off that ledge.”

The priest and one of the uniformed cops went to the window and began to talk to Paul.

“You think he killed Sorrentino, Chief?” Bailey asked.

“Hell no, he didn’t kill him,” Shannon said. “I talked to him long enough to be sure of that.”

‘Maybe Sorrentino ain’t dead,” Bailey said. “Maybe he just wanted to disappear.”

“If he’s dead, that kid didn’t kill him,” Shannon said. “He couldn’t kill anyone.” He looked away from Bailey for a moment. “I know about kids that age. I got a boy fifteen myself, remember?”

‘Yeah, Chief, bur—”

“This kid’s just panicked, that’s all,” Shannon said. “My Chester would be the same way, if it was him out there.” His voice suddenly hardened.

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