Part 33 (1/2)
”It wasn't like that,” Taber said.
”It doesn't much matter how it was. The thing is--how is it going to be now?”
”You got a murder, friend. Plain and simple. What do the New York police do when they get a murder?”
Abrams spoke bitterly. ”Sometimes they let a panel truck drive in and haul the body away and that's that.”
”Let's save the sarcasm until later. I called you in. It's your case.
What do you want me to do?”
”Talk a little, maybe. The other one--now this one. The same killer?”
”I think so.”
”What does he look like?”
”Medium height. One-eighty. Around forty. And dangerous.”
”Dangerous, he says,” Abrams muttered. ”Any idea where we might go to have a little talk with him?”
”No, can't say that I have.”
”Try the streets of Manhattan--is that it?”
”I guess that's about it.” Taber paused. ”Wait a minute. If he's looking for a spot to hide in he wouldn't come back here and he certainly wouldn't try King's room. There's just a wide-open chance he might have another location. Wait a minute while I look up an address.”
An hour after he'd finished delivering his speech on the floor of the Senate, Crane held a press conference in one of Was.h.i.+ngton's most important hotels. The place was crowded. He stood on a platform, looked out over a sea of heads, and pointed at an upraised hand for the first question.
”Senator, have you gotten any reaction from the people of your state on the revelations contained in your speech?”
”There has been very little time, but telegrams have been pouring in.”
”What is the reaction?”
”Frankly, I haven't had time to read them. However, I think there is little doubt as to the mood of my people. They will be indignant and angry at Was.h.i.+ngton bungling.”
He pointed to another hand.
”Senator, granting the details you outlined are accurate, have you any knowledge as to--”
”Young man. _Every_ detail I outlined was completely accurate.” Senator Crane withered the reporter with a hostile look and pointed elsewhere.
”Senator, did you consult with the people responsible for handling the situation before making your speech?”
”I tried. I was willing to co-operate in every way, but my patience ran out. Also, I was alarmed at the bungling and inefficiency I saw. For that reason I went straight to the people with my story.”
”Senator, I have a wire from the governor of your state. It just arrived in response to my query as to his att.i.tude on this affair. The governor says, quote, _No comment_, unquote. Would _you_ care to comment on his statement?”
Senator Crane thought he heard a faint ripple of mirth drift across the room. But, of course, he had to be mistaken. ”I think the governor replied wisely. I expect to return home and confer with him as soon as possible.”