The Ernie Cauldwell Murder Case

Broadways might beat from Times Square to Columbus Circle, the godiest, the most violent, the lonesome-est mile in the world. With Larry Thor as detective Danny Clover. For the torrent of night races through the neon chasm, and you're caught up in it and whirled and crushed against the shrieking of the shadows.

Then you wake, and the night is gone, there's nothing. Only the debris of night and the stain of its rage. You can't yourself lucky, because you think you're one of the few who got away.

Then you take a good look and you know you didn't make it. It's Broadway, my beat. Sergeant Pataglia had told me an hour ago if she was waiting. Then a little later he came in and told me again, and I knew I couldn't put it off any longer.

The fact of her presence had been whispering to me from the reports I pretended I had to be filled out. From the desk drawers that needed cleaning and had been cleaned only yesterday. I couldn't put it off any longer, so I told the tagliars to show her in.

You can go in now, Mrs. Webster. Thank you. Here, here, Mrs. Webster, I will get you a chat. Sit down, Mrs. Webster. Go on, sit down. This perfectly all right, Mrs. Down? Thank you very much, Mr. Tautavia.

Sergeant Tautavia. That's right, Mrs. Webster. Maybe you can do something, her dad. Hey, shut the door to Tautavia, and don't put any calls through for a while. Thank you for letting me talk to you, Mr. Clover.

It's... it's all right. Forgive me for the way I look. I came over in my lunch hour, and this new... it's regulation for the girls who work on the drill press. So, I hear we'll get caught. I... didn't have time to...