"We're hoping," he continued, "you will each find one subject who will think you simpatico and talk a little more freely. Now let me give you a rundown on the people we're dealing with – " He was gratified to see all the detectives take out their notebooks and ballpoints.
He delivered brief summaries of the six patients.
When he finished, he turned to Boone.
"Anything to add, Sergeant?"
"Not about the people, sir; I think you've covered what we know. But the hammer…"
"I was getting to that."
Delaney told them that the murder weapon was apparently a ball peen hammer.
It had not been found, and none of the six subjects had admitted owning such a tool. He urged them to make a search for the hammer an important part of their investigation.
He also reminded them of the two sets of footprints and suggested they query the subjects as to ownership of rubbers, galoshes, boots, or any other type of foul-weather footwear.
"If you can get their shoe size," he told them, "so much the better. We have photos of the footprints. Anything else, Boone?"
"No, sir."
"Anything you want to add, Jason?"
"No, sir."
"All right," Delaney said to the others.
"Any questions?"
The female detective, Helen K. Venable, raised her hand.
"Sir," she said, "are these people all crackpots?"
There was some amused laughter, but Delaney didn't smile.
"This job is going to take patience and understanding.
Your first impression might be of a bunch of whackos, but don't underestimate them because of that. Remember, quite possibly one of them had the intelligence, resolve, and cunning to zap Doctor Ellerbee and, so far, get away with it."
Benjamin Calazo, the old gumshoe, raised a meaty hand.
"I'd like to take Isaac Kane. My brother's kid is retarded. A sweet boy, no harm in him, but like you said, he needs patience and understanding.
I've learned to deal with him, so if it's okay with you, I'd like to take on Isaac Kane."
"Fine with me," Delaney said.
"Anyone else got a preference?"
Robert Keisman, the Spoiler, spoke up: "If no one else wants him, I'll start with the Vietnam vet-what's his name?
Gerber? I can jive with those guys."
"He's all yours," Delaney said.
"Just watch your back; I think the kid can be dangerous. Any other preferences?"
There were none, so they set to work making assignments, arranging schedules, exchanging phone numbers so any of them could be reached at any hour, either directly or by leaving a message.
Boone selected Detectives Konigsbacher, Calazo, and Venable for his squad. Jason had Estrella, the pipe smoker; Keisman; and Timothy (Big Tim) Hogan, a short, blunt man as bald as a peeled egg.
Delaney impressed on all of them the need for daily reports, as complete as they could make them.
"Include everything," he told them.
"Even if it seems silly or insignificant. If you think it's important, contact Boone or Jason immediately. If you can't get hold of them, call me any hour of the day or night. Now let's get moving. The trail is getting colder by the day, and the Department wants to close out this file as soon as possible. If you need cars, backup, special equipment, or the cooperation of technical squads, just yell."
They all shook his hand and tramped out, along with Boone and Jason.
Delaney returned the extra chairs to their proper places and emptied the ashtrays. Then he called Suarez, but the Chief was in a meeting and not available.
Delaney left his name and asked that Suarez call him back.
He sat at his desk, put on his reading glasses, lighted a cigar. Working from the duty roster, from what Boone and Jason had told him, and from his own observations, he made a list of the newly assigned detectives on a pad of yellow legal paper. it went like this: Boone's squad1. Ross (Kraut) Konigsbacher. Heavy. Muscular. Blond mustache. Likes to use fists. Faint scar over left eyebrow.
2. Benjamin Calazo. Old flatfoot. White hair. Heavy hands, keratosis on backs. Picked Isaac Kane.
3. Helen K. Venable. Short. Chubby. Reddish brown hair.
Very intense. Deep voice.
Jason's squadi. Brian Estrella. Tall. Stringy. Smokes pipe.
Left-handed.
Prominent Adam's apple.
2. Robert (Spoiler) Keisman. Black. Slender. Elegant.
Packs shoulder holster. Picked Harold Gerber.
3. Timothy (Big Tim) Hogan. Stubby. Bald. Big ears.
Nicotine-stained fingers. Whiny voice.
Finished, Delaney read over the list and could visualize the new people, recognize them as individuals. He put his notes in the back of the top drawer of his desk. Comments on their performance would be added later.
Some of them might earn citations out of this.
Pushing aside the yellow pad, he searched through his file cabinet and dug out a wide worksheet pad designed for accountants. It had fourteen ruled columns and provided enough horizontal lines for what he proposed to devise: a time schedule for the night Dr. Simon Ellerbee was murdered.
He listed the names of individuals at the top of columns.
Down the left margin of the page he noted times from 4:00 P.m. on the fatal day to 1:54 A.M when the body was discovered.
This was donkeywork, he knew, but it had to be done. It would require constant reference to the reports, statements, and Dr. Ellerbee's records in his file cabinet. And all the times would be approximate.
Even the time of death, estimated at nine o'clock by the ME, could be off by an hour or more.
Still, you had to start somewhere.
He started with the first column: Dr. Simon Ellerbee: 4:00 P.m.-Appointment with Harold Gerber. 5:00-Appointment with Mrs. Lola Brizio. Who is she?
Check. 6:00-Tells wife he expects late patient, but doesn't tell her who or when. Appointment not listed in book. Receptionist doesn't know who or when. Tells wife he will leave T N. Y for Brewster at 9:00. That suggests late patient at 7:00 or 8:00. 9:00-Dead.
Dr. Diane Ellerbee: 6:00-Leaves office after speaking to husband. 6:30-Departs Manhattan, driving. 8:00-Arrives Brewster home. 11:30-Calls Manhattan office. No answer. Calls twice more, times not stated. 12:00-Calls Brewster police. No report of highway accident.
Calls Manhattan garage, time not stated, learns Simon's car is still in slot. 1: 15 -Calls Dr. Samuelson.
Dr. Julius K. Samuelson: 7:00 P.m.-?-Dinner with friends at Russian Tea Room. 8:30- 11:30 -Concert at Carnegie Hall. 11:30-12:30(?)-Nightcap at St. Moritz. 1: 15 A. m.-Receives Diane's call. 1:45-Arrives 84th Street townhouse. 1: 54 -Finds body, calls 911.
When the phone rang, Delaney was startled and jagged his pen across the page.
"Chief Suarez is calling," a voice announced.
"How are you doing, Chief," Delaney asked.
"Surviving," Suarez said with a sigh.
"I hope you have some good news for me."
"I'm afraid not, Chief, but I would like to get together with you-just to keep you informed of what we're doing."
"Yes," Suarez said, "I would appreciate that."
"Would you care to drop by here, Chief? I'll be in all day and it shouldn't take long."
A hesitation.
"A bad day. So much to do. I do not expect to get uptown until this evening. Will eight or nine o'clock be too late for you?"
"Not at all. I'll be here."
"Suppose I stop at your place on my way home. I will call you first to tell you when I am leaving. Will that be satisfactory?"
"That's fine," Delaney said.
"See you tonight."
He put down the receiver, and went back to the time schedule.
Henry Ellerbee: 9:00-Charity dinner at Plaza. Presence confirmed.
Receptionist: 5:00 or 6:00?-When did she leave. Check.
Isaac Kane: 9:00-Leaves Community Center when it closes. Goes home?
Sylvia Mae Otherton: 9:00-At home alone. No confirmation.
L. Vincent Symington: 9:00-Dinner-dance at Hilton. Could have left, gone back.
Ronald J. Bellsey: 9:00-Home all night. Wife confirms.