14
September 9th, 10.5 a.m.
JAY ELLINGER walked into the F.B.I. offices and asked for Campbell. He was shown up immediately.
Campbell got up from behind his desk and shook hands. “Sit down, Ellinger,” he said, pushing over a box of cigars. “Make yourself at home.”
Jay shook his head at the cigars. “Too early for me, thanks,” he said, taking out his cigarette−case. “I just looked in to hear how things were going.”
Campbell smiled. “You’re free, ain’t you?” he said. “I mean, you’re lookin’ for some sort of job?”
Jay looked surprised. “Why, sure,” he said, “I guess I am.”
“Ever thought anythin’ about this racket?”
“What? A Federal Agent?”
Campbell nodded. “I’ve been on to Mr. Hoover’s chief of staff. We think you’d make a good agent, Ellinger.”
“Why, sure,” Jay said eagerly, “I’d jump at it.”
“Seeing that it was through your efforts this big Slave Ring’s been exposed, we thought it only fair to let you in at the death. What do you say?”
“It’s mighty nice of you.”
“Okay, then I’ll fix it. A Federal Agent has to sit for all sorts of examinations and has to go through all kinds of tests and training before he can join up. I’m goin’ to let you off these for the time being. You’ll work with one of my operators and you’ll just be his assistant. When we’ve cleaned all this business up you’ll be posted to one of our trainin’ centres. Right now there isn’t the time for it.”
Jay nodded. “That’s fine. You can rely on me to do as I’m told. I’d like to see the end of this guy Raven.”
“So you shall.” Campbell pressed a bell. “I’ll get Hogarty to come in.”
A moment later a tall, thick−set man entered. “Mornin", Chief,” he said, tipping his hat.
“Hogarty, meet Jay Ellinger. You’ve heard about him. I’m sending Ellinger along with you. He might be able to help. When all this is over he’s being sworn in.”
Hogarty shook hands with Jay. He seemed pleased to know him. “You’ve done a smart bit of work already,” he observed.
“Okay. Now what’ve you to report?” Campbell asked, signing Hogarty to another chair.
Hogarty sat down. “Well, Chief, he’s got away. I’m sorry about it, but somehow or other he slipped through the cordon.”
Campbell shrugged. “I didn’t expect it to be that easy,” he said. “He can’t leave town, can he?”
“He’ll be damn clever if he does,” Hogarty said grimly. “The place is sewed up tight enough.”
“What about the other guys?”
“Two of them are dead, and Little Joe’s ready to squawk.”
Campbell nodded. “You better see he’s put somewhere where they can’t get at him,” he said. “What about Mrs. Perminger… she all right?”
“Yeah. We’ve got her out in the country. I’ve put three operators on to her and she’s got a woman to keep her company. She’ll be right on the spot when the guy comes to trial. Jeeze! Does she hate that fella?”
Campbell’s face hardened. “She’s got a lot of reasons for hatin’ him,” he said. “It beats me how she came through at all.”
Hogarty climbed to his feet. “Women are tough,” he said. “And when a dame hates like that Mrs. P., I’d sooner be a long way away from her.”
“What are you goin’ to do now?”
“Stick around. It takes time, Chief. If he’s run to ground we’ll have to wait for him. Sooner or later he’ll make a slip an’ then we’ll get him.”
“You’re sure the town’s sewed up?”
“It’s tight. Every road’s bein’ watched. The stations are looking out for him and the airport too. No, I guess he’ll have to stay out. It’s a pity he got away with all that dough. It makes things much easier when they’re broke.”
“All right, take Ellinger along with you. Get after him, Hogarty; we want quick results.”
Hogarty jerked his head to Ellinger. “Sure,” he said, and as they went out he winked at Jay. “Maybe he does want quick results, but he ain’t goin’ to get them,” he told Jay as they walked down the passage.
“Sometimes it takes months before a guy breaks from cover. We just have to wait.”
Jay followed him out into the crowded street.