Motley was Howard’s brother-in-law, the only reason why he remained Captain of Police.
When Howard first took over office, Motley realized his own job was in jeopardy. Motley had no interest in the police force. He was a racing man, but his position was a useful one and he had no intention of losing it. He was a judge of character, and it didn’t take him long to discover Howard’s weakness for young, attractive girls.
Gloria, Motley’s kid sister, was young and more than attractive. Motley had had little difficulty in persuading her to show off her charms before Howard.
Within a month Howard had married her, realizing when it was too late that the Captain of Police he planned to get rid of was now his brother-inlaw.
From that time on Motley was sacrosanct. Howard quickly found that if
he put any kind of pressure on Motley, he was promptly shut out of his wife’s room. So long as he let Motley alone, Gloria performed her wifely duties. Crazy about this vivacious, beautiful girl, he had now accepted the position and had taken the line of least resistance.
Adams sitting opposite the Commissioner, was aware of these facts. He knew Motley was useless, as a police captain, and he knew, if Motley went, he himself would be the automatic choice to replace him. For months now he had been patiently waiting his opportunity to get rid of both Motley and Donovan. He had discovered, however, that it would need a major political explosion to blast Motley out of office, and even now, while he listened to Howard talking, his mind was trying to find a way to use Fay Carson’s death as the spark to touch off the explosion.
“I want this cracked and cracked fast!” Howard was saying, in a soft furious voice. He looked across at Motley. “Get every man working on it! We’ve got to nab this killer! A house full of prostitutes! You told me there wasn’t a call-house in town.”
Motley smiled, showing tobacco-stained teeth.
“There are always call-houses,” he said. “We shut them up and they open again.”