Reeve ignored Elrick. He was studying the body, looking up and down the alley, and running his hands along the dreary gray wood that walled the alley. Then he whirled and pointed a long finger at Herbie.
“Who are you?”
“Leave him alone,” Elrick said. “His name’s Herbie and he sells papers. I was on the corner talkin’ to him when the kids came up. Besides, Reeve, you’re just wasting time. I know who killed the guy.”
“Oh, you do, do you?” Reeve said unsweetly.
“Sure.” Elrick smiled. He leaned back on his heels and purred, “I wonder how I’ll look in a nice tan worsted suit, a clean white shirt and a snappy tie?”
“You’ll still look like a big fat dummy,” Reeve said.
Again it was necessary for the three other cops to step in...
Headquarters decided to give Elrick a break. He was practically on his knees, begging them to let him follow up his leads. Within twenty-four hours he promised to bring in the murderer of Jimmie Renzelli. And he insisted that because of the peculiarities surrounding the case, he must go at this task alone. Finally he got what he wanted. Headquarters told Elrick to go out and see what he could do.
In the outside office Reeve was sitting on the edge of a desk, wise-cracking with a few reporters. The detective looked Elrick up and down. “Well, at least you’re taking it with a smile,” Reeve said. “You really didn’t expect them to let you handle it, did you?”
The smile on Elrick’s features took on a decided subtlety.