Murder Straight Up

27

Edelman wore his big crepe-soled shoes.

Another homicide man was actually handling the case, Edelman not actually being on duty tonight, but he came in with his gloomy officiousness, and when he saw me he came over and did exactly the right thing, put his arm around me and said, “You look pretty bad, kiddo.”

“I feel pretty bad.” Then I said, “Your wife told me about your high blood pressure.”

“I’ll be all right.”

“I worry about you, Edelman, you crazy bastard. I really worry about you.”

“Yeah, well,” he said, “I worry about you, too.” Then he grinned. “Was it you who worked over Fitzgerald?”

“Yeah.”

“You did nice work.” Then he smiled and went away again.