William Bernhardt - Nemesis - The Final Case of Eliot Ness

“Surely you can explain that there is no monster, only one ruthless lawbreaker who is being aggressively hunted by skilled and capable detectives with-”

“Do you have any children?” the woman shot back.

Ness’s neck stiffened. “Well-no.”

“I didn’t think so. If you did, you wouldn’t be worrying about booze and blackjack players. You’d be hunting this madman!”

A rousing cry followed, and after that there were so many people talking at once Ness couldn’t even make out what they were saying. The press conference had descended into chaos. He wanted to blame the reporters; they were being blatantly unfair. But when he looked into their eyes, he didn’t see spite or anger. He saw fear. And Congressman Sweeney was effectively exploiting that fear.

Ness might never come near the Torso Killer, but at this rate, there was a good chance he could become the killer’s next victim.

“Please,” Ness said, trying to quell the outrage. Out the corner of his eye, he saw Chamberlin hovering at the fringe, wondering if he should intervene and make some excuse to get Ness out of this mess. The press would see through that, though. They would perceive it as cowardice. And they would be right. He had to do something to turn the tide.

“Please. If I could just say a few words.” In this rare instance, Ness raised his voice several notches. “Please!”

Eventually, the noise of the crowd diminished to a degree that would permit him to speak. “I understand your concern. I truly do. But these other problems have been plaguing Cleveland for a long time, and they will continue to do so unless we adopt the vigorous plans I have outlined. We must build on the progress we have already made.”

He drew in his breath and proceeded quickly, before the mob had a chance to start bellowing again. “But I also understand that fear can be a dangerous thing. Whether rational or not. And as safety director, it is my sworn duty to tackle the dangers in our city and to try to eradicate them.”

He laid his hands flat on the lectern. “Therefore, as of this moment, I hereby announce that I am personally taking charge of the torso murder investigation.”

The reporters cheered. They actually cheered. The faces in the crowd smiled. The pencils flew.

Only Congressman Sweeney’s face seemed inscrutable. “With the mayor’s permission, and the cooperation of the police department, I will make this case my number one priority. I will become personally involved in this investigation. I will make sure every child can walk to school without fearing for their safety. I will put an end to these murders once and for all.”

He leaned back, finally feeling his heartbeat subsiding. “And then we can all relax and go back to tackling the fundamental problems preventing this city from reaching its fullest potential.”

There was a spattering of applause, none of it from Sweeney or the blond woman who Ness was certain was aligned with him. Ness thanked them all and raced back up the steps as quickly as he could- without making it obvious that he wanted to get far away as fast as possible.

He removed the handkerchief from his lapel pocket. He was dripping with perspiration. He had walked up to the door of The Harvard Club alone and not even felt his heart race. He had faced down a clan of moonshiners and never blinked. But these reporters and one congressman had made him sweat like a dog in the desert.

“Don’t say it,” Ness said as Chamberlin joined him on the front steps.

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” he replied, pushing his glasses up his nose. “Too obvious. Besides, I like my job.”

“Do you think I saved it? At the end?”

Chamberlin didn’t answer.

“They cheered? Did you hear that? They cheered. So that means I saved it. Right?”

Chamberlin took so long to respond it made Ness’s skin crawl. “That depends upon whether you catch the murderer.”

“Surely it’s just a matter of time. But if they’d hammered me in the press, I’d never get the funding I need for the Boys Clubs. Or the police academy. It was all going down the tubes. So I saved myself. Right?”

Chamberlin tilted his head to one side. “You either saved yourself,” he said quietly, “or crucified yourself.”

At last. A challenger.

The famed Eliot Ness was coming after him. It was flattering, really. A compliment. Cleveland was sending the best it had to offer.

A voice came to him through the bedroom door. “Sir? We have breakfast ready.”

“Thank you, ma’am. I believe I will be going out this morning.”

There was a brief silence. Her disapproval was impossible to miss. “Will you be gone long?”

“I really don’t know.”

“You know, I’m charged with the responsibility of keeping an eye on you. Making sure you don’t have any… bad actions.”

“I assure you I will do nothing to bring shame on this lovely home, Mrs. McGovern.”

“And the drinking…?”

“I will avoid strong spirits. I have work to do.”

“Sir, I know you still drink.”

“Not to excess.”

“I’ve seen it in your room.”

“Why have you been in my room?”

“It is my charge here, sir.”

“Just a little sip now and again. Just enough to get me through the night.”

“But if you leave-”

“I will behave myself.”

A longer pause ensued. “Just as you say, sir.”

“Thank you, ma’am. You are a kind and generous woman.”

The radio report had ended, but the words still lingered in his brain even as he walked outside and headed toward Shantytown. He would have to show them that he was unafraid. And after only a few minutes in Shantytown, he believed he had spotted someone who could help him do that.

“I just thought you might need a place to spend the night, my dear.”

“ Harvey said-”

“Do you want to sleep in a cardboard box?”

“No, but the choices-”

“That man will be pawing at you. Trying to compromise your virtue.”

Her head hung low. “I know.”

“I’m offering you something better.”

“Why?”

“Because I care about you.”

She laughed, much too loudly. Too boisterously. “You don’t even know me.”

“I know more than you can imagine. I think I know everything that matters. Did you know my girl Flo?”

“Flo Polillo? Course I did. Everyone knew Flo.”

“She was a friend.”

“Did you hear what happened to her?”

“Yes.”

“Horrible.”

“Indeed.”

“Being all cut up like that.”

“Disgraceful. Now come along, dear. I’ll take you somewhere safe.”

How much time before he would be missed? How much time to indulge himself? Was it possible to give too much time to his soul?

She was so numbed by the cold and the booze that she barely even noticed when he tied her up. She had not felt anything-until he swung the axe.

It left him feeling strangely unsatisfied.

He definitely needed a new challenge. A challenger. And now he knew who that would be.

Merylo slammed the man in the sailor’s cap up against the wall, hard enough to rattle the hanging pictures and knock two of them to the ground. “Do you know who I am?” he bellowed.

The sailor was taller than Merylo, bulkier, and by all appearances, stronger. And he was terrified. “Sure, mac, sure. I know who you are. Everybody knows you.”

“Who am I?”

“You’re the man. The Bulldog. The guy everybody’s talkin’ about.”

“Yeah?” Merylo tightened his grip on the man’s lapel. “And what are they saying?”

“They’re sayin’ you’re like a crazy man. Like you’re plowin’ through the docks, knockin’ heads together, mowin’ down everyone in your way.”