William Bernhardt - Nemesis - The Final Case of Eliot Ness

“Is that what you think? Or your police crony?”

“That’s what I think. The detective thinks you like to have sex with victims and corpses.”

“And you disagree?”

“I don’t think a total madman could pull off what the Torso Killer has done and get away with it. The Mad Butcher may be a murderer, but he is also smart.”

“And you don’t think it’s possible for a man to be smart and crazy?”

“I’ve visited lunatic asylums. That’s not what I saw.”

“Maybe the Torso Killer is something new. Something special.”

“In my experience, every crook thinks he’s something special. But they still get caught eventually.”

“Exactly my point. You caught them. But not the Mad Butcher. What’s the difference?”

“Why don’t you tell me?”

“I’m sure I don’t know.”

“We’ve taken your prints. We’re running tests on your clothes. We’re going to search your room at the Home. We have science on our side.”

“Oh, my. Well, if you have science, you’ll undoubtedly catch your killer. I’m surprised you didn’t catch him ten victims ago. Or perhaps more.”

“Have there been more? Some we haven’t discovered yet?”

His sickening smile intensified. “How would I know?”

“Are you the Mad Butcher?”

“I told you already. I’m Gaylord Sundheim.” He shrugged his shoulders and grinned like the Cheshire cat.

Merylo wanted to hit him so badly he could taste it.

After three hours of questioning, all of it unproductive, Ness agreed to take a break. Zalewski went out for sandwiches. Merylo went downtown to visit a judge he knew, told him discreetly what was happening, got a warrant, and searched Dr. Sweeney’s room at the Sailors’ Home with a man from the forensics lab.

They found nothing. No knives, no traces of victim’s clothing, no heads, no blood. Merylo assumed Sweeney didn’t bring his victims back here, but he had hoped to at least find a bloodstained knife. No such luck.

He didn’t know why Ness had changed his mind about interrogating Sweeney, but he did realize that Ness had climbed out on a very shaky branch and if the limb broke, Merylo would likely be the scapegoat. This suspect had no priors, no criminal record of any kind. He was related to a Democratic congressman and perhaps worst of all, he was a physician-someone investigators had repeatedly refused to believe could commit these crimes. If they didn’t get something out of the interrogation, this could turn very bad, very quickly.

As soon as everyone returned to the hotel room, the questioning resumed.

“Am I correct in my belief,” Ness asked, “that since you lost your job at the hospital, your cousin the congressman has been supporting you?”

“A man’s got to eat.”

“That’s why most men work.”

“I’ve had some problems.”

“Are you talking about the booze? Or something else?”

“I am rather fond of a drink. Every now and then.” The suspect’s eyes burned toward Ness’s. “You’ve known the comfort that comes from a bottle yourself on occasion, haven’t you?”

Ness’s forehead creased. “Are you joking? Me?”

“The self-righteous often have the most to hide.”

“Let’s get this conversation back on track. Why is your cousin supporting you?”

“I lost my position. And my license. You know that.”

“Why are you staying at the Sailors’ Home?”

“I believe the thinking was that the good woman running the place might be able to help me.”

“Was she?”

“No. Problem is, she wants to help me in a way that doesn’t interest me. She’s a very energetic woman for her age.”

“Why don’t you move?”

“A deal was brokered. I have to remain at the Home, at least for now. My dear cousin was able to avoid a great deal of trouble by telling the folks at the hospital that I had been institutionalized.”

“But Detective Merylo tells me you’re free to leave whenever you please.”

“Shhh!”

“And Mrs. McGovern says you sometimes disappear for days.”

“A man’s got to have some fun every now and then.”

“So what do you do when you’re having fun?”

“Haven’t you ever wanted to cut loose, Mr. Ness?”

“Funny you should use the word ‘cut.’ ”

“Nothing funny about it.”

Ness pushed himself out of his chair and began pacing, wringing his hands. “You were fired by the hospital administrative staff.”

“Busybodies.”

“What did you do?”

“Didn’t they tell you?”

“No. They said it was confidential. Involved doctor-patient confidences.”

“How deliciously unhelpful of them.”

Ness’s lips thinned. His face flushed. Merylo thought he was becoming visibly frustrated and angry. “Why do I get the impression you’re not taking this seriously?”

“Possibly because I’m not.”

“You should. Do you understand why you’re here?”

“Apparently you think I’m the Torso Murderer.”

“I have a lot of evidence that tells me you’re the Torso Murderer.”

“Then I guess it must be so.”

The room fell dead silent. Ness and Merylo exchanged an uncertain look.

Ness leaned in close. “Did you just confess?”

“All I did was agree with what you said. I’m sure you wouldn’t mislead me. If you say you have evidence, you must have evidence.”

“I do.”

“May I see it?”

“No.”

“Have I been charged?”

“Not yet.”

“If you have so much evidence, why haven’t I been charged?”

“That’s really none of your business.”

“Am I under arrest?”

“No.”

“Well now, this is perplexing. All this evidence against me, but you haven’t arrested me or even charged me. Does my cousin know I’m here?”

“No.”

“When he finds out, this party will end. You’ll be lucky to keep your job.”

“Is that a threat?”

“I’m just saying. Maybe the smartest thing would be to call him now. Offer to turn me over to his custody. Apologize for the inconvenience.”

“You really must be crazy.”

“How will you explain keeping me prisoner when you’re not prepared to proffer charges?”

“I like to take things slow and careful.”

“Ah. Is it entirely legal to hold a man against his will for several days without charging him or arresting him?”

Ness did not reply. A phone rang. Chamberlin took the call. A few moments later, he turned on the tabletop radio, but kept it down low.

“This is all very strange,” the suspect continued. “Perhaps I should have gone to law school rather than medical school. I think I’d like to retain a lawyer.”

“You don’t need a lawyer. You need to tell me the truth.”

“I’m done talking to you. You’re no fun.”

Ness’s face tensed up so much Merylo thought he might explode. “Have you been sending me those postcards?”

Merylo’s lips parted. What?

“Why would I send you postcards? I haven’t been on vacation.”

“Did you?”

“Is sending postcards illegal?”

“Trying to interfere with an ongoing investigation is illegal. Threatening law enforcement personnel and their families is illegal.”

“Did any of those postcards actually threaten you?”

Ness’s eyes narrowed. “You did send them.”

“And even if I did, would that prove I was the Torso Killer?”

“Why did you send them to me?”

“You might as well ask why someone would kill and dismember ten people.”

“Okay, why?”

“I can’t imagine.”

“I know a doctor who thinks this has to do with a warped childhood. That you get some kind of… gratification out of killing.”