William Bernhardt - Nemesis - The Final Case of Eliot Ness

Chief Matowitz closed the door behind them.

“What do you think?” Ness said quietly, after they were gone.

“About what?” Merylo grunted.

“You think he’s the killer?”

Merylo hesitated. “The only thing I’m sure about is this: You haven’t heard the end of this business.”

“I want Sweeney followed.”

“I can’t do that. You heard the chief.”

“You work for me.”

“I can’t go against the chief. ’Sides, his cousin will keep him under wraps, at least for a while. You need to prepare for whatever else the congressman may do.”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know,” Merylo said quietly. “But it won’t be pretty.”

From the August 16, 1938, Cleveland News:

“… but so far all attempts to verify Mr. Winchell’s story have been unavailing. Given the man’s enormous reputation as a reporter, and the fact that he has a wider range of sources than any journalist in this country, this paper believes there must be some truth to the report. The safety director has refused to comment, other than to say that he is not prepared to make an arrest at this time. “Congressman Sweeney was willing to talk with reporters. He said that this is simply more evidence of the safety director’s unfitness to lead this investigation and his increasing desperation to preserve his overstated reputation. According to Sweeney, the safety director might well resort to desperate measures in order to close this investigation or to stifle the voices of critics such as himself. According to this elected official, Cleveland will never be safe until the investigation is put in the hands of more experienced and reliable…”

– -

“I’m telling you, Eliot. It doesn’t look good.”

The Banker stood in Ness ’s office. He wouldn’t sit. He paced. He was obviously nervous about being here, where he might be seen, during the daylight hours.

“We were following up a valid lead.”

“I don’t care. It stinks to high heaven.”

“I can’t help it that the suspect happens to be related to some political muckety-muck.”

“That isn’t the problem and you know it. The problem is that Sweeney has been an outspoken critic of you. Probably your most vocal opponent. And now you turn around and investigate his cousin.”

“That had nothing to do with it.”

“And the louder you say that, the more the press will suggest that it did. So will most of their readers.”

“I don’t believe that. I’ve always had a good relationship with the press.”

“Oh, Eliot, how naïve can you possibly be?” The Banker pressed his hand against his forehead. “No one has a good relationship with the press. They’ll be friendly if there’s a story in it, sure. And they’ll turn on you in a heartbeat, if there’s a story in it. Their only allegiance is to the headline.”

“I’ve made plenty of those for them.”

“Which is exactly the problem. In a very real way, you’ve brought this on yourself.”

Ness rose to his feet, his face uncomprehending. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying this is your own fault. You courted the press. You used them to make your name, both in Chicago and here. You gave yourself a high profile. If you were less known, there would be no story. But when a shadow falls on the famed gangbuster, the press circle like vultures.”

“I never courted the press. They always came to me.”

“Let’s not play word games, Eliot. I warned you a long time ago that you had no head for politics. And now politics are going to eat you alive.”

“It’s this blasted investigation that’s eating me. I never wanted it. I tried to avoid it.”

“Did you, Eliot? Did you really? Wasn’t there even some small part of you that said, Hey, I nabbed Capone. I can bring in this murderer, too?”

“No.”

“Did you envision the headlines? The accolades? NESS SAVES CITY FROM THE MAD BUTCHER. That had to be tempting.”

“You’re totally wrong.”

“Maybe you aren’t content with the Office of the Safety Director. Maybe you saw this as your ticket to greater things. Maybe you fancied a run for mayor.”

“You’re barking up the wrong tree.”

“Doesn’t matter. The important thing is that you drop this business with Sweeney’s cousin.”

“I’ve already released him. I don’t even know where he is. His lawyer seems to have spirited him away.”

“I think it would be best if you offered Congressman Sweeney a formal apology.”

“What?”

“I’m not the only one who thinks so. I’ve talked to the others and they agree.”

Ness fell back into his chair. “I don’t believe it. You want me to apologize to that man? After everything he’s done and said?”

“Doesn’t have to be anything formal. Definitely don’t put anything down on paper. Just call the man up. Scratch his ears a little bit. Might do more than just smooth over this current kerfuffle. Might work to your advantage in the long run.” He paused. “Especially if you have political ambitions.”

“I will not apologize to that blowhard.”

“Eliot.” The Banker leaned against the edge of Ness’s desk. “Maybe I need to make myself clearer. This is not merely a request. This is something we want you to do.”

“Are you giving me an order?”

“We’re asking for a favor. After all we’ve given you-our support, our money-it seems little enough to give us in return.”

“I’m sorry. I won’t do it. For all I know, Sweeney’s cousin really is the killer.”

The Banker sighed heavily, shaking his head. “Then I’m sorry, Eliot. If that’s the way you’re going to be about it-I’m afraid this is the end of the Unknowns. We’re not going to continue to fund an operation that might prove… embarrassing.”

“You’re scared of Sweeney?”

“We’re businessmen, Eliot. Businessmen during the hardest economic crisis this nation has ever faced. We can’t afford to get on the wrong side of a congressman.”

“I don’t believe it.”

“Doesn’t look to me as if our money has accomplished much anyway. Your man is no closer to solving this case than you are. Nothing personal, Eliot-but I think you should have stayed at the Treasury Department.”

“The mayor hired me to clean up this city.”

“The mayor hired you because he thought he would get favorable coverage and it would fulfill his promise to be a Reform mayor. But he’s been distancing himself, Eliot.”

“What?”

“Surely you’ve noticed. If you’d brought in the killer, fine, he’d reclaim you as his own. But you haven’t.” He shook his head. “If I were you, I’d start looking for another job. Before it’s a necessity.”

“I got rid of the crooked cops, the labor racketeers. Brought juvenile crime down to nearly nothing. Reduced traffic fatalities to a tenth what they were. I have been a good safety director!”

“But that isn’t the point, is it? When are you going to see that? You’re only as good as your last success. And one mistake can erase everything.”

Ness’s fists clenched. “I have done all I could think of to solve this case.”

“Maybe so.” The Banker took his hat off the rack. “But as long as people keep on dying, that’s not going to be enough.”

The Banker left the office without saying another word.

Ness grabbed the phone, furious. The Banker thought he could be fired, after all he’d done? Ridiculous. He’d been a huge plus to the mayor’s administration. Accomplished more than all the previous safety directors combined. And he was still following up leads on the Torso Killer. It was only a matter of time…

The operator connected him with the mayor’s office.