went to bed?”
“Well, I went out for a beer just before turning in. At the Ship’s Cabin it was.”
“And what time did you leave this time?”
“Maybe around midnight. Maybe a little later.”
“And you went right home to Schofield’s?”
For a moment he hesitated, then, “Uh-huh.”
“Anybody see you come in?”
“No, why should they? I got my own key.”
“All right. What time did you come to work this morning?”
“Same as always. A little before seven.”
“And what did you do?”
“They have a service here at half-past seven in the chapel. So I put on the lights and open a couple of windows to kind of air the place out. Then I set about my regular work, which this time of year it’s mostly working on the lawn. I been raking up grass clippings mostly. I started yesterday working on the Maple Street side. So I started where I left off and gradually worked my way around the back of the building and then around to the other side. That’s when I saw the girl. They were just coming out of the service and getting in their cars when I spotted her up against the brick wall. I walked over and I could see she was dead. I looked over the wall and Mr. Musinsky he’s a regular, I mean he conies every morning he hadn’t got in his car yet, so I hailed him. He took a look and then went right back into the temple to call you people.”
“Did you notice the rabbi’s car when you arrived this morning?”
“Oh sure.”
“Surprised?”
“Not particularly. I figured he had come for morning prayers and had just got there early. When I saw he wasn’t in the chapel, I figured he was in his study.”
“You didn’t go up to look?”
“No, what would I do that for?”
“All right.” Lanigan rose and Stanley did likewise. The police chief strode out into the corridor with Stanley right behind him. He turned his head and said matter-of-factly, “You recognized the girl, of course.”
“No,” Stanley said quickly.
Lanigan turned around to face him. “You mean you never saw her before?”
“You mean this girl that was ”
“What other girl are we talking about?” asked Lanigan coldly.
“Well, working around the temple here, naturally I see a tot of people. Yes, I seen her around. I mean, I’ve seen her walking with those two little dago kids she takes care of.”
“Did you know her?”
“I just said I seen her.” Stanley sounded exasperated
“Did you ever make a pass at her?”
“Why would I do that?” demanded Stanley.
“Because you’re as horny as a mink.”
“Well, I didn’t.”
“Ever talk to her?”
Stanley drew a dirty handkerchief from a pocket of his dungarees and began to mop his forehead.
“What’s the matter, feeling warm?”
Stanley exploded. “Goddammit, Hugh, you’re trying to get me tied up in this. Sure I talked to her. I’m standing around and a young chick comes along with a couple of kids in tow and one of them starts pulling at the shrubbery, naturally I’m going to speak up.”
“Naturally.”
“But I never went out with her or anything.”
“Never showed her that little pigpen you’ve got down in the basement?”
“Just, Hello or It’s a nice morning, isn’t it?” said Stanley doggedly. “And half the time, she never even answered.”
“I can imagine. All right, how did you know the kids were Italian?”
“Because I seen them with their father, Serafino, and I knew him because I once did some work on his house “
“When was this?”
“When did I see him? A couple or three days ago maybe. He drove up in his convertible and he sees the girl and the kids and he asks do they want their daddy should get them some ice cream. Then they all pile into the front seat, the girl and then the kids fighting about who was going to sit next to the door, and the girl wiggling over to make room and the old man kind of arsing her. Disgusting.”
“Disgusting because it wasn’t you?”
“Well, at least I’m free and not a
“Well, I went out for a beer just before turning in. At the Ship’s Cabin it was.”
“And what time did you leave this time?”
“Maybe around midnight. Maybe a little later.”
“And you went right home to Schofield’s?”
For a moment he hesitated, then, “Uh-huh.”
“Anybody see you come in?”
“No, why should they? I got my own key.”
“All right. What time did you come to work this morning?”
“Same as always. A little before seven.”
“And what did you do?”
“They have a service here at half-past seven in the chapel. So I put on the lights and open a couple of windows to kind of air the place out. Then I set about my regular work, which this time of year it’s mostly working on the lawn. I been raking up grass clippings mostly. I started yesterday working on the Maple Street side. So I started where I left off and gradually worked my way around the back of the building and then around to the other side. That’s when I saw the girl. They were just coming out of the service and getting in their cars when I spotted her up against the brick wall. I walked over and I could see she was dead. I looked over the wall and Mr. Musinsky he’s a regular, I mean he conies every morning he hadn’t got in his car yet, so I hailed him. He took a look and then went right back into the temple to call you people.”
“Did you notice the rabbi’s car when you arrived this morning?”
“Oh sure.”
“Surprised?”
“Not particularly. I figured he had come for morning prayers and had just got there early. When I saw he wasn’t in the chapel, I figured he was in his study.”
“You didn’t go up to look?”
“No, what would I do that for?”
“All right.” Lanigan rose and Stanley did likewise. The police chief strode out into the corridor with Stanley right behind him. He turned his head and said matter-of-factly, “You recognized the girl, of course.”
“No,” Stanley said quickly.
Lanigan turned around to face him. “You mean you never saw her before?”
“You mean this girl that was ”
“What other girl are we talking about?” asked Lanigan coldly.
“Well, working around the temple here, naturally I see a tot of people. Yes, I seen her around. I mean, I’ve seen her walking with those two little dago kids she takes care of.”
“Did you know her?”
“I just said I seen her.” Stanley sounded exasperated
“Did you ever make a pass at her?”
“Why would I do that?” demanded Stanley.
“Because you’re as horny as a mink.”
“Well, I didn’t.”
“Ever talk to her?”
Stanley drew a dirty handkerchief from a pocket of his dungarees and began to mop his forehead.
“What’s the matter, feeling warm?”
Stanley exploded. “Goddammit, Hugh, you’re trying to get me tied up in this. Sure I talked to her. I’m standing around and a young chick comes along with a couple of kids in tow and one of them starts pulling at the shrubbery, naturally I’m going to speak up.”
“Naturally.”
“But I never went out with her or anything.”
“Never showed her that little pigpen you’ve got down in the basement?”
“Just, Hello or It’s a nice morning, isn’t it?” said Stanley doggedly. “And half the time, she never even answered.”
“I can imagine. All right, how did you know the kids were Italian?”
“Because I seen them with their father, Serafino, and I knew him because I once did some work on his house “
“When was this?”
“When did I see him? A couple or three days ago maybe. He drove up in his convertible and he sees the girl and the kids and he asks do they want their daddy should get them some ice cream. Then they all pile into the front seat, the girl and then the kids fighting about who was going to sit next to the door, and the girl wiggling over to make room and the old man kind of arsing her. Disgusting.”
“Disgusting because it wasn’t you?”
“Well, at least I’m free and not a
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