Nemesis: The Final Case of Eliot Ness Read Online Free PDF

would a Fed like you want to get involved in a city's dirty problems? Mobsters, murder, prostitution-seems like it never ends. You can't win. This city never runs out of criminals."
    "I think you're wrong about that." He moved on down the steps and tossed his study materials into the backseat of his car. "This is the best time ever to be in law enforcement. Science is on our side. The FBI has developed the greatest crime lab in the world, and they're showing the rest of us how it can be done. Cleveland has a first-rate Bertillon department. Top-notch forensic coroner. We're learning more every day about blood types and fingerprints and bodily fluids. It won't be long until we see an end to these problems that have plagued society since its inception. I think it will happen in our lifetime. Crime will become a thing of the past."

6
    First night on the job, and Ness was already enjoying the luxuries of his new position. He'd been appointed a driver! He didn't have to motor himself, not even to take his wife out to dinner. Not that he minded driving-in fact, he rather enjoyed it. But that beat-up Ford, though it might be all he could afford on a Treasury agent's salary, was starting to look a little shabby. Didn't really fit the image of the dynamic new safety director.
    When they'd arrived at one of Cleveland 's swankiest downtown restaurants, the maitre d' recognized Ness and gave him the best seat in the joint. This was a great job. Absolutely great.
    "I tell you, Edna-they were eating out of my hands."
    "I'm sure they were."
    "This safety director business could be something terrific. Might lead to something really special."
    "I would've thought it was already something special."
    "You know what I mean, Edna. The FBI."
    "Eliot-why would you want to be some podunk FBI agent, working under Hoover 's thumb, watching him take all the glory?"
    "It's what I've always wanted, Edna. You know that. Ever since I was a kid."
    "I think you've done all right for yourself without J. Edgar Hoover's help."
    He leaned a little closer to her. "So you're happy for me? For us? Doesn't this job sound terrific?"
    Her lips pursed. "I think it sounds like a good excuse to stay away from home all day long."
    Ness stopped. The smile faded from his face. "Can't you be happy for me?"
    "I can't change how I feel, Eliot. I would've told you that when the job was offered. If you'd asked me. Before you accepted." She made a minute adjustment to the lie of her hat, a black felt pillbox pinned to her brunette hair. "You did it anyway."
    "It's a great job."
    "It's a loser. For losers."
    "What?"
    "I've asked around. No one who ever held this job came out looking good. No matter what you do, there will always be people complaining that you haven't done enough."
    "Just give me a chance."
    "Isn't that what I've been doing? All these years?" Edna's voice was thin and strained. She was a pretty woman, had been, since they'd first met as children. They'd gone to the same elementary school, though they didn't see each other for many years afterward, until Ness spotted her working as a secretary for Alexander Jamie. He thought she was beautiful, with her dark hair cut short in the current fashion, light blue eyes, delicate heart-shaped face. Somehow he had summoned up the courage to ask her out to dinner, something that turned out to be harder than facing down Capone. But it was worth the effort. They'd been together ever since. "And what has it gotten me? A lonely lake house and an absentee husband."
    "I put a lot of money into that house. Money I couldn't really afford to spend. Because I wanted to make you happy."
    "Or was it because you wanted to hide me away, far from everyone and everything?"
    "That's nonsense. You're just trying to spoil my-"
    "Are you listening to me at all, Eliot? I'm lonely!" Her blue eyes fairly bulged and her voice hit such a volume that she instinctively looked around to see if any of the diners at other tables had noticed. "I'm stuck out