The Black Hearts Murder Read Online Free PDF Page A

“Have a cigar, Mike?”
    â€œI’ve quit, thanks. But I still enjoy smelling the smoke of the other guy’s.”
    â€œNo point in my quitting,” the mayor said, biting off the end of a long green cigar. “Not at my age, after seventy years of addiction. Sit down, Mike, sit down.” He used his desk lighter, puffed until he was satisfied, and leaned back. The old eyes looked McCall over. “It’s this race business, isn’t it?” he asked abruptly.
    â€œYes, sir,” McCall said. “I assume you’ve heard about Harlan James not showing up in court this morning?”
    Mayor Potter nodded. “I didn’t catch the BOKO broadcast, but one of my aides did. I had my staff check the other area radio and TV stations, by the way. They all did receive the same letter and tape this morning, as advertised, only the others got theirs in the mail. BOKO was the only one to rate messenger delivery.”
    â€˜Isn’t that odd?”
    â€œNot really, Mike. The trial was scheduled to start at nine A.M. It so happens that the mail delivery schedules for the studios range from nine to ten. James must have wanted at least one station to have the letter and tape before the trial was due to begin, and the only way he could get it there in time was my messenger.”
    â€œBut why BOKO? Why not one of the TV stations, for example?”
    â€œBecause BOKO,” the old politico said dryly, “is the only station in this neck of the woods James could be sure would put his immortal words on the air. Don’t forget BOKO is owned by Gerry Horton, and anything inflammatory by a black man can only win Horton votes. The fact is, I’m told none of the other stations plan to air the tape. They’re just giving résumés of it on their regular newscasts.”
    â€œThe messenger hasn’t been identified?”
    The mayor shook his head. “I talked to Chief Condon. Nobody but the station manager, Cordes, saw the messenger. Aside from being positive the man wasn’t Harlan James himself, Cordes couldn’t give the police much of a description.”
    â€œAiring that speech of James’s seems to me pretty irresponsible policy,” McCall said, “especially the timing. It’s bound to increase the tension in town.”
    â€œOf course, Mike. As I said, the more race tension, the greater the appeal of Horton’s law-and-order pitch to the scared-to-death whites.”
    â€œIt’s a hell of a way to win an election!”
    â€œPolitical campaigns aren’t usually conducted on the highest ethical plateaus,” the mayor remarked. “And I doubt if Gerry Horton even knows the meaning of the word. Yes, Laurel?”
    The auburn-haired lovely’s alto came over the intercom: “Mr. Cunningham is on line one, Mr. Mayor. He says it’s important.”
    â€œExcuse me, Mike.” The old man picked up one of his three phones and punched a button. “Yes, Marsh?”
    His cottony brows came together in a frown as he listened. After a moment he took the cigar out of his mouth and barked, “If we had any doubts about the D.A.’s motives, this pretty well kicks them in the pants. Volper wants a riot, all right.… Oh? No, he wouldn’t listen to me. But Mike McCall’s in my office, and maybe he can do something. Thanks, Marsh.”
    Mayor Potter banged the phone and flipped his cigar ash angrily in the general direction of the tray. “That was one of my staff. He just got word our eager-beaver D.A.’s engineered a warrant for LeRoy Rawlings’s arrest on a conspiracy charge. This could do it, damn him.”
    â€œRawlings?” McCall searched his memory. Then he recalled where he had heard the name. Harlan James’s lawyer, Wade, had referred to LeRoy Rawlings as vice president of the Black Hearts and James’s closest friend.
    â€œConspiracy to do what?” McCall