Ed McBain's 87th Precinct: Ice

Hey baby, hey...

Over here.

That'’s it, I'm going home.

Hey baby.

I'’ve never seen anything so slow.

Six and a half hours and all I got was

two of my regulars, and some guy

who rolled down his window and asked for directions.

Ooh, I'’ve got a chill baby.

You want to warm me up?

Paco?

911

Yeah, get the police.

And, clear please.

Going into one fall, one fall.

That'’s it for the ladies.

I got a run in my stocking.

It was terrible, it was terrible.

Hi.

Hey, where you going?

I'’ll be back in a minute.

Okay, well, bundle up. It'’s cold.

Huh!

Call 911!

What do we got?COP: Name'’s Sully Anderson

Prettiest girl I'’ve ever seen, dead.

Still in her costume.

Why'’s she out here doing her show?

You were meeting somebody, weren'’t you?

Someone you didn'’t want coming backstage.

You know, some day one of these stiffs is going to get up and answer you.

Anybody see anything?

Nothing.

Some of the other cast members are waiting inside.

Okay boys, let'’s get that gurney in here and get her out of here.

That'’s them, right?CARELLA: Yeah.

Hi, my name is Meyer. This is Detective Carella.

Uh, I can'’t believe it. I can'’t believe it.

Why would anyone want to hurt Sally?

So you don'’t have any idea who did this?

No, everybody liked her.

Not everybody.

Want to show us her dressing room?

There was a guy,

hanging around the backstage doors.

And she told me that he followed her a couple of times.

Did you ever see him?

Yeah. He'’s tall, dark,

very thin. Crazy eyes.

We need you to come down to the precinct.

Look at some pictures. See if you can ID. this guy.

Come over here for a second. I want to talk to you.

Was she in any kind of trouble? I need to know.

None.

Why are you looking at me like that?CARELLA: Like what?

Like I'’m lying.

It'’s my natural expression.

She sat right down there.

Right beside me.

She was always laughing.

Which one'’s her locker?

That one right there.

Did Sally have a boyfriend?

Yeah, Tim Moore. He'’s a med student.

This guy?

Uh-huh.

They live together.

Anybody contact him?

No.

We'’ll take care of it.

You know, there'’s always guys hanging around here.

They'’re usually harmless.

Not this time.

Think she'’s as sweet as everybody says she was.

Is anybody?

You have a very negative attitude,

do you know that?

You'’ve noticed?

It'’s hard to believe nobody heard anything.

Must'’ve been a good show.

Yeah, 11:38.

Copy that.

I live in Brooklyn. You know that'’s a long way away.

Thank you. Anyway you can help me?

You forget your key Sal?

Tim Moore?TIM: Yeah.

This is Detective Carella. My name is Meyer.

Can we come in?

Yeah, sure.

Would you mind turning that down a little bit?

Did the uh... neighbors complain about the music again?

I get so used to it, I don'’t even realize.

Thanks.

How long have you been home?

All night.

What'’s this about?

I'’m afraid we have some bad news.

Sally Anderson was killed tonight.

Around 9:15.

No!

There must be some sort of mistake. You see, that couldn'’t happen.

She'’d be on stage at the show.

It happened in the alley behind the theater.

She was murdered.

Can you help us out? Do you know of anyone who could'’ve done this?

She was complaining about this freak,

who was hanging around the stage door...

trying to talk to her.

Yeah, we know about him.

It was really starting to scare her, you know.

If she was afraid of him, why would she go outside to meet him?

Who said she was going out to meet somebody?

I do.

I hadn'’t been spending enough time with her lately.

I was so busy getting ready for finals.

I had so much catching up to do and now, it'’s for nothing.

Did you have any visitors? Talk to anyone tonight?

I was back and forth on the phone with Karl.

We'’re studying for the same final.

Karl who?

Karl Loeb ah...

L-O-E-B.

555-0164.

We must'’ve talked about a dozen times.

When can I see her?

We'’ll let you know,

as soon as the medical examiner releases the body.

Tim, this is uh... my card.

When you'’re feeling up to it, give me a call, we'’ll get together.

Yeah.

I'’m sorry.

So why don'’t you trust him?

When was the last time anyone told us the entire truth?

Yeah, well, his alibi is going to check out. He knows we'’ll verify it.

So we wait a couple of days. We bring him in.

And then we really get to know him.

I was hanging out there, that'’s all.

Oh, man, we caught you with your hand in the cookie jar okay!

You can do this song and dance as long as you like, alright.

Right over here.

You'’re crazy. Who's going to pay good money to be with a woman in my condition?

Maybe that'’s a turn on on to some guys.

Look, it'’s my ninth month.

The gypsy says it'’s going to be a girl.

You'’ll probably have her walking the streets in a few years.

You shouldn'’t say that mister.

Nothing like that is ever going to happen to her. She will never have that kind of life.

Hey, Andy.PARKER: What?

Why don'’t you give her a break? Either write her up Or, let her go.

Hey, Kling, what do you think? Should I let her walk?

Whatever.

Morning. Okay how'’s this?

Tell me about Tim.

When I get stuck I call Tim. He usually knows the answers.

And a couple of times he called me.

What'’s that mean? A couple?

I... really couldn'’t tell you.

After eight Or, nine hours of studying, I get kind of punchy.

I even called him a couple of times just so I wouldn'’t fall asleep.

Maybe you did fall asleep for a while. Lost track of time?

No, I use coffee to keep me up. And he'’s got that damn music.

Did you know Sally?

He didn'’t tell you? I went out with her before he did.

I mean it'’s not like I got anywhere with her but...

Yeah, I know. She was just an old fashioned girl.

Hey Kling, meet Detective Burke from Special Forces.

She'’s been assigned to give us a hand staking out the laundromats.

Nice change of pace, actually.

Usually the perp is out to rape me. This guy only wants to steal my panties.

Oh, no-no-no-no he'’ll take your watch and your wallet first.

That'’s his business. The panties are just pleasure.

Mm-hmm.

Yeah, he'’s hit five laundromats in a row. We think we got a pattern established.

Always a Monday Or, a Tuesday night.

This is probably our best shot, here.

Uh, I'’m done with it. You might enjoy it.

What was that all about?

Model on the front cover is Kling'’s ex-wife.

He can'’t pick up a magazine or, look at a commercial without seeing her face.

Aah! My water broke.

No, no! I can'’t walk.

Rapid, rapid contractions.

Rapid... rapid...

Help me get her in the car.

Yeah, this is Meyer. Get a doctor, up to the second floor.

They teach you anything about delivering babies?

No! I just...

Get me some towels.EILEEN: Towels!

Yeah, Byrnes.

Ahh, ahh! What a place to be born.

I swear to God, she'’ll never be back