Worst Fears Realized

standing outside a dry cleaner’s. “Thanks, Bob. I’ve been able to confirm with the shop owner that the man who was arrested outside this dry cleaner’s shop earlier today is a dead ringer for a drawing that the police ran in Sunday’sNew York Times. He is apparently connected with a Herbert Mitteldorfer, an ex-convict being sought by police for questioning in at least five murders and the bombing of an art gallerylast week. I’m going over to the precinct now and talk with the police. Back to you, Bob.”
    “Well, if that was the second report, I guess our guy saw the first one and lit out.”
    “And the first thing he would have done is call Mitteldorfer,” Dino said.
    Stone looked around. “There’s no phone here.”
    “Shit,” Dino said.
    They could hear cops pounding up the stairs. Andy Anderson was the first through the door.
    “Andy, tape this place off, then get a team in here and turn it over very carefully. There was a second occupant besides Erwin Hausman; look for anything that could tell us who the other guy is, and anything that might tell us where to find Mitteldorfer.”
    “Yes, sit,” Andy replied.
    “Anything from Hamburg, yet?”
    “No, sir, and nothing from Interpol, either.”
    “Keep on them,” Dino said.
    “Dino,” Stone said, “we need to talk. In the car.”

55
    JEFF BANION, THE PARK AVENUE DOORMAN,was on duty when a taxi pulled up to his awning. He hurried to get the door, but as it opened, he saw that the cab’s occupant, who was paying the fare, was not likely destined for Jeff’s building. He stepped back to the front door and let the man deal alone with closing the cab’s door.
    Then, to Jeff’s surprise, the young man came toward him. He was short, his hair was cut so closely as to make him nearly bald, and he was roughly dressed in baggy clothes and heavy boots. He was carrying a nylon duffel. “Can I help you, sir?” Jeff asked, not moving away from the door.
    “I am seeing somebody in this building,” the man said with a thick accent.
    “And who would that be, sir?”
    “Mr. Howard Menzies.”
    This did not add up at all to Jeff. “And what business would you have with Mr. Menzies?”

    “I am having private business,” the young man said.
    “Your name?”
    “Peter Hausman.”
    Jeff looked him up and down. “Wait right here, please,” he said. Jeff went inside and spoke to Ralph, the new desk man. “I’ve got a suspicious character out here who wants to see Mr. Menzies. Is he in?”
    Ralph consulted a list of the building’s occupants. “Yes, unless he went out through the garage.”
    “Get him on the house phone; I want to speak to him.”
    Ralph dialed the number and listened. “Mr. Menzies? Jeff, the doorman, would like to speak with you.” He handed the phone to Jeff.
    “Hello, Mr. Menzies?” Jeff said.
    “Yes, Jeff, what is it?”
    “There’s someone down here wanting to see you, but I wanted to speak to you before I let him in.”
    “Who is it?”
    “He says his name is Hausman, Peter Hausman.”
    There was a long moment’s silence on the line, then Menzies spoke. “Oh, yes, that’s my nephew. He was in town for my wife’s funeral last week. Please send him up.”
    “Excuse me, Mr. Menzies, but could you describe your nephew, please? I want to be sure it’s the right person.”
    “He is about my height, has very short hair, and dresses rather oddly,” Menzies replied.
    “Does he have an accent?” Jeff asked.
    “Yes, he does.”

    “I’ll send him right up,” Jeff said. He walked back to the front door and opened it. “Come in,” he said to the young man. “Take the elevator to the sixteenth floor; Mr. Menzies is expecting you.”
    Hausman said nothing but went straight to the elevator and pressed the button.
    Jeff felt he had covered himself, but he didn’t like having someone like that in the building. The other apartment owners wouldn’t like it, either, he knew.
    “Jeff,” Ralph said.
    Yeah?
    “Carlos called in sick, and it’s recycling day. Would you please put the cans and newspapers out?”
    “Sure, Ralph,” Jeff said. He didn’t like doing this very much, but there was no one else. He took the other elevator to the garage level, where the bags of recycling material and bound newspapers waited in a corner. He hung his uniform jacket and cap on a hook, pressed the button to open the garage door, and went to work. He humped the bags up to the street, four at a time, then turned to the heavy