They Call Me Mister Tibbs! Page #2

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Joy?

- Joy Sturges?

- Yeah.

- Is there someplace better we can talk?

- Sure. This way.

We can't afford TV spots. You gotta do

something to get the coverage for free,

like maybe stand on your head

on top of a cable car or something.

- Hello?

- I've got it down here, Reverend.

Joy... Has something happened to Joy?

She was found dead tonight.

She was killed.

Oh! How... how... how'd it happen?

Messy.

I think you'd better

call a lawyer, Logan.

- Now.

- What... what for?

I think it would be a good idea

to check his shoes.

Do you mind?

No, of course not.

There's another couple of pairs

in the bedroom closet.

I'll get 'em.

Get everything out of the closet.

Lay it on the bed.

Someone said he saw you. He phoned us.

- Who?

- We don't know.

I think someone's trying

to discredit the campaign.

That's possible.

Logan, tell me.

What was Joy to you?

She had no job. Those apartments rent

for $300 a month. And the furnishings.

Have you seen her new carpet?

Must have cost $20 a yard.

- Yes, I've seen it.

- Then you must have been there today.

- Why do you say that?

- It was only put down yesterday.

- Then I could have seen it yesterday.

- Did you?

No, I...

I was there today, Virgil.

What time?

About 4.30 or so.

Just making your parish rounds, huh?

I'm reminding you, you don't have

to say anything without a lawyer.

No, I want to.

I want to answer, Virgil.

I... did know Joy.

I tried to help her,

like so many others.

I lent her books. I tried to get her

to go back to her family...

We'll be needing

the clothes you're wearing, too.

What time did you leave her apartment?

Uh... I went on other visits.

I'm not sure about the time,

but I went to the Bakers.

I, uh, went to the Greens.

They weren't home.

But I did see, uh...

- I did see Mrs Battaglia.

- What time?

I'm not sure about the time. I, uh...

She was cooking dinner.

OK.

Logan, we want to take these clothes

to the lab and check them for blood spots.

They'll be returned in the morning.

Fine. I have some work to do

on an interview for tomorrow anyway.

- Herb?

- All right.

Virge?

What do you think?

You haven't a real alibi.

We're gonna be doing

a lot of poking around.

I... want to tell you the whole truth.

I didn't want to in front of them,

because I didn't want them to hear.

Don't ask me to keep secrets, Logan.

Virge...

My visits with Joy were

just like I said in there, but, uh...

the last couple of months

I've been sleeping with her.

And this visit today?

Logan, if you were paying the rent

or anything, it's gonna come out.

I haven't. No, she would never

take anything. Not a cent.

No gifts?

- Loans, books. No gifts.

- OK.

I'll sit on it for a while.

Anything else?

No.

No, I... just feel better

for having told you.

You should have

stuck to visiting old ladies.

Hi, Andy.

- Hello, Andy!

- Hi, Dad.

Boy, this is outasight!

- What did you do that for?

- It's too loud.

- What'd you do today?

- Nothing. I just fooled around.

Spent the day in your PJs watching TV

and playing that guitar, right?

Why don't you ever do anything?

Like read a book. Something useful.

Do you hear me talking to you, son?

Get off your butt and listen to me.

What did you say, Dad?

I said "Get off your butt

and listen to me when I'm talkin' to ya."

Did you have a nice day at the office?

She's having a problem

with her gym class.

Maybe you could help.

- Andy...

- He's watching television.

What is it?

Trouble. Logan.

Disturbing the peace,

or inciting to riot?

A girl named Joy Sturges

was beaten to death tonight.

Logan Sharpe?

Oh, Virge, no.

That's what he says.

Well, you believe him, don't you?

Virge, we've known

Logan Sharpe all our lives.

Yes, honey, I know, but...

But what?

He's a man. He's no saint.

Oh, Virge, no. He couldn't have.

Anybody could.

Four, five, six,

seven, eight, nine, ten.

Hold your knees together, Ginny.

Always hold your knees together.

Again, again. Let's try it again.

OK. There we go.

- This is your case, isn't it, Virge?

- OK?

Now hold it. Good girl!

- Isn't it, Virge?

- I have to hold it for 30 seconds.

I want my gold star.

- It might be.

- Well, what does that mean?

It means yes and no.

Turn that off! It's seven o'clock

in the morning. And leave it off, dammit!

- Are you in charge of this case?

- There are two schools of thought.

- Everybody knows we're friends.

- Which is why you should insist.

OK, OK!

Like hell you will!

And that's definite!

Hank, it's nothing to me

who's in charge...

Then why don't you shut up?!

It's not about the personal thing,

or whether he did it or not.

We've got 12 good years invested in you,

and you know damn well what I mean.

The time may come when we need you

for more than homicide.

- This city's coming apart.

- No argument.

Once word gets out

that Logan Sharpe's a suspect,

the lid blows off, and you'll have to

book him or clear him fast.

And I can help. I... I know his habits.

All right, Virgil.

But officially, Herb's in charge.

Do you mind if I turn out the light?

Be my guest, Virgil.

OK, run it.

Next.

OK.

- It's positive acid phosphatase.

- Half-cell?

No, sir, it's doubtful.

OK.

- That was positive and half-cells.

- How long before?

- Two or three hours.

- OK.

OK.

- Mm-hm, she was strangled.

- Yeah.

But, Captain,

the autopsy's not finished yet.

- That's the weapon?

- Mm-hm.

All right.

Yup, that was probably

the cause of death.

Go back.

Show me the... the neck.

What's that abrasion?

Whatever it is,

it's a cinch it didn't kill her.

This is Lieutenant Tibbs.

Let me talk to the medical examiner.

All right. What do you wanna do now?

There's no blood on Sharpe's clothing,

there's nothing in the hallways,

nothing in the fire escapes.

They picked up fresh prints

off the bedroom window.

- Which we haven't identified yet.

- Doc.

What's that scratch

on the back of her neck?

Any way of telling whether

it was made during the struggle?

Thanks.

It's recent, that's all.

His wristwatch could have caused it

while he was strangling her.

- Maybe.

- Virgil!

The money and the jewellery

are still there. It couldn't be robbery.

So, what now?

You haven't answered my question!

Ask Herb. He's in charge.

Ralph, you're offside again!

I'm not gonna tell you again, Ralph.

Mario, referee for a while.

Hi.

Come on, I'll buy you a drink.

- Hey, you wanna referee?

- No.

Well, what brings you down

to this neck of the woods?

Being a detective. Ever see this before?

- I suppose it belonged to Joy, right?

- Right.

I think it looks familiar.

The clasp is rough,

might have scratched her.

Was she wearing it

the last time you saw her?

I never pay much attention

to jewellery, Virge.

You're wearing some.

This was my mother's. You may

remember having seen her wear it.

I don't pay much attention

to jewellery either.

"Sturges, Joy."

That's strange.

I know she was payin', or I'd have

thrown her out. I've got good tenants.

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