Harris was sitting in his office later that day when one of his assistants brought in a late edition of the Providence Journal. There was no use in getting up from his chair to see what the headline read.
"Set it on the table," he said. The assistant left the paper on top of the stack of files, and then went out the door. The curiosity got the better of Harris, and he picked up the edition.
KILLER ON THE RUN
He scanned over the first few paragraphs and found that some of the facts stated were true. Others were suppositions arranged to support the facts. His name was mentioned once or twice, and he was sure he would not get out of the building without being mobbed by the press. The article really was not going to add anything to the case, so he put it back on the desk and leaned forward in his chair. Harris closed his eyes and tried to imagine what might have happened.
The paper made it sound obvious that Eddie had simply run. However, people disappeared all the time, both on their own and by force. Being taken by force seemed the most logical to him, which would lead to McBride. This made more sense than anything, since in any case against McBride, Eddie would be a star witness. He tilted his chair back. God, he was tired. The phone rang.
"Harris," he said into the receiver.
"My office, now," the caller said, and then hung up. Harris put the phone back on the cradle. He knew Mayor Porter's steak-fed growl anywhere.