There has been a big bank heist in Brooklyn. A guard has been killed and they got off with the huge sum of forty thousand dollars. Police Chief Frank Eckstrom is angrily giving his three cops the details. They know local hood Harry Wheeler knocked off the bank, now all they have to do is find him. The three cops, Itchy Richie McCalister, Paddy Ahern and Walter Sheridan are to stake out Wheeler’s apartment from across the street until they catch the son of a gun.
McCallister is the no nonsense do-gooder. He’s here to catch the bad guys and put em where they belong…behind bars. Paddy, the poor Irish bastard, is a drunk. Him and McCallister are tight nonetheless and if it weren’t for McCallister looking out for Paddy he wouldn’t have even kept his job this long. Sheridan is a cocky prick who thinks the management is daft and pretty much hates working and being a cop.
This is a story of a cop turned killer.
It goes without saying by the character descriptions dropped in the first chapter that you know which cop is going bad so I’m not going to consider that a spoiler and let it fly.
There is a two-man detail in the apartment across from Wheeler’s and a one-man detail down on the street in a car. They are to rotate throughout the night. McCallister straight up hates Sheridan but that’s cool cause the feeling is mutual. They both are stuck up in the apartment with each other for the first round. Sheridan sits in the back and smokes while McCallister watches the Wheelers apartment. But what’s this? Right next door is a couple cutie nurses. McCallister has a secret crush for the small nurse. Kind of creepy but he’s not a creeper so it’s written wholesome. I mean he’s not watching her shower or anything.
All of a sudden Wheeler’s wife leaves the apartment for the evening. McCallister takes off after her leaving Paddy and Sheridan to watch the apartment alone.
Paddy takes this opportunity to get a couple brew doggers at the bar around the corner. Sheridan sits in the stakeout apartment and smokes. But look who shows up in the meantime, bank robbing Harry Wheeler. Sheridan gets a great idea to get out of this shit detail and maybe put some money in his pocket. He heads over to have a little chat with Wheeler but bad news for him, little nurse neighbor happens to casually see them both. It’s not a big deal to her as she has no idea what the hell is going on but Sheridan sees it as hole in his free money canoe.
The shit hits the fan. Sheridan scares Paddy into helping by saying, you’re just as guilty as me pal. I mean where were you? Down at the bar, that’s right. Paddy becomes a reluctant accomplice.
McCallister comes back. Senses something’s wrong. Drills Paddy for info. Sheridan makes a run for it. Action ensues.
I have never read a book that just explodes right off the bat with climax tension. I was on the thirtieth or so page and thought, my God, where can they go after this? It was totally a bang up ending right at the beginning of the story.
Eventually though it settles back down into a slower paced man hunt. Not to say it’s slow paced but after the excitement at the beginning it seems slower.
The tension as Sheridan completely cracks up is contagious. You will feel anxious reading it. If you’ve ever been in a situation where all you want is to be away from it but there is no easy exit in sight, then you’ll know the feeling. It’s stressful to read. You almost want him to escape but at the same time he sucks so you ultimately want McCallister to put a bullet in his ass.
This was a great classic crime noir. I wouldn’t be surprised if this was made into a movie around this time. Also, I absolutely love this cover. The painting is perfect.
Originally published as a serial in the Saturday Evening Post in 1951 with the title “The Killer Wore a Badge.”
This is the Bantam edition from 1953.
Review by Nick Anderson
The movie is PUSHOVER. it's easily available on many streaming channels.
ReplyDeleteExcellent! Thanks so much, I'll have to check it out
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