The Anderson Tapes (30 page)

September, 1968.

GIMBLE: What’s happening?

NATHAN: He’s dying. By all rights he should be dead now.

LEFFERTS: Can you do anything?

NATHAN: No. We’ve already done all we can.

GIMBLE: Will he regain consciousness?

NATHAN: Brisling?

BRISLING: Maybe. I doubt it.

GIMBLE: We’ve got to question him.

NATHAN: What do you want from me? I’m not God.

BRISLING: Let the man die in peace.

BROWN: No, goddamn it. An officer was killed. Get him up. Get him awake. We’ve got to find out what all this was about, why he was shot. This is important.

BRISLING: Doctor?

[Lapse of seven seconds.]

NATHAN: All right. Nurse?

PAGENT: Yes, Doctor?

NATHAN: Fifty cc’s. You’ve got it?

PAGENT: Yes, Doctor.

NATHAN: Administer it.

[Lapse of twenty-three seconds.]

NATHAN: Pulse?

BRISLING: Maybe a little stronger. Heart is still fluttering.

GIMBLE: His eyelids moved. I saw them move.

LEFFERTS: Parelli? Parelli?

NATHAN: Don’t shove him.

BROWN: He’s dying, isn’t he?

NATHAN: Just don’t touch him. He’s a patient in this hospital under my care.

PARELLI: Guh … guh… .

GIMBLE: He said something. I heard him say something.

LEFFERTS: It didn’t make sense. Sanders, move the mike closer to his mouth.

PARELLI: Ah … ah… .

BROWN: His eyes are open.

GIMBLE: Parelli Parelli, who shot you? Who was it, Parelli? Why did they shoot you?

PARELLI: Guh … guh… .

BRISLING: This is obscene.

LEFFERTS: Who planned it, Parelli? Who put up the money? Who was behind it, Parelli? Can you hear me?

PARELLI: Climb planging. No man can ever the building. I said to bicycle of no lad can be to mother.

GIMBLE: What? What?

PARELLI: Or sake to make a lake. We see today not by gun if she does.

LEFFERTS: Can you give him another shot, Doc?

NATHAN: No.

PARELLI: Guh … guh… .

BRISLING: Fibrillations.

PAGENT: Pulse weakening and intermittent.

NATHAN: He’s going.

BROWN: Parelli, listen to me. Parelli, can you hear me? Who shot you, Parelli? Who put up the money? Who brought you here from Detroit? Parelli?

PARELLI: I never thought to. And then I was on the street where. Louise?

We saw the car sky and what. Momma. In the sky. It was in. Never a clutch could. Some day she. Fucking bastard. I think that I should.

GIMBLE: Who, Parelli? Who did it?

PARELLI: A bird at song if even wing, the girl herself shall never sing.

NATHAN: Nurse?

PAGENT: No pulse.

NATHAN: Brisling?

BRISLING: No heartbeat.

[Lapse of nine seconds.]

NATHAN: He’ s gone.

LEFFERTS: Shit.

Memorandum (Confidential) EXD-794, dated 14 December, 1968, from Edward X. Delaney, Captain, NYPD, to Police Commissioner, NYPD, with confidential copies to Deputy Arthur C. Beatem and Chief Inspector L. David Whichcote.

“This document should be considered Addendum 19-B to my final report NYPD-EXD-1SEP1968.

“It has been brought to my attention that the attempted robbery of the premises at 535 East Seventy-third Street, New York City, on 31

August-1 September, 1968, might have been prevented if there had been closer cooperation between agencies of the city, state, and federal governments, and private investigative agencies. A list of agencies involved is attached (see EXD-794-A).

“While I cannot reveal the identity of my informant
at this time
, I can state without fear of serious contradiction that for several months prior to the commission of the crime, the aforesaid agencies were in possession of certain facts (on tape recordings and in transcriptions) relating to the planned crime, obtained via bugging and other electronic surveillance devices.

“Admittedly, no
one
agency was in possession of
all
the facts or all the details regarding the proposed crime—such as address, time, personnel involved,
etc.
And yet, if a central pool or clearing house (computerized, perhaps?) for electronic surveillance had been in existence, I have little doubt but that the crime in question could have been forestalled.

“I strongly urge that a meeting of representatives of law-enforcement agencies of city, state, and federal governments be convened immediately to consider how such a clearing house for the results of electronic surveillance can be established. I shall hold myself ready to assist in any way I can to help organize such a project, as I have a number of very definite ideas on how it should be structured.”
Chapter 93

Approximately 5:45 A.M. The apartment of Ingrid Macht, 627 West Twenty-fourth Street, New York, New York. This is tape recording SEC-1SEP68-IM-5:45AM-196L.

[Sound of doorbell.]

[Lapse of eleven seconds.]

[Sound of doorbell.]

[Lapse of eight seconds.]

INGRID: Yes?

ANDERSON: Duke.

INGRID: Duke, I am sleeping. I am very tired. Please call me later in the day.

ANDERSON: You want me to shoot the lock off?

INGRID: What? What are you saying, Duke?

[Lapse of six seconds.]

INGRID: Oh, my God.

ANDERSON: Yes. Close and lock the door. Put the chain on. Are the shades down?

INGRID: Yes.

ANDERSON: Get me something—some towels. I don’t want to drip on your white rug.

INGRID: Oh, S
chatzie, Schatzie
… .

[Lapse of nine seconds.]

INGRID: My God, you’re soaked. Here … let… .

ANDERSON: Not so bad now. It’s inside now… .

INGRID: Gun or knife?

ANDERSON: Gun.

INGRID: How many?

ANDERSON: Two. One high up, just below my wishbone. The other is down and on the side.

INGRID: Did they come out?

ANDERSON: What? I don’t think so. Brandy. Get me some brandy.

INGRID: Yes … let me help you to the chair. All right. Don’t move.

[Lapse of fourteen seconds.]

INGRID: Here. Shall I hold it?

ANDERSON: I can manage. Ah Jesus … that helps.

INGRID: Is it bad?

ANDERSON: At first, I wanted to scream. Now it’s just dull. A big blackness in there. I’m bleeding in there. I can feel it all going out … spreading… .

INGRID: I know a doctor… .

ANDERSON: Forget it. No use. I’m getting out… .

INGRID: And you had to come here… .

ANDERSON: Yes. Ah … God! Yes, like a hound dragging hisself so he can die at home.

INGRID: You had to come here. Why? To pay me back for what I did?

ANDERSON: For what you did? Oh. No, I forgot that a long time ago.

It was nothing.

INGRID: But you had to come here… .

ANDERSON: Yes. I came to kill you. See? Here … look… . Two left.

I told you I’d get you out some day. I promised you… .

INGRID: Duke, you are not making sense.

ANDERSON: Oh, yes. Oh, yes. If I say… . Ah, Jesus … the blackness… . I can hear the wind. Do you want to yell? Do you want to run into the other room, maybe jump out the window?

INGRID: Ah,
Schatzie, Schatzie
… you know me better than that… .

ANDERSON: I know you better … better than that… .

INGRID: It’s worse now?

ANDERSON: It’s coming in waves, like black waves. It’s like the sea.

I’m really getting out, I’m getting out. Ah, Jesus… .

INGRID: It all went bad?

ANDERSON: Yes. We were so close … so close… . But it went sour.

I don’t know why… . But for a minute there I had it. I had it all.

INGRID: Yes. You had it all… . Duke, I have some drugs. Some shmeck. Do you want a shot? It will make it easier.

ANDERSON: No. No, I can handle this. This isn’t so bad.

INGRID: Give me the gun,
Schatzie
.

ANDERSON: I meant what I said.

INGRID: What will that do? How will that help?

ANDERSON: I promised. I gave my word. I promised you… .

[Lapse of seven seconds.]

INGRID: All right. If that is what you must do. It is all over for me, anyway. Even if you died here this instant, it is all over for me.

ANDERSON: Died? Is this the end of me then? Nothing any more?

INGRID: Yes. The end of John Anderson. Nothing any more. And the end of Ingrid Macht. And Gertrude Heller. And Bertha Knobel. And all the other women I have been in my life. The end of all of us.

Nothing any more.

ANDERSON: Are you scared?

INGRID: No. This is best. You are right. This is best. I am tired, and I haven’t been sleeping lately. This will be a good sleep. You won’t hurt me,
Schatzie?

ANDERSON: I’ll make it quick.

INGRID: Yes. Quick. In the head, I think. Here … see … I will kneel before you. You will be steady?

ANDERSON: I will be steady. You can depend on me.

INGRID: I could always depend on you. Duke, do you remember that day in the park? The picnic we had?

ANDERSON: I remember.

INGRID: For a moment there … for a moment… .

ANDERSON: I know … I know… .

INGRID: I think I will turn around now,
Schatzie
. I will turn my back to you. I find I am not as brave as I thought. I will kneel here, my back to you, and I will talk. I will just say anything that comes into my mind. And I will keep talking, and then you will… . You understand?

ANDERSON: I understand.

INGRID: What was it all about, Duke? Once I thought I knew. But now I am not sure. You know, the Hungarians have a saying—”Before you have a chance to look around, the picnic is over.” It has all gone so fast, Duke. Like a dream. How is it the days crawl by and yet the years fly? Life for me has been a bone caught in my throat.

There were little moments, like that afternoon in the park. But mostly it was hurt … it was hurt… . Duke, please … now …

don’t wait any longer. Please. Duke?
Schatzie?
Duke, I… .

[Lapse of five seconds.]

INGRID: Ah. Ah. You are gone, Duke? You are finally out? But I am here. I am here… .

[Lapse of one minute fourteen seconds.]

[Sound of phone being dialed.]

VOICE: New York Police Department. May I help you?

The body of John “Duke” Anderson was removed to the New York City Morgue at about 7:00 A.M., 1 September, 1968. Ingrid Macht was taken to the House of Detention for Women, 10 Greenwich Avenue.

The premises at 627 West Twenty-fourth Street were then sealed and a police guard placed at the door.

On the morning of 2 September, 1968, at Police Headquarters, 240

Centre Street, at approximately 10:00 A.M., a meeting was held of representatives of interested authorities, including the New York Police Department; the District Attorney’s Office, County of New York; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Internal Revenue Service; the Federal Narcotics Bureau; and the Securities and Exchange Commission. Representatives of the New York Police Department included men from the 251st Precinct, Narcotics Squad, Homicide East, Homicide West, the Police Laboratory, and the Communications Center. There was also a representative from Interpol. The author was allowed to be present at this meeting as an observer.

At this time a squad of ten men was organized and directed to search the apartment of Ingrid Macht at 627 West Twenty-fourth Street, the toss to commence at 3:00 P.M., 2 September, 1968, and to be terminated upon agreement of all representatives present. The author was allowed to attend as an observer but not active participant in the search.

The toss of the aforesaid premises commenced at approximately 3:20

P.M., and was, to my satisfaction, conducted with professional skill, speed, and thoroughness. Evidence was uncovered definitely linking Ingrid Macht with the smuggling of illicit narcotics into this country.

There was also some evidence (supposition) that she had been involved in prostitution in the City of New York. In addition, there was evidence (not conclusive) that Ingrid Macht had also been involved in the theft and sale of securities, including stock shares, corporate bonds, and U.S. government bonds.

Also, there was some evidence that Ingrid Macht was operating a loanshark operation, lending sums to persons she met on her job at the dance hall, to pushers of narcotics, and other individuals known to law enforcement officials. In addition to all this, evidence was uncovered (not sufficient for prosecution) that she was a steerer for an abortion ring, with headquarters in a small New Jersey motel.

During the extremely painstaking search of the premises, a detective from the 251st Precinct discovered a small book concealed beneath the lowest drawer of a five-drawer chest in the bedroom. On first examination, it appeared to be merely a diary. In fact, it was a volume bound in imitation leather (in red; imprinted on the front cover: FIVE-YEAR DIARY). Closer examination proved it to be more in the nature of a commercial ledger, detailing Ingrid Macht’s personal dealings in stocks and other securities.

Cursory examination of the entries, which included investments (amounts and dates) and sales (amounts, dates, and profits), showed immediately that Ingrid Macht had been successful in her financial dealings. (In a statement to the press, one of her defense attorneys has estimated her personal wealth as being “in excess of $100,000.”) The author was present when the “diary” was discovered and had an opportunity to leaf through it briefly.

On the inside back cover, in the same handwriting as the other entries in the journal, was this inscription: “Crime is the truth. Law is the hypocrisy.” RosettaBooks is the leading publisher dedicated exclusively to electronic editions of great works of fiction and non-fiction that reflect our world. RosettaBooks strives to improve the quality of its electronic books. We welcome your comments and suggestions. Please write to [email protected] We hope you enjoyed
The Anderson Tapes
. If you are interested in learning more about the book and Lawrence K. Sanders, we suggest you visit the RosettaBooks Connection at:
RosettaBooks.com/TheAndersonTapes
Lawrence K. Sanders’
The Anderson Tapes
is also available from RosettaBooks.