The Ragman's Memory A Joe Gunther Novel [Paperback]

A small girl brings Joe Gunther a birds nest-made partially of human hair. In the search to put a body, and an identity, to the hairs owner, Joe comes upon an unexplained death, a grisly murder, and a sudden disappearance. All seem to be entangled in a puzzling web of municipal corruption, blackmail, and industrial espionage. A shell-shocked World War II vet nicknamed The Ragman may hold the key to it all, if Joe can get him to talk before the murderer strikes again.

Joe? Youve got a visitor.

I looked up from the paperwork spread across my desk. Harriet Fritter, the squads administrative assistant, stood in the doorway with a half-smile on her face.

I glanced at the calendar thumb-tacked to the wall before me, wondering what appointment Id forgotten. There was nothing under todays date.

Harriet stepped aside and gestured to a small, skinny girl with large, thick, wire-rim glasses, looking very serious. I guessed her to be about twelve years old. Her shoulder-length, straight dark hair was still dusted with the snow that had been falling heavily outside for the past twenty-four hours. She was holding a small brown grocery bag tightly with both hands.

Lieutenant Joe Gunther, this is Norah Fletcher.

I half rose from my chair and shook the girls slim hand. She had a firm grip, which both surprised and pleased me. Miss Fletcher. Please have a seat. Would you like to take your coat off?

I gestured to my guest chair as Harriet faded from view. Norah Fletcher declined to remove her overcoat, and sat nervously on the edge of the seat, the brown bag between her knees.

How can I help you? I asked.

Her dark eyes rose from her rubber boots, which were creating small puddles on the carpeting. She studied me with great intensity. I know about you from newspaper stories, and I thought you should see this. My mom said I shouldnt, but I think somethings wrong. She thrust the paper bag out to me.

I took it flÄ