Free NYPD Puzzle by Parnell Hall Page A

out a ten and two twenties.
    Cora stuck the bills in her purse. “The plate’s unregistered. To get your fifty bucks back, tell me who issues unregistered plates.”
    “Love to. Can’t do it.”
    “Why not?”
    “No one does. Do I win the bet?”
    “What bet? I didn’t bet you. I offered money for service. You can’t provide the service.”
    Crowley leaned back in his desk chair, studied Cora thoughtfully. “I don’t know why you’re torturing me. I let you go.”
    “Yes, you did. But I know damn well you’re ready to arrest me again on the slightest provocation.”
    “I ought to arrest you for gambling.”
    Cora grinned. “Oh, that would look good in court. I can just hear you on the witness stand explaining how it happened.”
    “While you’re in such a good mood, I wonder if you’d mind taking a look at the crossword puzzle?”
    “Why? No one could solve it?”
    “Oh, they solved it. They just couldn’t make anything out of it.”
    “Then I probably won’t. Go ahead. Pass it over.”
    Sergeant Crowley opened his desk drawer, pulled out a piece of paper, and handed it to Cora.
    “I can touch it?”
    “It’s a copy.”

    Cora scanned the puzzle:
    Need a clue?
    Here you go
    Inner five
    Center row.
    She shrugged. “Perfectly straightforward, Sergeant.”
    “What does it mean?”
    “Clearly it’s referring to a sudoku.”
    “A what?”
    “You mean you didn’t find it? Unbelievable. A clue like that screaming for attention.”
    Crowley practically ground his teeth. “Look, lady. You’re good at what you do. Believe it or not, we’re good at what we do. That does not include interpreting enigmatic clues from crossword puzzles.”
    “Enigmatic? Wow. You’re lucky you made sergeant, talking like that. Most cops say ‘enigmatic’ get assigned to a desk.”
    “Are you having a good time? I’m not. I would imagine in that small town you live in—”
    “Bakerhaven.”
    “I would imagine you don’t have more than one crime at a time. Here it’s a little different. I got dozens. You know which one has priority? They all do. So you’ll pardon me if I don’t get all excited when you mention some suduko.”
    “Sudoku.”
    “Whatever. You wanna enlighten me on the subject?”
    “Sure, Sergeant. I will try not to take offense at the fact you have never heard of my line of sudoku books. They’re puzzles. If you happen to have two or three hours to spare, I might be able to explain a simple one to you.”
    “You might explain why I should give a damn.”
    “You said you want to know what the crossword puzzle means. The crossword puzzle is clearly referring to a number puzzle. Specifically, a sudoku, a nine-by-nine number puzzle that is very popular outside the NYPD.”
    “How does that help?”
    “It tells you what you’re looking for. Which makes it easier to find.”
    Crowley gave Cora a hard stare. He snatched up the phone again. “Perkins. You know what a sudoku is?… Then find someone who does. Have ’em review the crime scene evidence, see if anything like that turned up in the apartment.”
    “I can’t believe no one would have mentioned it,” Cora said.
    “Again, your field of expertise, not mine.”
    “Yeah, but with a crossword puzzle on the body. I’d think it would ring a bell.”
    “You have a point, or you just trying to rub it in?”
    The phone rang. Crowley scooped it up, listened, slammed it down.
    “Good news?” Cora chirped.
    Crowley made a face. “Perkins spoke to the detective who reviewed the evidence. No puzzle.”
    “There’s gotta be,” Cora said. “What about the medical examiner?”
    “What about him?”
    “Maybe he found something in the clothes.”
    “He’d have said.”
    “Even if it didn’t seem important?”
    Crowley snatched up the phone, had a brief conversation with Perkins, put it down.
    Cora’s eyes twinkled. She tipped back in her chair. “You married, Sergeant?”
    “Why?”
    “I wasn’t proposing. Just passing the time.