Cop Hater (87th Precinct, #1)

by Ed McBain

The city lay like a sparkling nest of rare gems, shimmering in layer upon layer of pulsating intensity. The buildings were a stage set. They faced the river, and they glowed with man‐made brilliance, and you stared up at them in awe, and you caught your breath. Behind the buildings, behind the lights, were the streets. There was garbage in the streets.

hands. “If you read the newspapers, and if you start believing them, you’ll know that cops hate cop killers. That’s the law of the jungle. That’s the law of survival. The newspapers are full of crap if they think any revenge motive is attached. We can’t let a cop be killed because a cop is a symbol of law and order. If you take away the symbol, you get animals in the streets. We’ve got enough animals in the streets now.