Batman's Helpers: A Matthew Scudder Story #4

By Lawrence Block

I began writing about Matthew Scudder in the mid-1970s. The first novel, The Sins of the Fathers, appeared in 1975, and A Drop of the Hard Stuff—the 17th and most recent—was published in 2011. Over the years Scudder has also been featured in 11 short works of fiction; Batman's Helpers is the fourth, first published in Robert J. Randisi's anthology, Justice for Hire, in 1990.

A friend, one Jim Thompson, had switched professions, moving from academia to private investigation. His experiences with street-level trademark enforcement gave rise to this story. Batman's Helpers is included in The Night and the Music, my collection of all 11 Matthew Scudder short stories, available as an eBook or in handsome trade paperback form.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lawrence Block
• Release date: Apr 13, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301896615

Lawrence Block

Lawrence Block is one of the most widely recognized names in the mystery genre. He has been named a Grand Master of the Mystery Writers of America and is a four-time winner of the prestigious Edgar and Shamus Awards, as well as a recipient of prizes in France, Germany, and Japan. He received the Diamond Dagger from the British Crime Writers' Association—only the third American to be given this award. He is a prolific author, having written more than fifty books and numerous short stories, and is a devoted New Yorker and an enthusiastic global traveler.

Book preview

Batman’s Helpers

A Matthew Scudder Story

Lawrence Block

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 1990, Lawrence Block. First published, 1990, in the Private Eye Writers of America Anthology, Justice for Hire; Reprinted, 2011, in The Night and the Music; All Rights Reserved.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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Batman’s Helpers

Reliable’s offices are in the Flatiron Building, at Broadway and Twenty-third. The receptionist, an elegant black girl with high cheekbones and processed hair, gave me a nod and a smile, and I went on down the hall to Wally Witt’s office.

He was at his desk, a short stocky man with a bulldog jaw and gray hair cropped close to his head. Without rising he said, Matt, good to see you, you’re right on time. You know these guys? Matt Scudder, Jimmy diSalvo, Lee Trombauer. We shook hands all around. We’re waiting on Eddie Rankin. Then we can go out there and protect the integrity of the American merchandising system.

Can’t do that without Eddie, Jimmy diSalvo said.

No, we need him, Wally said. He’s our pit bull. He’s attack-trained, Eddie is.

He came through the door a few minutes later and I saw what they meant. Without looking alike, Jimmy and Wally and Lee all looked like ex-cops,