The Mugger — Ed McBain

DANGER ON DARK NIGHTS

This mugger was special. He preyed only on women. He waited in the darkness, coming from behind to snatch their purses. Then he punched his victims and told them not to scream. As the women reeled with pain and fear, he bowed and said, "Clifford thanks you, madam"

The cops in the 87th Precinct were not amused. They wanted the mugger and they wanted him bad. Especially after he put one victim in the hospital...and the next one in the morgue. The dead girl was pretty and only seventeen. And patrolman Bert Kling had a personal reason to go after her murderer...a reason that became a burning obsession and an easy way for a cop to get killed.