Ernest Heath

John F.-X. Markham

Detective Heath is Markham's loyal and hardworking subordinate, often clashing with Vance but deferring to Markham's authority.

Philo Vance

Heath is often frustrated by Vance's intellectual arrogance and interference in police procedures, creating a tense but grudgingly respectful rivalry.

Tony Skeel

Heath views Skeel as a hardened criminal and pursues him aggressively, leading to open hostility between them.

Charles Cleaver

Heath suspects Cleaver of involvement in the murder, leading to sharp exchanges and mutual distrust.

Margaret Odell

Heath interrogates Odell as a witness, often with impatience, though she proves to be a key source of information.

Tony Skeel

Heath views Skeel as a hardened criminal and pursues him aggressively, leading to open hostility between them.

Philo Vance

Heath is often frustrated by Vance's intellectual arrogance and interference in police procedures, creating a tense but grudgingly respectful rivalry.

John F.-X. Markham

Detective Heath is Markham's loyal and hardworking subordinate, often clashing with Vance but deferring to Markham's authority.

John F.-X. Markham

Detective Heath is Markham's loyal and hardworking subordinate, often clashing with Vance but deferring to Markham's authority.

Charles Cleaver

Heath suspects Cleaver of involvement in the murder, leading to sharp exchanges and mutual distrust.

Margaret Odell

Heath interrogates Odell as a witness, often with impatience, though she proves to be a key source of information.

Philo Vance

Heath is often frustrated by Vance's intellectual arrogance and interference in police procedures, creating a tense but grudgingly respectful rivalry.

Characters of the Book

Sergeant of the Homicide Bureau.

III: The Murder

Sergeant on scene; greets Markham and Vance, expresses frustration over the murder.

IV: The Print of a Hand

Sergeant directing the forensic examination, expressing frustration at the lack of fingerprints on key items.

The Bolted Door

Leads the investigation, demonstrates the bolted doors and barred windows, and interviews the janitor and maid.

VI: A Call for Help

Sergeant Heath assists in the investigation and verifies Jessup's line of sight to the switchboard.

VII: A Nameless Visitor

Sergeant who speculates that the visitor was a professional criminal and Odell's lover.

VIII: The Invisible Murderer

Reports on the search of Apartment No. 2 and expresses determination to question the man who called at 9:30 PM.

IX: The Pack in Full Cry

Receives the fingerprint report with excitement, orders Skeel's arrest and a search for a chisel, and dismisses Vance's doubts.

XII: Circumstantial Evidence

Reports Skeel's arrest and the pawned ring; frustrated by the weak case against Skeel.

XIV: Vance Outlines a Theory

Mentioned as having turned in reports on Cleaver, Lindquist, and Mannix; his belief in Skeel's guilt is noted.

Four Possibilities

Mentioned as committed to Skeel's guilt and having turned in reports on the suspects.

XVIII: The Trap

Present in Markham's office, looking pugnacious and disconsolate while reviewing the case.

The Doctor Explains

Expresses doubt about how Skeel entered the apartment and suggests getting an architect; remains convinced of Skeel's guilt.

XX: A Midnight Witness

Observes the interview and raises the theory about the empty document-box and a second intruder.

XXI: A Contradiction in Dates

Brings Cleaver to the office and is present during the interrogation.

XXII: A Telephone Call

Returns to the office hopeless; discusses the case and the discovery of the jewelry.

XXIII: The Ten O'Clock Appointment

Restless and subdued; paces and checks for news; crosses himself in awe at the murder scene.

An Arrest

Arrives triumphantly, announces Jessup's arrest, and lays out his circumstantial case.

XXV: Vance Demonstrates

Initially jocular, becomes astonished as Vance proves Skeel could have bolted the door from outside.

XXVI: Reconstructing the Crime

Watches Vance with grudging admiration as his theory demolishes the fingerprint evidence against Jessup.

XXIX: Beethoven's "Andante"

Ordered by Markham to get a warrant and meet him at the Stuyvesant Club.

XXX: The End

Arrives with Snitkin to assist in the arrest, expresses astonishment at Spotswoode being the culprit.

Endnotes

Heath became acquainted with Vance during the Benson murder investigation.