The Battered Badge

In "The Battered Badge," a high-profile murder forces the NYPD to restructure its homicide squad, impacting the business of private investigator Nero Wolfe. When renowned reformer Lester Pierce is shot outside his residence, tensions rise within the department, especially for Inspector Lionel Cramer, who finds himself under scrutiny due to his ties with the mob. With Wolfe's interactions with the police at stake, he takes on the unusual challenge of investigating without a client. As he delves into Pierce's organization and the tangled motives of its ambitious staff, Wolfe may have to step beyond the confines of his brownstone to uncover the truth.