23 Paces to Baker Street Page #2

I don't see things nowadays.

I'm sorry, Sir, I didn't realise.

That's all right.

You weren't intended to.

Both of medium height.

Age - probably 25 to 35.

Woman thought to be wearing a blue cape,

man a raincoat.

The woman used a perfume.

The man breathed with a

slight wheezing sound

as though having, having

bronchial trouble.

Anyway there was something

strange about his voice.

The police are coming round right away.

Okay. Now be quiet. Let

me finish this.

The conversation went as follows:

"I want anything to do with it, Mr. Evans.

I don't like the sound of it."

"Oh, You'll like the money alright. And It'll

be more than this last job. Much more."

"But how do I know what

you're gonna do with it?"

"When do you want me?"

"The night of the ninth, same address.

Then I take

you down and you start

the job on the tenth."

"All right. Can I go now?"

"What's the hurry?

Have another drink."

"No. I've got to get back.

Her Ladyship is going to

a concert and there'll be

no one to see to them."

"I'll walk out with you.

Which way do you go?"

"Just to the corner. 73 takes me

right to the door but they get so full."

"That's all there was. I couldn't

hear any more. Then they came out."

Well?

You've done that verbatim, Mr. Hannon?

That's the conversation word for word?

Yes.

You must have a remarkable memory.

Well, it's my business

to remember dialogue.

Well, what do you think?

Was that all there was Mr. Hannon?

Well isn't that enough for you?

There's something evil

going on isn't there?

- Might be.

- What do you mean, might be?

Well you tell us what you make of it, Sir.

I figure it out like this.

This woman has something to do with

children. Probably a nursemaid.

That's why she had to get back, because

somebody else is going out.

So that there would be

somebody there with the kids.

Um hmm, go on.

She's employed by this

lordship and a ladyship.

And this Mr. Evans she's talking to is

trying to force her to do something wrong.

Whatever it is, she doesn't want to do it,

but she's afraid of Evans.

Scared to death of him, because

of some hold he's got over her.

On the tenth, she's gonna

meet this other girl, Mary...

to get something from

her and pass it to Evans.

It could be this other girl is a nursemaid

too, and that it's a plot to kidnap a child.

Wait a minute Mr. Hannon.

I know they have

kidnappings in America, but

they're very rare here.

Ok, ok, then maybe it's a robbery. But

it's something, something very wrong.

Mr. Hannon, you'll forgive

me for saying this,

but you're a dramatist

and a very skillful one.

The way you've recorded that conversation

is very dramatic and convincing.

I don't think Mr. Hannon's likely to

give a ham performance, Inspector.

Thank you, Bob.

Look Inspector, I've only

recorded it the way they said it.

Yes, but if you just take

the words themselves,

they could have a completely

different meaning.

Such as?

Well...

Supposing this girl is employed

as you say, by a titled family.

And supposing this man

is just trying to entice

her away to another job and

with an offer of higher money.

"More money than in last job."

How about "hand over to us later"?

- Well then, hmm.

- Sorry.

It could be a temporary job.

The girl Mary is leaving and

they want somebody to take

over for her temporarily.

But she says "It's dirty, letting

people down who are trusting her?"

Well that could be her present employer.

She might not like herself

being enticed away for money?

Oh, one of those old-fashioned

servants we read about.

Then why did Evans threaten her?

I didn't hear that he

actually did threaten her.

But isn't it quite possible that he

did during that part I didn't hear?

Quite possible.

Look, Inspector, it seems to me, you

not only think I'm blind, but crazy.

I told you it's my business

to know how people talk,

what they're thinking

when they say things.

And I tell you that girl was scared.

No one's that scared just because

someone suggests changing a job.

Oh, Mr. Hannon, you may very

well be right.

We're very obliged to you for getting

in touch with us so promptly.

Well somebody has to act promptly,

because whatever it is,

it's set for the tenth. Which

is just one week from today.

Well, what are you going to do?

We haven't got a lot to go on Mr. Hannon,

but we shall make inquiries.

And if in the mean time you

should recall anything further,

All I know is on that tape. And you're

welcome to play it through at any time.

Well thank you, Mr. Hannon. We may

take advantage of that.

Good evening.

Good evening.

Good evening.

Straining at the leash aren't they?

Can't wait to get started.

Where are we now?

Just passing under Waterloo Bridge.

Festival Hall, on the left.

I never saw that. After my time.

What's it like?

Modern.

What's that noise?

Helicopter coming in to

Waterloo air terminal.

They won't do anything.

Who?

Those policemen. They think I'm

making something out of nothing.

Well, of course...

Sure, sure. "Nothing to go on, possibly

innocent conversation and so forth."

But unless I'm going crazy, that girl was

terrified.

Maybe that's it. Maybe

I am going crazy.

Well, how does it look?

Is it beautiful?

Yes, yes, very beautiful.

The view, the buildings.

You make it all so vivid

I can almost see it!

Half past 5. The sun must be

just going down ahead of us.

Any barges coming down?

Yes. Two lots.

I know. And the river is gold now

with the sun on it like that.

The barges black

against the gold.

A slight wind that makes

the water glitter,

so that it slaps and dances

against the side of the boat.

Wait a minute!

Wait a minute.

What's up?

That perfume. That's it, I've got it!

Jean?

Yes, Phil?

Jean there's something I want

to ask you:
Do you remember

back home 3 years ago, we were

out in a rowboat somewhere?

Yes, we were on Lake Cayuga,

driving through Ithaca.

That's right. I was rowing,

and it was hot, and

you wiped my forehead

with a handkerchief.

Yes.

There was perfume on the handkerchief

- A perfume you used quite a lot then.

Do you remember what it was?

Yes. It was Plaisir D'Amour.

Do you still use it?

No. I haven't used it for almost

two years. It's too expensive.

It is expensive?

About the most expensive there is.

Why?

Well that woman yesterday was using it.

I got a whiff of it as she passed me.

Will somebody please tell

me what kind of nursemaid

uses just about the most

expensive perfume there is?

She might have been given

it by the master.

I mean that sort of thing still

goes on you know. Always will.

Or she may have stolen

it from her mistress.

No, no. A servant could steal money or clothes

or almost anything and get away with it.

But if she steals her

perfume, she's giving

herself away every time

she comes into a room.

That's true Phil, that's very true.

The frightened nursemaid who uses expensive

perfume. What does that add up to?

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