Backfire Page #2

But she was here. I saw her.

You also saw her write her address

on the pad. You know...

Yeah, I know all about the guard

at the gate. And that nobody issued a pass.

Julie's played that record

till it's worn out.

But I also know it was Christmas Eve.

Maybe the guard dozed off. Or maybe

there wasn't anybody at the reception desk.

I've got a better explanation.

You've had a tough siege of it, Corey.

You've gone through a lot of pain.

There were times you wished

somebody would put you out of it.

Added to that you were worried about

the disappearance of your best friend.

Given a hypo, started dreaming.

What more natural than for you

to identify yourself with your friend.

You had one dream about him already,

remember?

Now the identification's complete.

It's Steve who's lying flat on his back

with your busted spine, pleading to die.

Believe me, son, just a hallucination.

- Oh, excuse me, doctor.

- That's all right. We've just finished.

Telegram for you, Bob.

For me?

Well?

It's from Chicago.

It says, "Been on the move.

Will get in touch with you.

Everything fine." Signed, Steve.

There you are, Corey, you see?

Pink elephants.

Just like I said. Get your clothes.

Stop by my office on your way out.

Thanks, doctor.

- Well, what are you waiting for?

- Hm?

You heard him. You're a free man.

Yeah. Yeah, that's right.

And I'm a free woman.

At least for the weekend.

You want to meet me in town?

Well, I can catch the 5:10 bus

and be at the Biltmore by 9:30.

I'll change when I get there.

Looks like you stuck me for dinner.

Come to think of it,

it's about time that I fed you.

Hop in, son.

- Which way you going?

- Same way you are.

Hop in.

Wait a minute. What's the idea?

- You're Bob Corey, aren't you?

- Yeah, that's right.

Hop in. Come on.

In here, son.

This is Bob Corey. Captain Garcia.

How are you, Corey?

Sit down, son, sit down.

- Oh, uh, care for a smoke?

- No, thanks.

Well, they tell me out at the hospital

you've had quite a siege.

Feel well enough

to answer a few questions?

Sure. If I know the answers.

Good. Good.

When was the last time

you saw Steve Connolly?

Seven, eight weeks ago.

- Do you remember the exact date?

- Yeah.

November the 18th.

He's been killed.

Is that what you're trying to tell me?

No, he was very much alive

the last time I saw him.

Then what's this all about?

Why all the mystery?

Your friend, Steve,

is wanted for murder.

- Murder?

- Did you ever hear of Solly Blayne?

The gambler?

The guy who was shot a few weeks ago?

- That's right.

- Well, yeah.

But you don't think that Steve...

That's crazy. How would

he get mixed up with a guy like that?

We asked that same question,

we got an answer...

...from detective headquarters,

New York City.

Steve Connolly, before the war,

professional gambler.

Operating in New York, New Jersey.

Arrested November 1941,

gambling charge, conspiracy to defraud.

Acquitted. Lack of evidence.

Enlisted, U.S. Army, December 1941.

- No record since.

- I know all that.

So he got off to a bad start. What of it?

In the Army he changed. Guys changed.

Some of them changed back.

So let's get down to cases.

Any idea where your pal might be?

I, uh...

Oh, that telegram

you were just going to tell me about.

It wasn't from Steve Connolly.

A woman sent it.

They located her in Chicago

this morning.

A woman? Who is she?

What did she look like?

She's an older edition of her daughter.

A nurse out at the hospital,

called Julie Benson. Do you know her?

Sure, I know her.

It seems the Benson girl got her mother

to send the wire so you'd quit worrying.

All right, so Steve didn't send it.

That doesn't mean he killed anyone.

Why were you so worried?

Why did you keep calling

the Fremont Hotel?

Because I wanted to see him.

Is anything wrong with that?

Captain, you got a bad lead.

You don't know Steve.

He was playing it straight.

For years we broke

our necks to get a ranch.

- He wouldn't mess all that up.

- Sentiment, son, sentiment.

- In my job I have to deal with facts.

- I'm giving you facts.

Then let me give you some.

December 4th, 7:
12 p.m.,

a call comes into Homicide...

...that a man's been killed on Marden Drive,

out in the Los Feliz district.

The house belonged to Solly Blayne,

but he wasn't going to occupy it any longer.

He was lying dead

on the living room floor.

And only his wife was sorry.

- When do we get the house...

- Wait a minute. Just be patient.

Take it easy, you'll get your story.

Any footprints, George?

- Yeah. Everybody's.

- That's too bad.

What's the story?

How about a lead?

Give us a break, will you?

Very simple. At first the guy calls up

to make sure Solly's at home.

Few minutes later, he drives up in his car,

walks across the lawn to this window.

There sits Solly in his chair,

sipping a highball.

The guy lets him have it. Three slugs.

Yeah, good shooting.

- Excuse me, captain.

- Yes, doctor?

- Mrs. Blayne must get some rest.

- She's in no condition...

- Yes. It's been pretty rough on her.

- We won't need her anymore tonight.

- Thank you.

- Oh, uh, Doctor Anstead.

- Yes?

Tell her we'll have to leave somebody

in the house.

- I understand.

Oh, captain?

Yes? What is it?

- There's a call in your car.

- All right. Thank you.

- D-5 to 1.

- D-1 to 5.

The room clerk from

the Fremont Hotel just called in.

Solly Blayne was in an hour ago.

He saw a man named Steve Connolly.

Over.

D-5, roger.

Fremont Hotel. Fourth and Olive.

Solly Blayne was there an hour ago.

- What room is Steve Connolly in?

- 228. Come in a half hour ago.

Keep away from that phone.

Don't worry. It was me who called you.

I was the one who recognized Solly.

It is feared the murder of Solly Blayne...

...may be the beginning of full-scale

racketeer warfare within Los Angeles.

The police department

has known for some time...

All right, open up, Connolly, police.

Hold it. You're liable to hit a taxpayer.

That was the last

we saw of Steve Connolly.

I don't have any actual proof

that he killed Solly Blayne.

No witnesses, no prints,

no established motives.

But until I get evidence to the contrary,

Steve has to be number one boy on my list.

Why? Because he ran away?

Who wouldn't?

Look, captain, Solly Blayne

comes to see him about something.

Then he hears on the radio

that Solly's been killed.

Next, you're pounding on his door.

To Steve that can only mean...

...you're gonna pin it on him.

- A man comes back if he's innocent.

Not if he's lying

somewhere with a busted spine.

Yes, they told me out at the hospital

about your mysterious visitor.

They think it was all a dream.

What the doctors call an aberration.

I don't care what they call it.

I saw the girl, I tell you.

I can still hear her voice.

She said there was an accident.

The doctor could do nothing for him.

Steve wanted to die.

Does that sound like a dream?

You don't seem the kind

to get aberrations.

I'll play along with you.

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