Backfire Page #4

Do you know a quicker way

to make 50 bucks?

Well, maybe not quicker, but healthier.

- Look, if you need a job...

- Sure.

In the nightclub business,

you could use a bouncer.

You saw how I could handle

a tough customer.

Who said anything about nightclubs?

- See you outside.

- Yeah.

Mortician?

- You mean you're a guy...

- Please.

My partner takes care of all that.

I'm just a front office man.

And the way you looked

in there tonight...

...I thought I was gonna have

a new customer.

Another round

and you would've had me.

Look, I meant what I said.

If there's anything I can do.

I know quite a few people over in Glendale.

Business people.

And take it from me,

it's a steady job what pays off.

Thanks. But a steady job in Glendale

is not what I'm looking for.

Steve, don't get fouled up.

You know how easy that is.

I know, Ben, I know.

Well, give me a ring, huh?

We'll cut up a few touches?

Sure, Ben, see you.

So long, Steve.

That was the last I saw of him.

He never called me.

Now I wish I never let him

out of my sight.

I don't get it.

Steve never had on a pair of gloves

in his life.

- He wasn't broke.

- He was pretty upset about something.

No guy would take

the shellacking he took just for laughs.

Yes, Miss Hallum.

Oh. I'll be right down.

- How about dinner?

- No, I can't tonight, Ben. I got a date.

Well, some other time. Business.

Keep in touch.

Okay, Ben.

I don't know, I'm stymied.

Why does a guy go into the ring

and get his block knocked off for 50 bucks?

How does he get mixed up

with a character like Solly Blayne?

And the $40,000.

Where would he get that kind of money?

I got a hundred questions

and not one answer.

If you don't stop, you're going to worry

yourself right back into the hospital.

I can't quit worrying.

This whole business is my fault. When you

told Steve I had to forget the ranch...

...he tried to steer me onto something else,

I wouldn't listen. What happens?

He goes out for some quick dough,

so he wouldn't let me down.

What's he got to show for it?

A murder rap.

Maybe lying somewhere

with a busted spine.

- Some more coffee, senor?

- No, thanks. Just the check.

Anniversary. Married 25 years.

What I wouldn't give

to talk to the corpse of Solly Blayne.

- I beg your pardon, senor?

- Nothing.

Muchas gracias.

Bob, the anniversary.

- What about it?

- A man and his wife.

- Wasn't Solly Blayne married?

- Yes.

She was there when he was killed.

That might be just as good

as talking to Solly.

That's right.

Remind me to tell you that I love you.

Let's go.

- Yes?

Mrs. Blayne?

If it's about the house,

I'd rather you came back in the morning.

We'd like to talk to you now if we could.

Please, Mrs. Blayne. It's very important.

Will you come in?

It's a shame you have to see the house

looking like this.

It was really quite lovely.

We didn't come to talk about the house,

Mrs. Blayne.

My name is Bob Corey.

I'm a friend of Steve Connolly's.

What do you want?

We'd like to ask you

some questions, if you don't mind.

I have nothing to say to you.

Will you please go?

We don't mean to be heartless,

Mrs. Blayne. But we're desperate.

I'm a nurse at the Veterans Hospital.

Bob was a patient there

until this morning.

We just found out that his best friend

has been accused of murder.

The murder of your husband.

We know he didn't do it.

He couldn't have done it.

But we have nowhere to turn,

except to you.

If there's anything you can tell us.

Won't you sit down?

What was it you wanted to know?

Did your husband ever mention Steve?

I knew none of his friends.

He didn't want me to.

You see, there were two Solly Blaynes.

One was my husband,

and one was a gambler.

My husband always left

that Solly Blayne outside.

I hate to ask you this, but could you tell us

anything about the night itself?

It was Thursday, and the maid's day off.

Solly was in here,

having his evening highball.

I was in the kitchen getting dinner.

It was to be a little private celebration.

Solly had just told me he had won $40,000,

which he would receive on Saturday.

We were going on a long trip together.

I hoped it might mean

an end to his gambling.

What is it, Diggy? Your pal next door?

Solly?

Solly? What was...?

Solly! Oh!

Solly.

Get the doctor.

Dr. Anstead. Hurry.

Hello, Dr. Anstead?

This is Mrs. Blayne.

Solly's been hurt, badly.

Hurry, please.

But Solly was gone.

There was nothing the doctor could do.

Nothing anybody could do.

Is there anything else

you'd like to know?

No. No, I guess not.

Then if you'll forgive me, I'm very tired.

You've been very kind, Mrs. Blayne.

- You got a record of those phone calls?

- What do you think?

- We just tack them on the bill?

- Never mind.

- I said have you got a record?

- lf it says he made them, he made them.

I paid for those phone calls,

I want to know what they were.

It's a lot of trouble.

I have to go through last month's book.

Okay, okay.

This make it any easier?

Helps.

Let's see.

Well, now, let's take a look in this.

Come on, mumbles,

hurry it up, will you?

Mumbles.

Here they are.

Now, the same day.

Ulrich-1-2-3-4.

Gladstone-4-1-3-1.

- Thanks.

- I told you.

When you hear the tone, the

time will be exactly 11:32 and three quarters.

Ehh.

They didn't have the right time

in this hotel.

Gladstone.

Well, it's about time.

Where are you anyway?

I've been sitting here for an hour,

ready to leave.

I'm sorry, I think you made a mistake.

- Say, who is this?

- This is Steve. Steve Connolly.

- Oh, you must want Bonnie.

- Yeah, yeah, let me talk to Bonnie.

She's out. I don't know

when she'll be back. You know Bonnie.

Well, look, uh, maybe I'll stop by.

What's that address again?

There'll be nobody home.

I'm leaving myself in a few minutes.

You better give me the address anyhow,

I want to send some flowers.

Flowers? It's 1698, North Serrano.

- Flowers yet.

- Thanks.

Who are you? What are you doing here?

It's okay. You needn't be frightened.

Frightened? A guy I never saw

drops from the ceiling...

...and tells me not to be frightened.

You better get out of here

before I start screaming.

When I scream, they can hear me

as far as Cucamonga.

How did you get in here anyway?

Well, your roommate let me in.

Yeah? What for?

And what are you doing with that?

She asked me to meet her here.

- Lisa?

- Yeah, Lisa.

Why didn't you say that

in the first place?

You didn't give me much of a chance.

- I've been worried about her.

She goes away and doesn't even

send me a card. How is she anyway?

- She sounds all right.

- Good.

Well, sit down.

I'll take the chill off with some coffee.

Thanks.

I don't know where Lisa will sleep.

Three in here

and it'll be like a submarine.

It'll give me a good excuse

to get rid of Myrna.

She keeps hours like a baby doctor.

Say, what's your name, anyhow?

Corey. Bob Corey.

I never heard Lisa mention you.

Well, I'm a friend of Steve's.

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