Big Jim McLain Page #7

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Well, you wanted me to do something?

Yes. This woman. This landlady.

How well do you know her?

Not well.

Sir, if I may say so,

I think McLain is being overly modest.

When I observed them together,

she seemed quite...

Well, "taken" is the word.

Do you think that you could

worm your way into her confidence?

I'm sure he could, sir.

I wasn't addressing you, Commander.

I'm sorry, sir.

I only spoke because I am familiar

with Jim's excessive modesty.

Really, a certain type of woman

has always found him most attractive.

This is that type of woman.

I see.

Will you send Lieutenant Edwards in,

please?

Well, McLain?

Well, I'll do anything I can, sir.

Fine. Commander Grey will brief you

in detail.

Lieutenant Edwards, I'm assigning you

to this case to assist McLain.

Stay within our jurisdiction.

Yes, sir.

- Yes, Admiral?

- Captain LeYton.

In going through the report

on the Nomaka case...

I have visitors, sir. I'll be right in.

If you gentlemen will excuse me.

Excuse me. I'll get my desk cleaned off

and be right with you.

Now, this is the same envelope,

but there's a dummy letter in it.

You take it back to your innamorata

and tell her to give it to anybody

who asks for it.

We'll have the house covered.

Oh, wait. I suggest that you spend

as much time as possible with the lady.

You know, take her out to nightclubs

and picture shows, that sort of thing.

- You suggest that, huh?

- Yes, I do.

Well, my counter-suggestion

is that you'd look real cute

with a lump on your head.

Oh, Jim. Jim, all kidding aside,

this was a real find.

If we can rouse Nomaka from his stupor

long enough to interrogate him,

we might have something big.

Well, this Edwards,

has he been assigned to me to help me,

or as a watch dog?

Oh, he'll help you out.

Okay.

- Hi, 76.

- Hello.

What're you doing

in our neighborhood, huh?

I wanna ask you to do me a little favor.

Anything.

I found out I couldn't use this letter.

Will you give it to anybody

who might call for it?

Don't tell them I had it.

Oh, sure, 76.

But you better not come around no more.

I got a new deal with Olaf.

He's taking me along on all the scow trips.

Guess he don't want to be Ionesome.

No. I think he just wants to make sure

you won't be.

Will you do what I asked?

Sure. But you better not

come around here.

I don't want to hurt Olaf's feelings.

But don't get Olaf wrong.

He's just a big overgrown kid.

He loses his temper a lot,

but he always apologizes.

Where you going?

I'm gonna save Olaf an apology.

I got a phone call this morning.

I don't know anything about it.

Oh, I'm afraid this'll do it.

That's it.

- Well, answer the phone.

- I'm winning.

- I'll count your hand for you.

- Oh, no.

Hello?

Oh, yes, Chief, he's here.

Hello, Chief.

What's the matter?

Jim, what's the matter?

Mal's dead.

Hello, Jim.

Sorry.

After you've made your identification,

I'd like to get some information

for an obituary.

You know, married, age, any kids,

war record, that sort of thing.

ObituarY!

Name, so and so. Age, such and such.

Does this tell us about a Young lawYer

who went in the Marine Corps,

who lost eight feet of intestines in Korea,

gut-shot bY a grenade

made in Czechoslovakia of scrap

and bY machines that had been shipped

from the States

to somewhere in Western Europe

and then transshipped

behind the Iron Curtain?

Does this give You a picture of a guY

who let his own teeth go

because his kid needed bands on hers?

OkaY.

Malcolm Baxter, 34,

married, two children, ex-Marine.

There's Your obituarY.

Is that Mal Baxter?

Yeah, that's Mal Baxter.

I'm sorry, Jim.

Yeah.

What happened?

Sergeant Campbell

will give you the report.

"The body of the deceased was discovered

by Patrolman Gardner

"of Sixth Precinct, this department.

"The body was floating

in a landlocked lagoon

"behind the Halekulani Hotel.

"The time was 0913.

"The lungs were free of water,

"which precludes the possibility of death

by drowning.

"The Medical Examiner requests

"that the Detective Bureau,

in its interrogation of relatives,

"investigate the past cardiac history

of the deceased,

"as there is the possibility deceased

suffered a heart attack while intoxicated

"and fell into the lagoon."

This was found on him.

Did he have a heart condition?

Yeah, he had a heart condition.

He tried to keep quiet about it,

but it finally got him in trouble.

The Homicide Squad and I

checked everY lead.

There weren't manY.

Three weeks. Night and daY.

We came up with nothing.

Sorry, baby.

Now, don't tell me

you were working late at the office.

Just that. I walked 100 miles of waterfront

asking guys if they knew guys.

The French fries are all soggy.

And I was so anxious to show you

what a comfy housewife I'd be.

You're comfy without French fries.

Put them on, I'll eat them.

Okoli Maluna club. Good food.

And the securitY agencies

had been listening

to some verY interesting conversations.

I didn't tell NancY we were on business.

I wonder what he's coming here for?

Probably just a coincidence.

I am completely skeptical

about coincidences.

Could you pass the ketchup, please?

Will you pass the ketchup, please?

I said, the ketchup.

Oh, certainly.

Well, baby, I spend more time

in Washington than anywhere else.

It's crowded,

but I think we can find a place.

Do you mind living there?

Home is where your heart is.

That's from Swinburne, or somebody.

I got orders.

To go back?

I guess this is just another blind alley.

Washington ran all our findings

through the sieve

and decided it came to nothing.

The Hawaiian investigation

is being postponed indefinitely.

But you thought you were doing so well.

I talked like I was doing better

than I really was, part of the act.

Well?

Well, do you want to come back with me,

or would you rather wait around

a few days

and straighten out your personal affairs?

I don't got no personal affairs but you.

Then you'll leave with me? Good girl.

Oh, I'm not being noble.

I've seen those airline stewardesses.

I don't want you traveling alone.

Put your fingers in your ears.

Close your eyes.

Everybody gets vibrations.

That character wasn't deaf.

I like you.

Well, I was in the hopes

it was more than that.

Love you? Of course, but that's different.

I love you because your heart works,

and I like you because your head works.

Because you're sharp and clever

and real competent in your job.

You know, it's wonderful when a woman

has love and all that, too,

all rolled up together in the same guy.

Let's get out of here.

I'm having great difficulty

keeping my hands off of you.

Is that a threat, sir?

Yes.

I guess this is just another blind alleY.

Washington ran all our findings

through the sieve

and decided it came to nothing,

so the Hawaiian investigation

has been postponed indefinitelY.

That's splendid. I told you we were

well covered, that they'd find nothing.

Do not be more of a nuisance

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