Calling Dr. Death Page #4

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the last few hours?

On my way back

from Spring Lake.

And when the train stopped,

you got out

and made a long-distance

telephone call to yourself.

Vibration

of the telephone bell

upset the acid,

causing it to fall.

And your little gadget

did the rest.

I hate to disillusion you,

Inspector, but I drove back.

Besides, why would I want

to burn my own office?

May I repeat myself?

Perhaps you had

something to hide.

Mark!

Mark, what happened?

Just a little fire.

Are you all right?

You're not hurt?

Of course I'm all right.

There's nothing

to worry about.

Is your office all right?

Yes. The fire

didn't get in there.

Oh, I'm glad.

Were you out of town, too?

What's that got to do with it?

A successful doctor

closes his office,

goes away on a vacation.

His nurse, too?

Now, come, Doctor.

Of course,

he needed a rest.

And you?

I went to visit my family.

Spring Lake?

Malcolm Falls.

Same route, isn't it?

Why, yes.

Yeah.

You don't mind if I use

your private phone, Doctor?

Long distance.

Supervisor, please.

This is Inspector Gregg,

headquarters.

Have there been any

long-distance calls to this number

in the last

four or five hours?

Oh, wait a minute.

This is Main 9210.

All right, I'll wait.

Routine.

I hope you don't mind.

Yes?

Yes, there was

a long-distance call.

Where from?

From Spring Lake

early this morning.

Was it a man

or a woman?

I couldn't tell.

The voices were muffled.

I couldn't distinguish whether

it was a man or a woman.

All right.

Thank you, Operator.

What is this all about?

The fire.

Well, you can't suspect us.

We weren't here.

Why don't you explain it

to her, Doctor?

It seems that the fire

started in the telephone box.

There were signs of acid.

An old trick. Should interest

the fire department.

Not hard to track down,

either.

Did the train

stop at Spring Lake?

Well, yes.

I don't suppose you got off,

did you?

On the contrary, I did.

I went to the newsstand

and bought a magazine.

Well, I'm sorry.

My apologies.

Got a match, Doctor?

Of course.

Thank you.

Mind if I keep these, Doctor?

Mark, he frightens me.

Darling, why would anyone want

to set fire to the office?

I wish I knew.

We'd better

look through the files.

I hope the books aren't burnt.

Your personal files,

they're ruined.

Canceled checks.

Home expenses.

The record of all

of Maria's bills

and my personal accounts,

destroyed.

Well, don't worry about it,

dear.

It'll make it just

that much easier for you.

Now you won't have

to break-in the new girl.

She can inaugurate

her own system.

What's wrong with me?

It's three days

since the fire.

I can't keep my mind

on my work.

The least sound

seems to upset me.

I wonder why?

What's going on out here?

Mrs. Duval was here. I told

her you couldn't be bothered.

Weren't you being

inconsiderate?

You know

what she's going through.

But you can't do

anything for her now.

Besides, it brings back

unpleasant memories.

Oh, I guess you're right.

What's the date today?

It's the 28th.

That's why Mrs. Duval

wanted to see me.

Her husband dies

tomorrow morning at 5:00.

How could

I have been so cruel?

Shall I call her back?

No, it would only

add to her injury.

I think

I'll leave early tonight.

Mark, I know how you feel.

You mustn't let it bother you.

It's a man's life.

I once took an oath

that I'd save lives.

If there was only something

I could do in this case.

Stella, I don't want

to be alone tonight.

Would you have dinner with me?

Maybe a show?

Just anything

to pass the time.

Of course, darling.

Thinking of Duval?

Are you?

Yes.

Stella,

I don't want to go home.

Let's go back to the office and sit

there until this horrible thing is over.

Waiter.

Stella looks very tired.

The strain seems

to be too much for her.

Drink?

There you are.

Stella, I don't know what I

would have done without you.

You've been so considerate.

Well, here's to...

I don't want it.

Neither do I.

I know.

I know just how you feel.

What time is it?

A few minutes to 5:00.

The evening's been so long.

Long for us, yes,

but think of Duval.

He only has

two minutes to live.

Now, only a minute and a half.

He's gone.

No more Duval.

You're tired, aren't you,

Stella?

Asleep.

Rest.

Rest.

That's it, Stella.

Sleep.

Sleep.

Stella!

Stella!

Stella!

Stella!

Stella!

I'm returning the money

that Maria gave me.

Don't be a fool.

The Doctor doesn't know

a thing about it.

I fixed the records.

We're in the clear.

Give me back your share.

I'm returning that, too.

I won't.

You've got yours, I've got

mine, and I'm going to keep it.

Oh, no, you're not.

Maria means too much to me.

Even if I have

to tell the Doctor.

Tell the Doctor?

You wouldn't dare.

I love her. I'd do anything,

even tell the Doctor.

Oh, no,

you're not going to tell him.

He belongs to me.

I planned all this.

Don't interfere.

I'll see you dead first.

What are you doing here?

You followed me.

Get out. Get out!

I hate you! Get out!

Get out! Get out!

Listen, Mark. Listen.

You drove to the lodge.

Maria was there.

She was drunk.

She accused you

of following her.

You argued.

You pushed her away

and ran out of the house.

As you got in the car,

through the rearview mirror,

you saw Duval enter

the house. Do you hear?

You saw Duval

enter the house.

Now, repeat what I said.

Do you hear?

Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

Now, please. Get a girl

to take care of the office.

As a nurse, I'm afraid

I can't replace you.

I mustn't let you

go through the files.

I mustn't let you see

the canceled checks

for the money

Maria gave Duval.

Mustn't let you find out.

Mustn't let you see

the canceled checks.

Thank you, Doctor.

I'll have a girl here

Monday morning.

Long distance, please.

Don't let them do it, Mark!

Don't let them. Mark! Mark!

You can set

your watch back now, Doctor.

It's exactly 10 after 4:00.

What happened, Mark?

Mark.

Miss Madden, I hold you for

the murder of Maria Steele.

It's a lie. Tell him!

You can't arrest me.

You have no evidence, no

witnesses. Only your conscience.

You tricked me.

You knew it all the time.

But nobody will believe you.

Oh, no!

My word is as good as yours.

Do you hear? Nobody will

believe you. You have no proof.

We have all the proof

we need.

You have no proof.

Let me go!

You have no proof, I tell

you! Let me go! Let me go!

Let me go!

You have no proof!

Operator, this is Inspector

Gregg, headquarters.

Get me Warden Williams,

State Penitentiary, please.

Why did you suspect me?

I didn't.

I only used you for bait,

because I knew you'd

lead me to the criminal.

She was clever,

almost too clever.

Hello, Williams, Gregg.

Duval's clear. Yeah.

No, the Doctor's nurse.

Yeah.

No, that won't be necessary. I'll

make the report out myself. Right.

Well, Doc, it's been pretty

tough on you, hasn't it?

But do you know something?

I envy you.

How's that?

Well, you've got

something to go back to,

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