Deadline at Dawn Page #4

Anything happen?

That makes it no hits, no runs

and two errors.

You look happy, character.

I'm glad you came back.

Because you didn't have to, but you did.

I could sure use that orangeade now.

Don't she have an icebox? Let's see.

- Are you hungry?

- No.

Thirsty?

Let's melt some ice together.

Frozen joy.

Who is it?

Gus Hoffman. Is the sailor boy in there?

He's the one who drove me up.

- What'd you tell him?

- Nothing. Personal, I said.

We're having a cold drink. Come in.

- I heard your voice at the door.

- You must've been listening close.

As close as I could put my ear.

- This is Miss...

- Miss Bartelli, Mr. Hoffman.

Why were you listening at the door?

This young man seemed in trouble.

I thought I could help him, that's why.

You can't hate me for trying, can you?

- Did you mention the text to Mr. Hoffman?

- Oh, no.

Mr. Hoffman, take 100 percent

for trying and say good night.

Good night.

But between you and me and the lamppost,

you are not Miss Bartelli.

What did you come up here for?

My dear young lady,

you are in a sweat. Why?

And look at that boy.

- Miss Bartelli is dead.

- In the next room.

Oh, I'm very sorry to hear that.

Excuse me for this intrusion

in your hour of grief.

You don't understand, Mr. Hoffman.

She's been murdered.

Am I too presumptuous to ask

if you informed the police?

It's more complicated than that.

I'm willing to listen.

My name is Alex Winkler.

My father is an undertaker

near Poughkeepsie.

About 7:
00 last night,

I went into an Italian restaurant...

...to get something to eat.

Dark Mystery. Very expensive.

What did you do

after you trailed the blond woman?

Came right back here.

The divine being made

many loathsome creatures...

...but none so low as a woman

with a cold heart.

She held these letters for blackmail,

even her own brother.

A blind man can see

how many boyfriends she had.

Evidently, the water tasted good

so she jumped down the well.

But in the professor's opinion,

we are wasting our time.

Why?

- Why? We have no actual clue to follow.

- There's this check.

- What check?

- Returned check for $1000.

Marked no funds,

signed by a Lester Brady.

That might give Mr. Brady a motive,

but we are only guessing.

And yet I can't believe the divine being

would permit an innocent boy to suffer.

Tsk. Aah...

What do you suggest we do?

Get out of here. Get your bus.

I can't leave, Gus. But it's only fair

for you and June to go away.

You don't know what you want.

First, stay, then go.

- Because it's getting hopeless, June.

- He's got a point, Miss Goffe.

Why are you so anxious

to get him out of here?

Because it's hopeless.

Well, I think we should try whatshisname,

Lester Brady and his check.

Well, I am putty in your hands.

Whatever you want, Miss Goffe.

- Call me June.

- June.

Blitzkrieg with hair on her head.

Two numbers here for Mr. Brady,

home and business.

Only business he'd be at this late

is monkey business.

What's this? Someone phoned her at 10:38,

or she called them.

Suppose I try this number.

Maybe they were here.

May I see that?

This is my handwriting...

...but don't remember writing it.

June.

June, I think I murdered Miss Bartelli.

- What does that mean?

- This paper proves it.

From 10 to 11,

that whole hour was blank.

I didn't even know I stole the money.

I must've done it then.

Using the psychology of an outsider,

that's nonsense.

It's possible, isn't it?

I can be wrong.

I can be wrong four times out of five...

...but you're the wrongest guy I ever met.

- You mean you think he did it?

- No, but he's such a character.

Shh. Let's not raise our voices.

We are not exactly mice.

- You think you did it?

- I don't know, that's the truth.

Stop zigging when we should be zagging

and zagging when we should be zigging.

Call that 10:
38 number.

When you hear the signal,

the time will be 3:10 and one quarter.

Meridian 71212.

That's upstairs, here. Right at the door.

Edna? Edna?

Are you here, Edna?

- Don't make a sound, madam.

Who are you?

I'm Mrs. Raymond.

Welcome to the city, Mrs. Raymond.

What are you doing here?

- Miss Bartelli...

Was a friend of yours.

So you walked in

and stole some of her letters.

- Well, no. No, you don't understand. l...

- I read the letters. I understand.

I'll take them back now.

And the money too.

I want you to believe

that the money was an accident.

- Were you here earlier tonight?

- No, I wasn't.

Now... Now, what happened?

- Who are you? Are you a detective?

Maybe.

I know a cab drivers badge

when I see one.

- You better put that gun down.

- Don't you come near me.

Alex.

Tripped over my own feet.

She's gone.

You weren't afraid of her.

I'm not afraid of anything.

Anything that's real, I mean.

I'm polite, as that's the way to be.

But I'm not afraid.

Now, if the mutual admiration society

will adjourn for a minute...

...what'll we do about that woman?

Right. She's running loose.

She won't report to police.

She's a criminal herself.

- But she forgot these letters.

She'll be back, you mean.

That's possible.

They are honey. They draw flies.

And the town is full of flies.

There is one across the street right now.

I hear the whistle blowing.

He's not a policeman or he'd be up here.

The thing is to find out who he is.

But not next to the station house.

What happens, Gus,

if you and I ride off in your cab?

The human fly follows and if he does,

Alex goes to see Brady about the check.

- And what if the fly follows us?

- Stop and swat him.

- Just like that?

- Just like that.

June, I think our daddies enjoyed the better

life, but Steve Brodie took a chance.

All right, Alex, it's your turn.

Get Mr. Brady on the phone.

Is this a gag?

Don't get excited. It's not a gag.

You say you're in a uniform?

A sailor? Uh...

What did you say your name was?

I didn't say.

- Are you alone?

- Yes.

Well, come right over to Room 1019.

And bring the check with you.

- Who is it?

Nan.

- What do you want?

Let me in a minute.

I don't want you in here.

Let me in

before you read it in the papers.

Don't flatter yourself, Lester.

I didn't come here for the love of it.

You might like to know

that Edna's been killed.

I've just come from there.

She's lying dead on her floor.

And, furthermore,

I have an idea who did it.

You have?

You.

That's all the love I'm giving away

this morning.

Now, you sit there.

Put Val Bartelli on the phone.

Don't give him the check

except as a last resort.

Pick his brains first.

Remember, Alex, speech was given to man

to hide his thoughts.

Best wishes.

June.

I'm almost glad, in a way,

this all happened.

Are you nuts or what?

I mean it.

Oh, sure, of course. Why not?

These are her letters and papers.

I'll mail it to myself at the garage.

If somebody calls for them tonight,

we might have a weapon in our hands.

What's that?

It's a cooler for the city. Thunder.

Now, be indifferent when we get outside.

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