Dial M for Murder Page #10

of my hands for months.

-There's been a trial and an appeal--

-Of course it wouldn't mean much to you.

You'd have to admit

you arrested the wrong person.

-I think you'd better go.

-You bet I'll go.

But you've made one mistake.

What will happen

when Margot hears this?.

-She'll deny it, of course.

-And perhaps she'll change her will.

You'll have done it all

for nothing, Tony.

If I'd told that story of his,

would anyone believe me?.

No, not a chance.

Before nearly every execution,

someone comes forward like this.

This must have been distressing for you...

-...coming as it did.

-You suppose they let him see her?.

I don't want her upset just now.

Have a word with your lawyer.

He might be able to prevent it.

You should get that money in the bank

before somebody pinches it.

Thank you. I think I will.

I hope Mr. Halliday's not

waiting outside to see me.

Would you mind just taking a look, sir,

to make sure he's gone?.

-All clear.

-Good.

By the way, sir,

I was asked to tell you...

...there are a few belongings

of Mrs. Wendice at the station.

-What sort of things?.

-Just books and a handbag.

They'd like you to come

and collect them.

-You mean, after tomorrow?.

-Yes, or today if you like.

Just ask the desk sergeant.

He knows all about it.

Well, goodbye, Mr. Wendice.

I don't suppose we shall meet again.

Goodbye, inspector,

and thank you very much.

-Maida Vale Police.

-Chief inspector here.

Give me Sergeant O' Brien,

quick.

-O'Brien here.

-Hubbard.

Look, O ' Brien,

I've got back in again.

-Start the ball rolling.

-Right away, sir.

Inspector Hubbard.

It's me, Mark Halliday.

Now what are you up to?.

What's the idea?.

-What are you doing?.

-Never mind.

-I was wondering why--

-Get out of here.

-Listen, inspector--

-Shut up!

If you want to save Mrs. Wendice,

keep quiet. Let me handle this.

How are you possibly going to--?.

Look, what is all this?.

They talk about

flatfooted policemen.

May the saints protect us

from the gifted amateur.

You'd better prepare yourself

for a surprise, Mr. Halliday.

Margot!

Hello, Mark.

-Where's Tony?.

-He....

-He's gone out.

-When will he be back?.

We're not sure.

-Was that you who rang just now?.

-Yes.

-Why didn't you let me in?.

-You've got a key.

-Why didn't you use it?.

-I did...

-...but it didn't fit the lock.

-You know why, don't you?.

No, I don't.

Has the lock been changed?.

May I have your bag a moment?.

Whose key is this?.

I thought it was mine.

I don't know.

What's going on here?.

Your husband's explained this,

you know.

You can tell us

all about it now.

What is it?.

I don't understand.

No, I don't believe you do.

-Pearson.

-Yes, sir.

Take this handbag back

to the police station...

-...and get that car out of the way.

-Yes, sir.

Wait a minute, you clod. You can't

walk down the street like that.

You'll be arrested.

Here, put it in this.

Margot,

how did you get here?.

I don't know.

About an hour ago,

the warden came to see me...

...and just said I was

to be taken home.

Then two detectives

brought me here.

They said I could go,

but I couldn't get that door open.

Where's Tony?.

He was supposed

to visit this morning...

...and they said he couldn't come.

Has anything happened to him?.

No. Nothing.

I don't want to interfere...

...but do you think you could

tell us what you're up to?.

Mrs. Wendice, what I'm about

to tell you may come as a shock.

Yes?.

We strongly suspect that your husband

had planned to murder you.

Tony arranged for Swan to come here

that night and kill you.

How long have you known this?.

-Did you suspect it yourself?.

-No, never.

And yet....

What's the matter with me, Mark?.

I don't seem able to feel anything.

Shouldn't I break down or something?.

It's delayed action, that's all.

In a couple of days, you're gonna

have the most wonderful breakdown.

When did you find out, sir?.

Well, the first clue

came quite by accident.

We discovered that your husband

had been spending...

...a large number of pound notes

all over the place.

It ran into over 300.

And it appeared to have started

at about the time you were arrested.

Now, I had to find out where

he got that money and how.

Then I remembered that after you

were arrested we searched this flat.

And I saw a copy of

his bank statement in that desk.

So yesterday afternoon, I went to the prison

and asked to see your handbag.

While I was doing this,

I managed to lift your latchkey.

Highly irregular, of course,

but my blood was up.

And then this morning,

when your husband was out...

...I came back here

to look at his statement.

I never saw it because I never

got through that door.

You see, the key that I'd

taken from your handbag...

...didn't fit the lock.

Williams?.

Wendice.

That was a near one.

Maida Vale Police.

O'Brien speaking.

Hubbard. Look, O' Brien,

he' s found out about his raincoat.

He just came back

and couldn't get in.

I think he's on his way

to the station now.

Has Pearson arrived

with the handbag?.

- Yes, sir.

-Good. Now, listen.

Give Wendice those books

and the handbag...

...and make sure he sees the key.

Better make him check the contents

and sign for them.

If he wants his own key and raincoat...

-...tell him I've gone to Glasgow.

-Right, sir.

-Any questions?.

-No questions.

Call me back

when he leaves the station.

Right, sir.

Well, Mr. Halliday,

have you got it?.

I don't think so.

Where's Mrs. Wendice's key?.

It took me just half an hour

to find it.

But if it was there,

why didn't Wendice use it just now?.

He didn't use it because he

doesn't realize it's there.

He still thinks it's in the handbag.

You see, you were

very nearly right.

He told Swan that he would leave

your latchkey under the stair carpet.

And told him to return it to

the same place when he left.

But as Swan was killed,

we assumed that your key...

...would still be

in one of Swan's pockets.

That was his little mistake

because Swan had done...

...exactly as you suggested,

Mr. Halliday.

He unlocked the door...

...then returned

the key before he came in.

And it's been

out there ever since.

And the key Wendice

took out of Swan's pocket...

-...and returned to her handbag was--

-Swan's own latchkey.

Mind you, even I didn't

guess that at once. Extraordinary.

You know, it had always puzzled me

that no key was found on Swan's body.

After all, most men carry

a latchkey about with them.

And then I had a brain wave.

I took the key

that was in your handbag...

...to his girlfriend's, Mrs. Van Dorn's,

and unlocked the door of her flat.

And then I borrowed her telephone

and called Scotland Yard.

-Why did you bring me here?.

-You were the only other person...

...who could possibly

have left that key outside.

I had to find out

if you knew it was there.

Suppose I had known?.

You didn't.

-Mark.

-Yes, darling?.

I think I'm going

to have that breakdown.

-Inspector Hubbard?

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