Mystery Street Page #3

...but if it doesn't fit, | it certainly eliminates the wrong one.

Hmm. Close.

How about it, doctor?

Fairly close.

- What number is this, Ben? | That's Negative Number 3, sir.

McADOO:
| Mm-hm.

Length and width's all right.

Eye sockets, good.

Teeth, perfect. | I'd say this could be the girl.

That's good enough for me.

"Heldon, Vivian.

Twenty-four, 5'5", | reported missing by Jacqueline Elcott...

...May 30th, 317 Bunker Street, Boston. " | We check on it.

I'll call you later, doctor. Thank you.

Yes?

- Yes? | - Good afternoon.

I'm looking for a lady.

- Yes, indeed. | - By the name of Jacqueline Elcott?

Why, she's asleep. | Works nights, you know.

- Sweet, very sweet. | - Yes, but I...

- Who shall I say called? | - Will you just call her now, please?

Of course. | I'm hardly responsible for what my room...

- Just call her. | - Yes, indeed.

Oh, Jackie.

- Jackie? | - Yeah, Mrs. S?

Better come down. It's a...

It's a gentleman caller named Dick.

Be right down.

Now, if you'll excuse me.

Who are you?

I'm Mrs. Smerrling.

I own this rooming house | and I've never had any trouble.

Whatever it is that Jackie has done...

Not that she would do anything, | mind you.

Is your husband here?

Not exactly.

Were you ever married?

Not exactly. I...

I, uh...

- You see, I... | - Vivian Heldon. She roomed here.

Now, there's a bad one.

Is she in jail? What for?

- Miss Elcott? | - Yes.

Oh, I'm Lieutenant Moralas. | You reported Vivian Heldon missing.

Oh, yes, sir.

When she didn't come back | after a couple of days, I got scared.

I don't know why, but I did. | Then I checked where she works and...

- Where was that? | - The Grass Skirt, a caf.

They said she went out one night | with a customer and never came back.

I pity the customer.

About a week later...

...I got a picture from her room | and sent it to the police.

- You should have consulted me. | - Are her things still here?

Well, all I found was her suitcase.

I put it in my room.

Let's have a look at it, huh?

Excuse me.

If there's any money in it, | she owes me two weeks' rent.

Thank you, Mrs. Smerrling.

Nothing happened to her, did it?

Why do you think something happened?

Oh, I don't know.

Excuse the way it looks, please.

What's in it? | - How should I know?

Sorry.

Girls like us, Vivian and me...

...mostly there's nobody | to look out for us.

Like a family, I mean.

And Vivian was always saying...

...is how any day, she was gonna be set.

And I don't know why, but I got scared.

- That Harvard. | - What?

Nothing.

Did you find Vivian?

Yes. Might as well come in, | Mrs. Smerrling.

After all, it is my house.

The rest of Miss Heldon's belongings, | where are they?

I have no idea. Why not ask her?

What happened to Vivian?

Please, tell me.

- You sold her things, didn't you? | - I beg your pardon?

- Didn't you? | - Well...

That can land you in jail, you know.

Well, after all, | she did owe me two weeks' rent.

She's dead.

She is, isn't she?

Yes.

How did it happen? Where?

On Cape Cod. Near Hyannis.

We don't know how as yet.

Excuse me.

Poor gal. Poor, poor gal.

If there's anything I can do...

I want a list of everything you sold | and where you sold it.

Of course. | Well, that is, if I can remember.

My memory, you know, | isn't exactly my number one asset.

Well, pull your assets together. | I want the truth.

We'll get in touch with you later. | Goodbye.

"Hyannis 3633."

I just love boats.

They're so manly.

And there's so many of them.

Gracious, they must cost a dreadful lot.

I would say it pays to be rich.

Oh, my, what a lovely office.

- So you design the boats. | - Yes.

Madam, won't you sit down?

Well, poor Vivian's gone now.

You know, | she used to tell me all her secrets.

We were very close, Vivian and I.

Sort of a mother and daughter.

And I thought...

Thought what?

Well, it's not an easy subject, now, is it?

I'm very busy, madam. | What was it you wanted?

- Excuse me, Mr. Harkley. | Yeah, later.

But the man with the main mast is here.

He must have the papers, please.

Will you, uh...?

- Excuse me. | - Of course.

My, what a lovely girl.

Yes.

It certainly is a busy business.

Madam, the bus leaves | in about 10 minutes.

- But... | - One of my truck drivers...

...can take you back to town. | - Truck driver?

Oh, really, Mr. Harkley.

I'm a poor woman, | but that's no need to insult me.

After all, | Vivian ought to have a decent burial.

And who's going to take care | of the expenses?

No friends, | no one who wants to be reminded.

Only me...

...her only friend in life and death.

How am I going to afford it?

I ask you, how?

You're talking about this Vivian.

That's right.

I never knew the girl.

Oh, come now, Mr. Harkley.

Your telephone number | is Hyannis 3633, isn't it?

I never forget a number.

Not that I listen | to people's conversations...

...but you know how it is, don't you?

What do you want?

Only a few dollars.

After all, I know | that you've got a family, Mr. Harkley.

And that you're a very respectable man.

Don't you think I know that?

You know the penalty for blackmail?

Really, Mr. Harkley.

The idea of blackmail | for just a few dollars?

Don't be silly. Ha-ha-ha!

Get out.

I said, get out.

Poor Vivian.

Without a grave to call her own.

Perhaps she's listening to us right now.

Goodbye, Mr. Harkley.

She must have been with four or five | customers that night.

Like every night.

But she left with only one of them.

What did he look like? | She call him by name?

Just "honey. " | Everybody was "honey. "

How did she meet him? | Did he ask for her?

All I remember is the parking fella come in | and ask, "Who owns a yellow Ford?"

I asked the customers along the bar, | right down the line.

The guy with Vivian, he says, | "That's my car. "

I says, "You'll have to move it. "

Vivian says they'll take care of it. | They leave.

- Then what? | - Well, I guess they left.

He pay his check?

Yeah. Because when they left, | I sold him a bottle.

I remember that because | it's against the law to sell bottled goods.

Relax. Excuse me. So long.

I can't say that I do. No, sir, I'm...

Your name is in her book.

Perhaps she had me in mind | for some professional work...

...as a mortician.

Would you remember her face?

Well, I don't know. I see so many faces.

Oh, of course, that's Vivian. | Miss Heldon.

Yes, I remember now.

She rather reminded me of my late wife.

We did meet once or twice.

- Where? | - Where she works.

Where else?

Well, in my car once.

What kind of car?

One of my limousines.

When did you see her last?

Over a year ago.

May 23rd, do you know where you were?

May 23rd.

I left the middle of May | for a mortician's convention in Atlantic City.

You know, exchange of ideas, | floral displays.

- Wonderful. | - Mm-hm.

Yes. When did you return?

I came back the first week in June.

Pardon me if I ask, | where is our mutual friend at present?

- She's dead. | - I see.

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