Shock Page #5

may have paid a visit to your wife.

You've lived around Point Lobos

for nearly 10 years.

Mrs. Cross spent

much of her time there.

She must've known those

cliffs pretty well, even at night.

Yes. I'd hate to think that she-

I'm not saying it was murder, Doctor.

I'm just checking.

Of course. I'll do

everything I can to help you.

I knew you'd feel

that way about it.

Have you checked your place

to see if anything was missing?

I'm sure there isn't,

or I'd have noticed it.

If it's all right with you, Doctor, we'd

like to have Mrs. Cross's body exhumed.

- But the coroner said-

- It was only a routine examination.

Well, I don't know

as that's necessary, Mr. O'Neill.

- You've got your man.

- All we've got is a drunken old tramp...

who clubbed Mrs. Harwood

and stole a little money and jewelry.

We can't know about Mrs. Cross

unless the body's exhumed.

But it seems almost sacrilegious.

Hasn't she been through enough? Haven't I?

I'd hoped you'd be more

understanding, Doctor.

Naturally, we'd get a court order,

but it'd be much simpler if you-

If this tramp killed your wife,

you want to see him punished, don't you?

- Of course.

- Then you can't conscientiously object

to the exhumation.

No. No, Mr. O'Neill, I can't.

If the man is guilty,

he must be punished, of course.

Thank you, Doctor.

You'll hear from me, one way

or the other, in the next few days.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Darling, I've been so worried.

I didn't know what

had happened to you.

- Where have you been?

- The city.

When you weren't here

for dinner, I began to worry.

What did the man from

the district attorney's office want?

- They're going to exhume Margaret's body.

- You're not going to let them?

I had nothing to say about it.

They'd get a court order.

- But why are they-

- They think some prowler may have killed her.

- Prowler?

- They weren't looking for anything before.

She slipped and fell and fractured

her skull against the rocks.

Now they may discover

it wasn't the fall that killed her.

- They can't prove anything.

- No?

Once they start

asking questions, I-

That's why I went to the city.

I had to make sure I hadn't

overlooked anything in the apartment.

Why didn't I report it

in the first place?

Why did I let you talk me into-

If it weren't for that Stewart girl-

- If they start asking questions and find her-

- Maybe they won't find her.

We've taken care of everything else.

If we have to, we'll take care of her too.

And you're not helping matters

acting this way!

If a man wanted to,

if he had courage...

he could get rid of her

and no one would ever know.

A doctor has an advantage.

I could give her

insulin shock treatment.

Shock treatment's indicated

in a case like hers.

I could give her four injections-

Then with the last one, an overdose.

No one would ever

know the difference.

Then we'd be safe. No matter what

the district attorney's office found...

we'd be safe- they'd

have nothing on us.

We could get married then.

You'd be yourself again, Richard.

We'd find peace and quiet here,

just the two of us.

- You don't think I'd do it, do you?

- Why not?

- Is her life more important than ours?

- I've had enough.

Look, Elaine, I can't go on like this.

Things keep piling up.

First, it was Margaret, and then

tricking that child so she'd forget.

Then convincing her

that she was insane.

There's a limit beyond

even which I can't go.

Richard...

remember the first

night I came here?

Remember?

You were alone.

You were sitting here in front

of the fireplace with a sick headache.

The lights were out.

You didn't hear me when I knocked.

I opened the door and you said,

"Oh, it's you, Miss Jordan."

You called me "Miss Jordan"

then, remember?

I told you I had to see you

about Mrs. Penny's prescription.

You talked to me and

you saw that I was tired...

and you asked me

if I wouldn't have a drink.

I hesitated and you said...

"I won't bite your

head off, Miss Jordan."

We had a drink.

Remember?

We sat here for a long time and then...

suddenly you laughed and

you said your headache was gone.

And you asked me about my family...

and I told you...

and we both laughed.

Remember?

Then you took me in your arms.

I know you remember that.

I won't do it, Elaine.

I won't do it!

Just a minute. I'm coming.

- Hello, Doctor.

- Come in.

- I hope you hadn't gone to bed.

- No.

They told me at the hospital

I'd find you here.

I didn't expect to see you

so soon, Mr. O'Neill.

I-I thought you'd phone me

if there were any developments.

- I had to serve the papers.

- Oh, yes?

Coroner's Inquest Subpoena.

Now it's legal.

What did the coroner find?

Your wife was murdered, Doctor.

Oh?

- Are you sure?

- Yes, sir.

Sit down, Mr. O'Neill.

She was beaten over the head-

Suffered an explosive fracture.

Death was practically instantaneous.

This prowler you told me about,

you think he did it?

It seems so.

He clubbed Mrs. Harwood.

Your wife went out

the same way-A pattern.

Killers usually follow a pattern.

You don't know how she was killed-

I mean, the weapon?

She was struck with a candlestick.

A candlestick? Are you sure?

- A heavy silver one.

- How can you know?

Microscope. There were

particles of silver in the wound.

They told us it was a silver object.

There were bits of wax mixed in with the silver.

They told us it was a candlestick.

It must've been a heavy candlestick

to have done the damage.

Just routine, Doctor.

A criminal doesn't have much

of a chance these days, does he?

No, sir.

By the way, do you have...

any silver candlesticks at the lodge?

- We might have.

- I'd like your permission

to go through the house.

The murderer may have left the candlestick

behind. We'll get fingerprints.

If he got rid of the weapon,

we may be able to find the mate.

- Then we'll know what to look for.

- Of course. Go right ahead.

Thanks.

Now, if we can find the candlestick,

our troubles are over.

By the way, when did you

see Mrs. Cross last?

- Alive, I mean.

- Oh, a couple of weeks before she was killed.

- Why?

- Can you place it a little more definitely?

I think so.

Things had been

piling up around here...

and I needed a change...

so I drove down to Point Lobos

on a Friday night.

- Anyone see you?

- I don't think so. Why?

We're trying to fix

the exact time of her death.

Well, I'm not sure anyone saw me.

I drove down there on Friday night...

left there around 9:30 Saturday night.

Well, it's not too important.

Naturally, I want to do

everything I can to help you.

- If I think of anything, I'll get in touch with you.

- Thanks.

- Sorry to bother you so late.

- That's all right.

See you at the inquest.

- Good night, Doctor.

- Good night.

Wilt thou love her, comfort her...

honor and keep her

in sickness and in health...

and forsaking all others,

keep only unto her...

so long as ye both shall live?

I will.

What's the matter, Richard?

You haven't been yourself lately.

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