That Darn Cat! Page #9

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- No.

- That's the thing. I'm not a hero.

I wanna tell you, not only will I not

get mixed up in this thing,

I'm extremely disinterested

in the whole thing.

Don't get excited.

Just do me a favor. Leave...

Please leave me alone.

- I'm very busy.

- Just listen to me for a moment.

I know you very well,

and I know you're a sweet man,

and you would never forgive yourself

if something terrible happened,

and it could.

I can just see the headlines.

"Mr. Hofstedder.

He Could Have Saved Her."

Would it say that?

Of course, it would.

Wait a minute, don't get excited.

You don't have to do a thing,

just back me up if I get in trouble.

- Who are you calling?

- It's all right, just the FBI.

Oh, the FB... The FBI?

Well, sir, I just hated

to give up on this cat angle.

Zeke, you know as well as I do,

we haven't an iota of evidence

- to connect Miller with that watch.

- [Buzzing]

- Yes?

- Emergency call for Agent Kelso.

Put it through.

Agent Kelso speaking.

[With accent]

This is Daphne Hofstedder speaking

of Hofstedder's Jewelry Store,

1833 West Mapleton Avenue.

Yes, may I help you?

I heard you were

looking for information

concerning a certain watch.

- Yes, we are.

- Well, a couple of weeks ago,

a woman came into the shop

to buy a band for her watch.

Uh, what was the name? Oh.

- A Miss Margaret Miller.

- Margaret Miller?

Would you describe this band

that you sold to Miss Miller?

Uh... expandable.

Uh... it was gold-plated.

Rather inferior, not expensive.

- And the watch?

- Seventeen jewels,

rather rectangular-shaped,

with raised filigree...

things on the face.

Rectangular with raised filigree.

May I ask why you haven't

come forward earlier with this?

Well, I was away...

on my holiday...

...to Mexico, on a bus.

Will you be in town?

Yes, I will be here anytime you want

to talk to me... on the phone.

Thank you very much

for your cooperation.

Goodbye.

That's it, the tie-up.

- Can I move?

- Just a moment.

- Miss Hargrave?

- Yes, sir?

Would you get me Mr. Hofstedder

at 1833 West Mapleton, please?

- He's a jeweler.

- Yes, sir.

- I don't buy that just yet.

- Yes, sir.

I want to cross-check.

Let me see that watch again.

[Buzzing]

- Yes?

- Mr. Hofstedder on the line, sir.

Thank you.

How do you do?

I'm speaking for Mr. Kelso

at 626-0025.

Did you place a call

to this number moments ago?

[Whispering] It's the FBI.

Mr. Hofstedder?

Yes?

Yes. That was us.

My niece,

from Mexico, you know.

Oh, the wristband. She...

She sold it.

She's from Mexico.

No, I'm Mr. Hofstedder.

My niece sold it.

Thank you very much.

I appreciate the cooperation.

We won't forget you. Goodbye.

Okay, that's it. Let's go.

Oh, thank you, thank you.

You are a darling. Thank you.

I wonder what they meant when

they said they wouldn't forget me.

- [Knocking]

- It's me, lggy.

- Found a spot. Found a spot.

- Cool it.

Go into the kitchen.

We got business.

Don't kill me.

I won't give you away.

Now, take it easy.

This has nothin' to do with you.

Now, into the kitchen, okay?

Don't let him do it, Dan.

You're not a murderer.

You're not like he is.

Hey, wow.

Listen to the con woman.

I... I don't want to die.

Who said anything about killing?

Come on, into the kitchen.

Come on.

[Lggy and Dan talking]

How do I know

you won't botch it?

This ain't amateur night.

You happen to be talking to a pro.

Nice try. Another minute,

you'd have had the fire department.

What did I tell you?

You can't trust anybody.

Sorry, Moms,

you can see how it is.

We can't afford

to have you around no longer.

Come on.

[Coughing] Wait.

What goes on

in that pea brain of yours?

I forgot about the loot. Forgot, forgot.

[Knocking]

- Who is it?

- It's the landlady, Mrs. Tabin.

Go away, we're busy.

[Sniffing]

Is that smoke smell

coming out of there?

No, it ain't, now beat it.

[Tabin] You open that door!

I've got my pass key.

I'm coming in.

What's the idea?

You can't keep me out of here.

City ordinance four, section 16.

We weren't trying to keep you out,

just straightening up a bit.

- Don't like you to see it crumbed up.

- That smoke smell is coming from here.

Those rotten cigars lggy smokes.

Kinda turn your stomach, don't they?

- Okay, where's the woman?

- Who?

Your old lady. She's sick, ain't she?

I brought her soup.

Now, that's very kind of you.

- Mmm. Smells good.

- Vegetable.

She's in the bedroom.

Too sick to see anyone.

- She's in rough shape, really bad.

- [Under breath] Shut up.

I can't tell you how much

we appreciate you coming.

Never mind the snow job. There are

three people living in this apartment,

and that'll cost you...

Twenty bucks!

That makes us even.

Goodbye, and don't worry about Mother.

She ain't gonna be with us long.

- You can say that again.

- That don't mean you get the 20 back.

Of course not, Mrs. Tabin.

Good night and sleep well.

You're going to bed as usual

right after the news?

Just hold the noise down up here.

My sister come for a visit

and she don't sleep good.

- Your sister is staying here?

- Right, from Corona.

She's the prison matron out there.

Lucky I got that 20 back, right?

What if that hot serial number

turned up in a drug or grocery store?

Forty thousand pads in this city.

And you gotta pick one

on top of a human radar station!

She's got a sister

that can't sleep nights,

because she's a head roach

at the state birdhouse. Nice?

Now we got two of them

flapping their ears,

waiting for us

to do something stupid.

Control, Agent Graham in.

Our unit in position.

Graham, you will monitor

Agent Kelso's movements.

But initiate no action until

you get the word from me. Clear?

[Graham] Affirmative.

Be prepared for the possibility

of strong armed resistance.

All units, now stand by.

I've got a funny feeling

about DC going out tonight.

Poor thing. Alone and helpless

in the middle of all this.

Pull yourself together. That cat's

as helpless as the U.S. Marine Corps.

[Phone ringing]

- Hello?

- Hi, Patti.

- Hi, Canoe.

- You feel all right?

- Fine.

- Whatcha been doing today?

Oh, uh, nothing much.

Funny thing, I happened to be driving

by the house a little while ago,

and you know, that same blue car

is still parked out in front.

Really?

Well, um, [clears throat] is it

all right if I come over for a while?

No, not tonight. I, uh...

Oh, I've got this ghastly headache.

You just said you felt fine

a minute ago.

- Well, I meant fine,

- [chiming]

Considering the condition I'm in.

Can't you ever understand?

Would you mind cutting that short?

Who was...

Who was that talking?

Ingrid. Yes, it was Ingrid.

She always has this real deep voice when

she first comes out of the shower.

Thanks a lot, dear.

Okay. You just get yourself

a good night's sleep,

and I'll see you tomorrow.

Good night, Canoe.

Okay, dream girl,

if that's the way you want to play it.

[Whispering] How about a push

to get him started?

I'm afraid not, Mr. Newton.

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