The Blue Dahlia Page #3

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rolls under the davenport?

We go to Long Beach.

Oh, you can smile.

I was beginning to wonder.

- Sure you won't have one?

- No, thanks.

- My bag in your way?

- No.

I was just wondering what the JM stood for.

- You don't have to wonder. I'll tell you.

- Well, that's no fun.

Let me see. How about Jack Mason?

That's fine for somebody named Jack Mason.

Well, then, how about Jeremiah McGonigle?

Nobody was ever named

Jeremiah McGonigle.

- Why?

- I think I like Jeremiah McGonigle.

Dull. No sense of humour.

Well, that's two strikes on me.

- How about Jimmy Moore?

- Jimmy Moore?

- Is that really your name?

- Don't you like it?

I once knew a boy by the name

of Jimmy. He had rabbit teeth.

I guess I'll learn to forget him,

though. I was only eight years old then.

Are you sure that coin you flipped

came up heads?

Yes. Why?

- That was Malibu we just passed.

- Was it?

GEORGE:
Where have you been?

- Out.

- Out where?

- Guess I got lost.

- You guess? Don't you know?

Yeah, I got lost.

- Where's Johnny?

- Johnny hasn't been here.

Johnny?

Buzz, are you all right?

Certainly I'm all right.

Why wouldn't I be all right?

What's the idea of running

out without telling me?

You've been gone a couple of hours.

Well, for Pete's sake, you

might at least say something.

I'm sleepy, George.

I'd better telephone my friends

or they'll think something's happened.

I won't be long.

Jimmy!

What's the idea?

- It's the end of the line.

- Is it?

It has to be. It's a long way back to Malibu.

- What about you?

- I'll make out.

And if I knew how, this is where

I'd say thanks for everything.

I didn't do it for thanks.

I know that.

Well, don't you even say good night?

It's good-bye.

And it's tough to say good-bye.

Why is it? You've never

seen me before tonight.

Every guy's seen you before,

somewhere. The trick is to find you.

MAN ON RADIO:
And now, folks, bright

and early on this beautiful sunny day,

flowers are fresh from the rain,

and there isn't a cloud in the sky.

Bringing you once again your

favourite breakfast programme,

Melodies of the Morning.

Well, well, well, unk-dray again.

Couldn't make it to bed, huh?

Honey, I don't know where you put it.

Come on, now, let's...

Oh, brother.

Yeah?

What's that?

I'll be right over. And call Mr Hughes.

Over there.

Out. Keep your mouth shut.

Ever know me not to?

- Looks like there was a brawl here.

- Yeah.

- Been dead for hours.

- Suicide?

- Could be.

- Better be.

Uh-uh. Too much gun.

Now, don't start playing detective, Dad.

We'll have enough of that

from the professionals.

- What's the number down there?

- Don't you think we ought to

- Iook around a bit before we call the police?

- Don't be a fool.

The sooner we get started,

the sooner we'll get her out of here.

- What's the number?

- Michigan 5-2-1-1.

- Good morning.

- Good morning.

MAN ON RADIO:
We will now continue

with our morning music.

Helena!

I'll take a number

three with orange juice.

Remember me?

- What happened to Malibu?

- I guess it's where we left it.

- I stayed here at the inn.

- Why?

- Do I have to have a reason?

- No.

- It's nice after the

rain, isn't it? - Uh-huh.

I didn't expect to see you again.

Jimmy, why don't you go back and

fix it up before it's too late?

Maybe you'd like it better

if I'd mind my own business.

You think you could?

- I could try.

- It's my wife.

- Had an idea it might be.

- And there's nothing to fix up.

And if there was,

I wouldn't want to fix it up anyway.

What about you?

You weren't going to Malibu last night.

You were trying to run out on yourself.

Like me.

Maybe you're right.

Well, where do we go from here?

We don't go anywhere.

We said good-bye last night.

You catch the bus for up

north, and I go back to Malibu.

That's right.

Could we take a walk along the beach first?

And look for moonstones? The tide's out.

We can even go wading, if you like.

If I run upstairs and change my shoes,

will you be here when I get back?

- Uh-huh.

- Not like last night?

No.

MAN ON RADIO:
The discovery occurred

early this morning when neighbours...

- Cheque, please.

- Yes, sir.

... complained about the

loud playing of the radio.

The cause of her death has so far

not been definitely established.

- Los Angeles, all aboard.

- Sought for questioning is her husband,

Lieutenant Commander John Morrison,

recently returned from the South Pacific.

Lieutenant Commander Morrison is

described as about 28 years old,

weight 160 pounds, light brown

hair, light brown or blue eyes.

When last seen he was wearing

civilian clothes with a navy raincoat,

and was carrying a civilian suitcase.

Her lifeless body was found

sprawled on a davenport

in her exclusive Wilshire

Boulevard hotel bungalow.

MAN:
Passengers for bus 382

leaving for Los Angeles. All aboard.

The discovery occurred early this morning

when neighbours complained

about the loud playing of the radio.

The cause of her death has so far

not been definitely established.

- That's mine.

- Oh, no it ain't. Wait a minute, now.

- Okay, okay. Let's measure.

- All right.

- Anything for us?

- Nope.

Get your junk off this bench.

You fellows wait here.

- How do you like being pinched, George?

- We're not pinched. Relax.

What's the difference?

They brought us here and we're here.

- What's your name, copper?

- Save it.

Maybe they don't have names.

Maybe they just have numbers.

Calm down, can't you?

How long do we have to wait here, copper?

Until the captain gets ready for you.

And don't call me copper!

Get that, George?

He says don't call him copper.

Pipe down.

Is it all right if we smoke too, copper?

- You want to make trouble?

- Yeah, you want some?

- Here.

- Hmm.

George?

Thanks, copper.

Where's Captain Hendrickson's office,

please?

- Right there.

- Get this guy.

- Who is he?

- Eddie Harwood. Owns the Blue Dahlia.

- Hold it, Mr Harwood.

- Nothing doing, fellows. Skip it.

Captain Hendrickson, please.

I'm Eddie Harwood.

- Just have a seat.

- Hello, Mr Harwood.

Hello, Dad.

- Okay.

- And Harwood's here, too.

Good.

Push the buzzer, will you, Cap?

Captain Hendrickson's

office, homicide bureau.

Detective Lieutenant Lloyd speaking.

Call back, please.

Shoot.

Captain Hendrickson's office,

homicide bureau.

Detective Lieutenant Lloyd speaking.

Call back, please.

Okay, stand by.

Who do you want first, Cap?

Oh, let's take Harwood,

pity to keep him waiting.

Right.

Come in, Mr Harwood.

I won't take up much of your time,

Mr Harwood.

But I always like to meet the

people involved in an investigation.

- Involved how?

- Sit down.

You knew Mrs Morrison well, didn't you?

Fairly well.

How long have you known her?

- You've got all that.

- So I have.

Slightly less than a year.

Met her through mutual friends.

Correct.

She owned a business in Beverly Hills.

You have any interest in that?

I loaned her some money when she first

bought it. The money's been repaid.

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