The Blue Gardenia Page #4

H- bomb blast. On the house!

That's quite an assignment.

But, what about my girlfriend,

'The Blue Gardenia'?

You've left dames before.

Write her a letter.

At ease.

Casey.

You!

Hey Casey!

Casey!

Well, what do you know.

Even a Managing Editor can

have an idea. A letter.

"A Letter to an Unknown Murderess".

Dear Blue Gardenia,

Any day now, any hour... any minute,

the police are going

to catch up with you...

But, all they want is

a quick confession...

I want to help you.

When I say "I", that means

my newspaper and me.

To us you're a story... a big story!

If we get it first we will

go all out for you.

You can trust me.

And, I promise not to print a

line without your permission.

By now you must be frightened

out of your wits.

You don't know which way to turn, there's

no place to hide, nowhere to run...

except to me.

So take my advice, Blue Gardenia.

Go to the nearest phone booth and

invest a dime on the rest of your life.

Dial Madison 60025.

And ask for, yours very

earnestly, Casey Mayo.

"Yours very earnestly... "

You can make it stop ringing by

taking the receiver off the hook!

I'm sorry.

I'll get it.

Hello?

Is this the Blue Gardenia?

Who was it?

Nobody.

It was a wrong number.

Well, "Nobody" just dialed

the wrong number again.

Hello...

Oh, Homer.

What? I don't get it.

I said what makes?

I asked if this was the Blue Gardenia.

Some joke. Who ya trying to amuse?

I can't hear ya, Homer.

What are you doing, Norah?

- I'm going for a walk.

But dinner's ready.

- I don't want any dinner!

Norah, what's gotten into you?

- Nothing!

Call me back, Homer.

We're having a little domestic crisis.

Where you going, Norah?

- What business is it of yours?

Well, non. None at all. I'm just

concerned when I see you get so upset.

Who's upset?

We're just concerned

about you, that's all.

You haven't been yourself

the last couple of days now.

And last night...

- What about last night?

Well, I heard you in the kitchen.

Then when you went back to bed you were

tossing around and talking in your sleep

What were you doing? Lying awake all

night, spying on me! Both of you!

Why should we spy on you, Norah?

I don't know why.

Oh, leave me alone!

Sorry if I startled you, Miss.

Where can I find the manager?

Two doors down...

Thank you.

I'm sorry I lost my temper.

Don't wait up for me!

Lady, if you were the Blue Gardenia,

you'd know what size shoes you wear.

She's all set, Mr Mayo.

- Thanks, Steve.

Just a minute please.

Hello?

Yes, this is Casey Mayo.

Would you hold on a second, please?

Sorry to keep you waiting, Miss.

But, if you want your picture in the paper

you'll have to go out and kill somebody first.

All right now, tell me just how

you murdered Harry Prebble.

You know how I killed him!

Do you want to know why?

Because, I loved him. With a passion

that was bigger than both of us!

The size of the passion's important, lady...

but tell me first, what

size shoe do you wear?

Shoe?

I could wear an 8, it's just that

Sorry lady, but your feet's too big.

What have we got?

Two dozen even.

Hello?

Hello?

Yes, this is Casey Mayo.

Mr Mayo, how...

How sincere were you in

your column tonight about...

about wanting to help the Blue Gardenia?

Very sincere.

And you... don't think I

should... go to the police?

Not if you're the Blue Gardenia.

You'll be black and blue before

they got through with you.

Is that so?

Who is this?

- Your good friend...

Captain Haynes, of the homicide detail.

Oh, hello Sam.

I read your ad in the paper.

If you'll just tell me what

size police badge you wear,

I'll come over and pin it on your chest.

By the way, has the little lady

turned herself in to you yet?

Not yet.

Well... in case she does

do me a favor, will you?

And give her our number.

Michigan 5211. Got it?

happy to hear from her.

Bye now.

Haynes and his pixie sense of humor.

Didn't seem to take my letter seriously.

Hello?

Yes, this is Casey Mayo.

Hello?

Hello?

Hello! Hello!

Hello.

Her voice is muffled, like she's

talking through a handkerchief.

Well, how can I be sure

that you're the Blue Gardenia?

The newspapers said

they found her shoes.

Weren't they suede shoes?

Size 51/2 B?

And wasn't the rubber heel

loose on the left one?

Trace this call.

We've hit the jackpot!

I want to take you up on

your suggestion, Mr Mayo.

Meet you someplace.

Where are you now?

I'm...

I'm at a...

Where's the washroom?

Are you still there?

Gardenia!

- Gardenia?

Who's this?

- Officer McManus, sir.

Who?

- Officer McManus.

Where's the girl I was just talking to?

There's no girl here

now, sir, but she...

She dropped her handkerchief.

Lace edge.

Officer, this is Casey Mayo

on the Chronicle.

Get that handkerchief right

down to the police lab!

I'll call Captain Haynes and tell him

you're on the way. -Yes, sir!

I traced it to a gas station

near the Santa Monica pier.

A cop frightened her away.

Do you think she'll call again?

- I don't know.

Why don't you two go home.

I'll hang around here a while.

Yeah?

Congratulations, Casey.

The handkerchiefs match.

Well, what happens next?

I don't know, Sam...

I...

Just a minute.

Hello?

This is about the call that was

interupted earlier this evening.

Hold the line a minute, please.

Another phony, Sam.

Sure, I'll let you know

if she calls again.

Look lady! I've had a couple

of dozen phone calls tonight...

Unless you're the one that was interupted by the arrival of the cops I'm just not interested.

That's the one I mean.

The one about the shoes, remember?

Size 51/2 B...

With a loose heel on the left shoe.

You didn't make that call,

it's not the same voice.

Or, did you loose the handkerchief

you had over the mouthpiece?

No, I...

I didn't make that call,

but I know who did.

If you could...

If you, if you could

meet me someplace...

Well, where are you?

- A block from your office.

Come up here.

It's as good as any place.

There's a self-service elevator

on the Olive Street side.

Come up to the city room on the second

floor, it's right opposite the elevator.

No one will see you, I promise.

All right. I'll be there.

Hello.

I'm sorry.

I didn't mean to frighten you.

Please, come into my office.

Would you sit down, please?

Cigarette?

Thanks.

Still foggy outside?

Very.

I've been cooped up here since noon.

Los Angeles girl?

No. I live here but it's not my home.

I don't know where I'm from.

My father was a Mick from Boston.

That's where I got the 'Casey'.

My mother was Italian.

He met her in Naples during

the first World War.

I was born on a Greyhound bus somewhere

between Tucson and Los Angeles.

I've lived here all my life.

Fog seems to be lifting.

Feel like talking yet?

Where would you like me to begin?

Let's start with your...

friend meeting Harry Prebble.

Maybe I better explain first

why she didn't call you back?

Yes. Why didn't she?

She was frightened.

So she dragged you into this?

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