The Brasher Doubloon Page #6

Don't ask me,

maybe you told him.

Maybe he threw in with him, even...

That's it!

Marlowe's got the evidence

from Vannier himself...

And now HE wants

to blackmail mother.

Shut up!

This guy's not out!

You're right!

Let him have it, Figaro!

That'll do!

Put him on the couch.

Had enough?

Where'd you hear about Vannier?

From Vannier...

He came to me for the coin,

Claimed it was his.

Well, did you give it to him?

No.

Maybe Leslie did.

That's what you've been up to... eh?!

I told you to bring it to us!

I didn't give the coin to Vannier!

I didn't have it!

It was at your house this evening.

But YOU had it!

Your mother wired me

she had it back.

The wire's in my pocket.

You dirty little liar!

There's a busted wine barrel

in there!

It wasn't the first time

I'd slept in my office.

But I can't remember

ever getting less rest.

A few times I did fall asleep

I'd find myself in that cosy little room

down at Headquarters.

Where the cops collect autographs

on typed confessions

and won't take 'no' for an answer.

What?

Now take it easy, kid...

Give it to me again...

Where are you?

It's Vannier... he...

Please come out here.

309 Restic Rd

Merle! Wait a minute... Merle!

Mr Marlowe!

What happened?

He's up here.

- Vannier?

- Yes.

Come... I'll show you.

He's still warm!

He was like that

when I came in.

The door was wide open.

I didn't do it.

It wasn't a man... No man scratches up

another man's arm.

How long have you been here?

About 15 minutes.

No one answered the door

and I just walked in.

What did you come

out here for, anyway?

To beg Mr Vannier

to give me the films.

But he was already like that.

Yeah.

Well those films

have got to be found.

It was like searching

an overcrowded junk shop.

The guy had been a collector, alright.

He apparently collected whatever

normal people throw out

when they clean up their attics.

Well I guess that's it.

Tell me something...

Why has Mrs Murdock

been willing to pay blackmail

just to protect you?

No woman I know lets go of that

kind of sugar, just to be breezy.

She didn't want any scandal.

She felt sorry for me...

She knew it was an accident.

I see.

Well... let's take one more look

in the living room.

Nothin' doing.

Better wash up after that.

I should wear gloves.

Mr Marlowe, I know you think

I killed Mr Vannier.

But I didn't.

Well, then it was Leslie...

Because I found YOUR gun

beside Morningstar's body.

The fingerprints on it

must be his.

Leslie's just a child.

He's a pretty dangerous child, then.

Towels... where are the towels?

There's a full roll up there.

You're going to turn Leslie

over to the police.

Look!

Hey, it's the Rose Tournament Parade!

Give me that!

Leslie!

Police Headquarters...

Lieutenant Breeze, Homicide.

Hello, Lieutenant...

this is Marlowe.

I've got news for you... yeah...

I'm giving you Anson's murderer.

Better send someone out to the 'Lucky Club'

and pick up Blair and Prue.

Oh, and Lieutenant... I hate

to mention this, but I...

...just found another body.

- I didn't kill Vannier... I didn't.

- The last house in Nickel Canyon

Please believe me, I didn't kill him,

don't you know that?

You mean this hunk of celluloid

ties into 3 killings?

Four!

Four?!

Have you found another stiff

you haven't told me about?

This one was before

I started collecting them.

Old man Murdock.

Oh, for he love of Mike, Marlowe...

That was cleared up years ago.

Look... let's stop all this nonsense...

You just hand over your suspects.

I'll take them down to Headquarters

and I'll sweat it out of them.

Keep your shirt on, will you...

I promised you the murderer

of Anson and Morningstar, didn't I?

Yes!

There's his confession,

signed and witnessed.

Young Murdock? The kid!

Say, how did you get this?

I've got his fingerprints on the gun

I found beside Morningstar's body.

That YOU found?!

You've been holding back

vital evidence?

OK... OK...

Here it is.

Sit down.

Now listen to me Marlowe,

you're in a serious situation.

You know the rap

I could get you with this?

Sure I do... but give me a chance

to run these films, will you?

No!

I don't know why I should.

Who are you covering up for,

anyway?

- Where's this girlfriend of yours?

- She'll be here.

Well, she better be.

And this better be good, Marlowe.

Because I've got enough on you

to keep you in the Bastille

until you're 80!

Look here, Captain,

I got my rights!

I demand to know

what this is all about...

What I'm charged with.

I ain't a captain, and the charge will be

accessory to 2 murders.

You guys sit down before you

get knocked down.

Sit over here, Miss Davis.

Alright, Marlowe...

Let's get on with this.

Well, Lieutenant, the irony

of this whole case is

that the Brasher Doubloon

was never anything

but a medium of exchange...

The only thing that could get these films

away from Vannier.

Leslie wanted the films

to give to Blair and Prue...

to pay his gambling debt.

They were going to use them

to blackmail his mother.

She's a very rich woman...

It would have been a steady income

for them.

Of course Mrs Murdock

didn't know that.

She thought Leslie was trying

to get the films for HER.

She said if I didn't get it back for her,

she'd disinherit me.

I received your message Mr Marlowe.

Yes, of course... come in Mrs Murdock.

You've come for your doubloon.

I told you you could have it

as soon as I found out who killed

Anson and Morningstar... didn't I?

- Well here you are.

- I'll take that.

That coin belongs to me.

You give it to me.

That coin is important evidence.

I'll take charge of it.

Did you find out who

committed the murders?

Oh yes... yes indeed.

Your son Leslie has just confessed

to both murders.

Really Leslie...

Isn't that carrying gallantry

a little too far?

He's trying to protect Merle,

of course,

Poor little Merle!

You must tell them the truth,

now dear.

About... you mean about...

How you black out at times,

and never remember later what you did.

Yes... yes it's true, I do...

Did you kill Vannier, Miss Davis?

I don't know.

I don't know any more...

what I did.

Poor little darling... you can see

for yourselves how she is.

That's why I've taken care of her

all these years.

It won't work, Mrs Murdock...

We've got Leslie's fingerprints

on a gun.

I've had enough of this...

You're all coming down

to Headquarters.

Be reasonable Lieutenant...

These pictures of the Rose Tournament

are conclusive evidence.

Yes... and if you had any doubt

as to Miss Davis' guilt...

No... I don't want to see them...

I couldn't stand it!

Try to be brave, dear.

They had to come out some day.

It wasn't your fault...

You just weren't responsible.

Come sit beside me, Merle dear.

Hit the switch back of the door

will you Webb.

Vannier as a newsreel cameraman

was photographing the Rose Tournament Parade

from a point on Colorado Boulevard

in Pasadena.

Now watch closely.

As he was photographing this float,

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