The Seventh Victim Page #2

- Can you?

- Look, sister.

Manhattan is only nine miles long

and four and a half miles wide.

I ain't never been off it.

I know it like...

Like you know your own back yard.

Now you just get me a small retainer,

say, 50 bucks...

...and I get your sister. I guarantee it.

- I haven't any money right now...

...but I'll get a job and...

- Lady, this kind of work costs money.

I gotta cover all the hospitals,

the morgue.

That's the first place you gotta go

and it ain't pleasant, the morgue.

- You know who I am, August?

- Sure, I do.

Then you know if I give you a little advice,

it'll be good advice.

- Yeah, sure.

- That girl was looking...

...for Jacqueline Gibson.

If I were you, I'd forget it.

Okay, Mr. Radeau. It's forgot.

Hey, Danny, get me the file

on Jacqueline Gibson, will you?

- Whom do you wish to see?

- Mr. Gregory Ward, please.

- And what is it about, Miss Gibson?

- A personal matter.

- I was given Mr. Ward's name.

- May I ask who gave you his name?

The morgue.

Do you feel all right?

I feel like an idiot,

fainting in a stranger's office.

We're not exactly strangers, Mary.

Jacqueline spoke about you often.

I suppose she told you about me.

No. At the morgue, they told me

a Mr. Gregory Ward...

...had made inquiries about Jacqueline.

- At the morgue? No wonder you fainted.

- I wish you'd come to me first.

- Then you know who Jacqueline is?

But I'd give a great deal to know.

Why?

I love your sister, Mary.

I love her very much.

It's easy to understand now, isn't it?

A man would look

for her anywhere, Mary.

There's something exciting

and unforgettable about Jacqueline.

Something you never quite get hold of.

Something that keeps

a man following after her.

Because I loved Jacqueline,

I thought I knew her.

Today I found out such strange things.

Frightening things.

I saw a hangman's noose

that Jacqueline had hanging, waiting.

Well, at least I can explain that.

Your sister had a feeling about life...

...that it wasn't worth living

unless one could end it.

- I helped her get that room.

- Weren't you afraid?

Afraid she might commit suicide?

People who commit suicide

don't talk about it.

No, that room made her happy...

...in some strange way

I couldn't understand.

She lived in a world of her own fancy.

She didn't always tell the truth.

In fact, I'm afraid she didn't know

what the truth was.

- It's difficult to explain to a youngster.

- I'm not a youngster.

- I can understand.

- Color's returning to your cheeks.

You look as if you were

coming back to life.

Sure you didn't faint

because you were hungry?

- You know, I didn't have lunch.

- Well, it's nearly 6. Time for dinner.

- Thank you. It was a lovely dinner.

- Good.

But I feel guilty. It doesn't seem right for

me to enjoy myself with Jacqueline gone.

Look, you can't make looking

for Jacqueline your life's work.

You've got to do other things.

Live, get some enjoyment out of life.

- I hope you'll let me help you.

- Thank you.

- Good night.

- Good night, Mary.

Miss Gibson, I've been waiting for you.

I want you to know

I decided to take your case.

- Mr. August, I'm not at all...

- Look, don't say a word.

I've taken an interest in you

and I'm willing to help you.

I think I know where to find your sister.

- Where?

- Wait a minute. This has a lot of angles.

You've gotta take it easy.

Tell me, do you know a Mrs. Redi?

- Yes, she bought my sister's business.

- That's what she told you.

I looked it up in the Hall of Records.

Your sister deeded her the business...

...as an outright gift.

- Why would Mrs. Redi lie to me?

That's what I tried to find out.

I went to the La Sagesse...

...used a phony health inspector's badge.

They let me go through the works.

All but one room.

That room was locked.

- I'd like to see the inside of that room.

- You think my sister is there?

- Can't tell.

- Can we go there now?

You can't just go breaking into places.

They got a night watchman

and locks on the door.

If she's in there, it won't make

any difference about warrants.

- I want to go there.

- I don't know if...

...if I wanna go with you or not.

Which room is it?

It's the last door at the end of this hall.

You scared?

Yes.

- Let's get out of here.

- No.

You could go on, Mr. August.

You could open the door.

I'd stay right here.

It's only a little way, Mr. August.

We can't stand here all night.

You could go and open the door.

Mr. August, the night watchman.

The night watchman, he's in the salon.

Mr. August, what is it?

What's the matter?

Mr. August.

Do you know where you're going, lady?

You've been to the end of the line

and back again.

I hope you enjoyed the ride.

Please. Please.

I want your help, please.

Those men, don't let them get out.

- What's the matter now?

- One of them has been murdered.

What men?

But they were there.

Oh, yeah?

Extra! Murder, read all about it!

Extra! Murder, read all about it!

Extra! Murder, read all about it!

Extra! Murder, read all about it!

Thank you.

It's about another murder.

A woman on 52nd Street.

But you do believe me.

Well, the important thing is

the police won't believe you.

I saw him on the floor.

He was cut here.

The blood was running out.

He was dead, I know it.

And then on the subway I saw him.

White. With the men

holding him up between them.

Yes, of course. But the police would say

you'd probably had a bad dream.

He was a kind little man in his way.

And I made him go down

that hall into the darkness.

I made him do it.

Drink your milk.

I don't like to be ordered to do anything.

Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't intend

to treat you like a child.

- But you have treated me that way.

- I won't do it again.

We're friends. I promise

I'll never order you about again.

However, I won't say

that I'll not take charge occasionally.

And I'm going to take charge right now.

- I have a job for you.

- A job?

Remember you told me

you're good with youngsters?

Well, today I bumped into

an old friend of mine, Mrs. Wheeler.

She runs a settlement house

down in the Village.

- She's looking for a kindergarten teacher.

- I'd like that.

It's not much money,

but it'd be enough to live on.

You'd move out of that hotel

to a furnished room.

Maybe the Romaris would have a room.

They seem nice.

- The people at the restaurant?

- Yes.

If you want, I have time to take you

to see Mrs. Wheeler right now.

Yes, sir. Mr. Ward will see you

in just a few minutes.

- Won't you wait, Dr. Judd?

- Thank you.

- Dr. Judd? Are you Dr. Louis Judd?

- Yes.

I read your book in which you wrote

about the cure for drinking.

- You're not a dipsomaniac at your age?

- No, it's...

It's my father.

I wanted to talk to you.

You wrote about cures.

I'm sorry, I don't practice anymore.

I find it easier to write

about mental illness...

...and leave the cure of it to others.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Ward is free now, doctor.

There are other psychiatrists

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