DON'T TELL HILDA and FLEET LADY PAT NOVAK FOR HIRE

Summary

Summary of "DON'T TELL HILDA and FLEET LADY"

Podcast: 1001 Radio Crime Solvers
Host: Jon Hagadorn
Episode: DON'T TELL HILDA and FLEET LADY PAT NOVAK FOR HIRE
Release Date: May 25, 2025

---

Introduction

In this gripping episode of 1001 Radio Crime Solvers, listener Pat Novak, a seasoned freelance investigator in San Francisco's bustling waterfront, becomes embroiled in a complex case involving amnesia, murder, and horse racing fraud. Hosted by Jon Hagadorn, the episode masterfully captures the essence of classic radio detective stories, blending suspense, mystery, and sharp dialogue.

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Encounter with Hilda Travis ([02:25] – [05:17])

The episode opens with Pat Novak recounting his first encounter with Hilda Travis, a woman who seemingly suffers from amnesia.
Pat Novak: "I think I've lost my memory. At least it seems that way at first." ([03:56])
Hilda approaches Novak in a deserted, rain-soaked street, expressing confusion and seeking help. Novak remains skeptical, noting inconsistencies in her story, especially when she mentions another woman named Hilda ([08:23]).

---

The Collapse and Investigation ([05:17] – [10:18])

Suddenly, Novak's girlfriend collapses, leading Inspector Mark Taylor to suspect foul play.
Inspector Hellman: "She died of an overdose of sleeping pills. Coroner's report: murder." ([09:36])
Novak finds himself under scrutiny, with the police viewing him as a prime suspect. Determined to clear his name, he delves deeper into the circumstances surrounding Hilda's sudden appearance and subsequent death.

---

Uncovering the Past ([06:47] – [12:17])

Seeking answers, Novak contacts Jocko Madigan, an ex-doctor with a penchant for alcohol.
Jocko Madigan: "I've got a complete list of amnesia victims. I know more lost souls than a Hong Kong bartender." ([12:03])
Jocko reveals a past case from 1941 involving Marcia Halpern, a girl who disappeared after claiming amnesia. This revelation hints at a possible pattern or conspiracy, prompting Novak to investigate further.

---

The Race Against Time ([32:07] – [47:29])

Simultaneously, Novak takes on a new case involving a missing racehorse named Fleet Lady, commissioned by jockey Jackie Greg.
Jackie Greg: "I'm supposed to ride the sixth race with her tomorrow. The bananas are a handicap, and she's gone." ([32:07])
Novak's investigation leads him to Sybil Thornton and her associate Emory Halpern, uncovering a scheme to fix horse races for financial gain. The intertwining of the amnesia cases and horse racing fraud suggests a larger, more sinister plot.

---

Climactic Confrontations ([55:35] – [59:33])

As the Bonanza Handicap race approaches, tensions escalate. Novak and Jocko work tirelessly to piece together the puzzle, leading to a final showdown.
Emory Halpern: "You want to fight the team? Now, Novak, just remember you sometimes can't be right." ([45:29])
During the race, Fleet Lady unexpectedly performs, causing Mark Taylor and Inspector Hellman to connect the dots. The revelation that Helen Dupre was a ringer and that Rudy Hauser was manipulating bets comes to light, leading to the arrest of the true culprits.

---

Resolution and Reflection ([59:33] – End)

The episode concludes with Novak reflecting on the intricate web of deceit he unraveled:
Pat Novak: "It was a regular grab bag. ... The horse that killed Hauser was a filly." ([56:35])
Justice prevails as Hellman apprehends the conspirators, and the mystery of Hilda Travis and Fleet Lady is resolved. Novak contemplates the moral ambiguities and dangers of his investigative work, leaving listeners with a satisfying closure to this enthralling tale.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Pat Novak on Initial Encounter:
  "I think I've lost my memory. At least it seems that way at first." ([03:56])

• Inspector Hellman's Accusation:
  "She died of an overdose of sleeping pills. Coroner's report: murder." ([09:36])

• Jocko Madigan on Amnesia Cases:
  "I've got a complete list of amnesia victims. I know more lost souls than a Hong Kong bartender." ([12:03])

• Emory Halpern's Threat:
  "You want to fight the team? Now, Novak, just remember you sometimes can't be right." ([45:29])

• Pat Novak's Reflection:
  "It was a regular grab bag. ... The horse that killed Hauser was a filly." ([56:35])

---

Conclusion

"DON'T TELL HILDA and FLEET LADY" intricately weaves a tale of mystery and deception, showcasing Pat Novak's relentless pursuit of truth amidst mounting challenges. Through cleverly crafted dialogues and suspenseful plot twists, this episode stands out as a testament to the enduring allure of radio detective stories from the golden age of broadcasting.

Listeners are left anticipating Novak's next adventure, eager to delve deeper into his world of crime-solving and moral complexities.

Transcript

[Narrator]

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[Pat Novak]

Let's go.

[Narrator]

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[Mason Moore]

Look good, Brad. You're on mute.

[Narrator]

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[Inspector Hellman]

The American Broadcasting Company brings to its entire network one of radio's most unusual programs. Pat Novak for hire.

[Pat Novak]

Sure, for hire. There's a sign out in front of my office reads that way. Pat Novak for hire. Oh, there's no way to dress it up. You're in business. Down in the San Francisco waterfront, everything but murder is a parlor trick. You rob a few graves, you can pay the rent. Nobody cares if you got sore eyelids. You get that way from winking at too many things. It's a good living if you don't run short of bail bonds. And Ben's a dream. I discovered that Friday night after the fight broadcast. I wound up in a little whiskey barrel on Powell Street. I had a Glasgow farmer out of the red. When they closed the bar, I drifted across the street for a cup of coffee. When I came out, it was raining and the street was deserted. I stood in the doorway and watched the dull neons through the rain. They looked splotched and dim, like watercolors rubbed with a damp ray. It was beginning to rain harder. I started out of the doorway when she ducked in and bumped up against me.

[Inspector Hellman]

Oh.

[Hilda Travis]

Oh, I'm sorry.

[Pat Novak]

Yeah. Just wait for your blockers on the next one, huh?

[Hilda Travis]

I guess I bumped into you.

[Pat Novak]

Don't go out on a limb.

[Hilda Travis]

I'm very sorry. I guess I didn't know where I was going.

[Pat Novak]

You seem to be headed in the right direction.

[Hilda Travis]

How do you mean?

[Pat Novak]

Forget I noticed.

[Hilda Travis]

It's raining awfully hard. I wonder if you ever noticed how.

[Pat Novak]

When it rains, you feel lonely and lost.

[Hilda Travis]

Yes. Yes, that's it. How when it rains, you feel lonely, Lost.

[Pat Novak]

Yeah. Well, we're both great readers, so if you'll let me get by. I want to get a cab.

[Hilda Travis]

Yes, I wonder if I could ask you something funny.

[Pat Novak]

The bars are closed.

[Hilda Travis]

No, I meant coffee. I'll pay for it. All right in here?

[Pat Novak]

Sure. Come on. The counter Will do.

[Hilda Travis]

All right.

[Jocko Madigan]

What's it gonna be? Hey, you back again?

[Pat Novak]

Yeah.

[Mason Moore]

Two coffees.

[Pat Novak]

How come? I'm nervous. Two coffees. You like a bear claw?

[Mason Moore]

Maybe.

[Pat Novak]

You know what we want?

[Hilda Travis]

Two coffees.

[Pat Novak]

Yeah. Be right with you.

[Hilda Travis]

Thank you. I know it's funny asking you in here, but I have to talk to someone. I don't know what I'm doing.

[Pat Novak]

I won't argue.

[Hilda Travis]

I've been away a long time. Guess. A long time.

[Pat Novak]

Yeah. The kids will be glad to see you back. Stop it, will you, sis? Get to the point. Put the show on the road.

[Mason Moore]

Yes?

[Hilda Travis]

I think I've lost my memory. At least it seems that way at first.

[Pat Novak]

Who are you?

[Hilda Travis]

I don't know. I suppose you don't believe it.

[Pat Novak]

No, but I convince hard.

[Jocko Madigan]

Here you are.

[Pat Novak]

So, coffee?

[Jocko Madigan]

Everything all right?

[Pat Novak]

Yeah, yeah, everything's fine.

[Jocko Madigan]

If you're down here, if you need anything else.

[Pat Novak]

You thought up a name yet, buster?

[Hilda Travis]

You'd be crazy to believe me. Guess you'd be crazy. But I can't remember anything.

[Pat Novak]

Now, look, lady, if you got amnesia, see the police.

[Hilda Travis]

You don't believe me.

[Pat Novak]

I don't know. Maybe you are leveling. But if you're off your rocker, go to the police.

[Hilda Travis]

But suppose. Suppose there's something that happened before and the police would be looking for me. Please, would you try to help me?

[Pat Novak]

How bad are you? Do you know what town you're in?

[Hilda Travis]

Yes.

[Pat Novak]

Have you been here before? Do you live here?

[Hilda Travis]

I think maybe. Seems like a place I've been.

[Pat Novak]

All right, I'll put you in a cab. You go see the police.

[Hilda Travis]

No, I feel funny. I think I'll go outside for a minute. I don't want Hilda to know. Please. I'm going to call the police.

[Pat Novak]

Mister, your girlfriend's on the floor. Yeah. Any suggestions?

[Jocko Madigan]

No.

[Pat Novak]

She's your date. All right. Here, give me a hand, will you?

[Jocko Madigan]

Where you gonna take her?

[Mason Moore]

The hospital.

[Pat Novak]

She's an amnesia case.

[Jocko Madigan]

I hope your memory's good, huh?

[Mark Taylor]

You'll need it for answers.

[Jocko Madigan]

Your girlfriend's passed out for good.

[Pat Novak]

Don't tell me.

[Jocko Madigan]

I feel a pulse.

[Pat Novak]

Mister, you're going to have to start.

[Jocko Madigan]

Over because she's all used up.

[Pat Novak]

That's good. You got a wailing wall?

[Jocko Madigan]

Sure. Use the counter while I call Homic.

[Pat Novak]

It didn't take 2020 vision to see I was in trouble. Maybe it was an accident, maybe it wasn't. I didn't have any idea why she keeled over there. But with a figure like hers, I knew it wasn't old age. I'D call to homicide meant Hellman was gonna be in the picture soon. Then I'd stand about as much chance as a cornfield and a stone quarry. Well, I went through the girl's stuff. She had no identification. There were a couple of snapshots of her, but no name. I told the waiter my name and where Hellman could find me. Then I got out of there. I looked up Jocko Madigan, an ex doctor who liked his booze pretty well. Smart guy, but he used a Mason jar for a jigger. I finally found him holed up in some after hours joint on Geary Street. He was talkative.

[Jocko Madigan]

Hello, Patsy. A small jug for Mr. Novak. Waiter.

[Pat Novak]

I want to talk to you. Jocko.

[Jocko Madigan]

Patsy, you shouldn't be here. It's after hours.

[Pat Novak]

Yeah. Look, Jocko, I need some help. What do you know about amnesia?

[Jocko Madigan]

Oh, a temporary blessing. I thought I had it myself once.

[Pat Novak]

Stop it, will you?

[Jocko Madigan]

But it just turned out to be a case of bad bourbon. A peasant's drink.

[Pat Novak]

I've decided get up the street level long enough for me to talk. I'm in trouble. Yes, I met some blister tonight who took a dive after one cup of coffee.

[Jocko Madigan]

Oh, I see.

[Pat Novak]

She had amnesia. Or she thinks she did.

[Jocko Madigan]

If she's dead, why worry about amnesia? It's a minor ailment.

[Pat Novak]

Because Hellman's going to think I had something to do with it. She picked out my lap. Don't you see how it's going to add up?

[Jocko Madigan]

I have high hopes.

[Pat Novak]

I got to do something in a hurry.

[Jocko Madigan]

Was she a nice girl?

[Pat Novak]

Yes, I guess so.

[Jocko Madigan]

How come you met her?

[Pat Novak]

What difference does it make? Tell me about amnesia. Could she phony it?

[Jocko Madigan]

Maybe not for long. What makes you think she did?

[Pat Novak]

I don't know. She acted like a butterfly with a jag on and she headed straight for me. It just doesn't add.

[Jocko Madigan]

No. What cell block can I find you in?

[Pat Novak]

You can get off your spine and go to work for me. You know the hospital circuit. Hit them all. And find out everything you can about recent amnesia cases.

[Jocko Madigan]

Well, how far back do I go?

[Pat Novak]

Until you find one that jibes with.

[Jocko Madigan]

This girl, it's impossible. Where do I start? I feel like Noah when they told him to beat the flood.

[Pat Novak]

She's blonde, blue eyes, expensive clothes.

[Jocko Madigan]

How big?

[Pat Novak]

Just the right size for a good dream. Start checking now and give me a ring at my place.

[Jocko Madigan]

No identification?

[Mason Moore]

None.

[Pat Novak]

She only said one thing when she fell.

[Jocko Madigan]

Something crude?

[Pat Novak]

No. She mentioned a gal by the name of Hilda.

[Jocko Madigan]

That should be easy to trace.

[Pat Novak]

Sure.

[Jocko Madigan]

Just look it up in the phone book. You will find it somewhere between Hellman and Homicide. Right, love?

[Pat Novak]

Well, there wasn't anything I could do for the next few hours except sublet from an ostrich I had to keep undercover because all I had to work on was a couple of snapshots and a girl named Hilda. Neither figured to get me out of this mess. Hellman was bound to ask a lot of questions. Because I had as much business being with a dead girl as Lucky Luciano in a finishing school. After I left Jocko, I took a C car downtown and I went home to grab some sleep. When I walked in the apartment, the lights were out. That didn't make any difference. Hellman's badge was shining like a lake in Ireland. He was making himself at home with my ice cubes.

[Mark Taylor]

Hello, Novak. Put the light on so I can watch you turn pale.

[Pat Novak]

All right, Hellman, get to the point.

[Mark Taylor]

Sure. Who was your girlfriend?

[Pat Novak]

I don't know. She was the coy type.

[Mark Taylor]

So are you, Novak. You're gonna look good sucking your thumb in the gas chamber.

[Pat Novak]

I suppose. Your coroner is full of good news.

[Mark Taylor]

She died of an overdose of sleeping pills. Coroner's report is murder.

[Pat Novak]

How about the space mark? Suicide?

[Mark Taylor]

No dice. You don't take sleeping pills. Then tour the town for a spot to take a nap.

[Pat Novak]

So she died in a coffee joint. What am I supposed to do, carry a stomach pump?

[Mark Taylor]

You're supposed to tell me who she is. We'll go from there.

[Pat Novak]

I don't know. Neither did she.

[Mark Taylor]

I've got that down as a lie.

[Pat Novak]

You file it any way you want, Hellman. She was amnesia.

[Mark Taylor]

So are you Novak?

[Pat Novak]

All right, hire a medium then. I told you she came into the restaurant a total stranger. We got social. But she died a total stranger.

[Mark Taylor]

How are you gonna prove it?

[Pat Novak]

I don't know. I knew who she was. I wouldn't play footsie with you. Do I have to draw a map? She came in trying to sort out her marbles and never got there.

[Mark Taylor]

I see.

[Pat Novak]

What did you find out? How about clothes markings?

[Mark Taylor]

That's your department.

[Pat Novak]

How about laundry marks?

[Mark Taylor]

I don't know. I guess she washed her own. Look, Novak, you're a big boy now. You're in a spot. If you want to help, now's the time to do it.

[Pat Novak]

You got everything I know. From here on, you work the ball downfield, all right?

[Mark Taylor]

You just answer the doorbell from time to time. When you see a guy grinning out there, that'll be me coming to pinch you for murder.

[Pat Novak]

Well, that'll take lots of doing, mister, and lots of proof. You remember that.

[Mark Taylor]

I'll try, Novak, but I may get amnesia. Good night, big shot.

[Pat Novak]

One Hellman left. I. I backed into my headache and went to bed.

[Mason Moore]

Oh, sure.

[Pat Novak]

I was in a spot now. The scorecard said murder and I was the medalist on the first round. If the police didn't know who she was, that meant she had no record we could work on. I still had the funny hunch about that gal pulling a phony. But if it was phony, I was worse off. I had all the best arrows in town pointing to me. Once Hellman began to build a case, I could throw away those vacation folders. I slept until about 9. The phone began to ring and I rolled over expecting to hear Gabriel on the other end of the line. It was just Jocko. Hello, Novak talking.

[Jocko Madigan]

This is Jocko. I've been working all night.

[Pat Novak]

We'll build a monument later. What'd you find out?

[Jocko Madigan]

The morning paper says the girl was murdered.

[Pat Novak]

Yeah, Hellman gave me a preview. What'd you find out at the hospitals?

[Jocko Madigan]

I've got a complete list of amnesia victims. I know more lost souls than a Hong Kong bartender. Yeah, Most of them are men trying to get away from the little woman.

[Pat Novak]

Well, you're a big help, Jocko.

[Jocko Madigan]

Don't hang up till you hear about the girl.

[Pat Novak]

Go ahead.

[Jocko Madigan]

Nothing on file for the last eight years. In 1941, a 17 year old girl walked out of California General Hospital. She hasn't been heard of since.

[Pat Novak]

How's the description?

[Jocko Madigan]

It fits like last year's bathing suit. She was Marcia Halpern. The daughter of Emery Halpern?

[Pat Novak]

Yeah. Who's he?

[Jocko Madigan]

A pocket heavy guy down on Montgomery Street.

[Pat Novak]

Get right down there. Thanks, Jocko. You saved my life.

[Jocko Madigan]

Well, I hadn't intended to go that far. See you later.

[Pat Novak]

Well, it was my one chance, even if the odds looked. I called up Halpern's office. He said he wasn't in to try him at home. It was listed for a place up on Pacific Heights, so I took a cab over there. When I walked in the lobby, I could tell old man Halpern was making as much money as you can without your own printing press. The apartment made Buckingham palace look like something George had picked up at a fire sale. The doorman was a sober looking specimen, the kind of guy that breathes every other Tuesday. He gave me the fish eye as I went up the elevator to the third floor. Halpern's apartment was at the East End. The butler showed me in and I Waited in the living room. It was a real cozy place, about the size of a small rugby field. A door opened on the side and 200 pounds of Regency oozed into the room like a wet ghost. Good morning.

[Inspector Hellman]

I'm Mr. Taylor.

[Pat Novak]

I'm Novak. Where's Halpern?

[Inspector Hellman]

Mr. Halpern is away on a business trip. I'm Mark Taylor, the family lawyer. I believe that's the phrase.

[Pat Novak]

Well, I'll drop by later, huh?

[Inspector Hellman]

Perhaps I can help you. I take care of most of Mr. Halpin's business now.

[Pat Novak]

Did you know his daughter?

[Inspector Hellman]

Yes. Yes, it was quite tragic.

[Pat Novak]

That's what I hear.

[Inspector Hellman]

She was a victim of amnesia. She forgot all the details of her home.

[Pat Novak]

Must have been a temptation. Did the police ever do anything on it?

[Inspector Hellman]

The police were not advised. Mr. Halpern hired private detectives, but she was never found. Yes, it was quite tragic.

[Pat Novak]

You wear your mourning a long way, Taylor. She'd be about 25 now, wouldn't she? Taffy hair, blue eyes, nice figure.

[Inspector Hellman]

I believe she had leanings in that direction. Why, Mr. Novak, I think I may.

[Pat Novak]

Know where she is.

[Inspector Hellman]

You don't know what that would mean to this family, Mr. Novak.

[Pat Novak]

You don't know what it would mean to me. Mr. Taylor, here's a snapshot.

[Inspector Hellman]

Let me see it.

[Pat Novak]

Well, Taylor, this is not a B movie.

[Inspector Hellman]

This is a picture of Marcia Halpern.

[Pat Novak]

You sure?

[Inspector Hellman]

I don't make many mistakes, Mr. Novak.

[Pat Novak]

All right. If you've used up your quota, she's downtown.

[Inspector Hellman]

I'll get in touch with Mr. Halpern right away.

[Pat Novak]

No, take your time.

[Mason Moore]

She's dead.

[Inspector Hellman]

She's When?

[Pat Novak]

Last night. She got sleepy, huh? Yeah, that's right. Somebody gave her enough sleeping pills to stock a drugstore.

[Inspector Hellman]

I see. After all these years to come back, and then this.

[Pat Novak]

It was tragic.

[Inspector Hellman]

Yes. Yes, I was about to say that. It'd be a great blow to Mr. Halpin. It'll be a very great blow to Mr. Halpin. Have the police any ideas?

[Pat Novak]

A few. Do you know anybody named Hilda?

[Inspector Hellman]

No, why?

[Pat Novak]

Just sweeping out the corners. When's Halpern due?

[Inspector Hellman]

This afternoon. I'll arrange an.

[Pat Novak]

Excuse me, please.

[Inspector Hellman]

Hello, this is Mark Taylor. No, that can't be right. When did it happen? Yes. Yes. Please keep me advised.

[Pat Novak]

You ought to wear a purple suit. Taylor.

[Inspector Hellman]

I have bad news, Mr. Novak. Brace yourself.

[Pat Novak]

I'm light headed. Go ahead.

[Inspector Hellman]

Mr. Halpern was killed in a motor accident last night. His car plunged down a ravine near Sacramento. That's very strange.

[Pat Novak]

Yeah. That must have been a great blow to Mr. Halpern. Well, I left there and went downstairs. All the way down. I had the funny feeling that something was wrong. The way a person feels when he goes into a doctor's office with an incurable disease. It may have been Taylor. I don't know. He seemed all right. But I still had that feeling that something was out of place. Like a broken line in a perfect picture. I crossed the street and called Hellman. It was too early in the day because he was as sad as a tap dancer in moccasins.

[Mark Taylor]

Hellman talking.

[Pat Novak]

This is Novak. How's the case?

[Mark Taylor]

You look better every minute.

[Pat Novak]

How's the identification?

[Mark Taylor]

We're moving slow. So far. We know she's a woman.

[Pat Novak]

That's right. Her name's Marcia Halpern. She disappeared in 1941 with amnesia.

[Mark Taylor]

San Francisco?

[Pat Novak]

Yeah. She's the daughter of Emory Halpern.

[Mark Taylor]

We'll check with old man Halpern.

[Pat Novak]

Better send your best man because he rolled a car and killed himself last night.

[Mark Taylor]

Where?

[Pat Novak]

Sacramento.

[Mark Taylor]

I got news for you too.

[Pat Novak]

Yeah?

[Mark Taylor]

We got a statement from that waiter who wrote it. He says you brought that girl in for coffee. Also, you were nice and chummy.

[Pat Novak]

I knew her for five minutes.

[Mark Taylor]

With you, that's a lifetime. The guy said you were good friends. That's the way our story's gonna read.

[Pat Novak]

You suit yourself. I'm busy.

[Mark Taylor]

Yeah.

[Pat Novak]

Where you going? Same place you are, Hellman. Sacramento. If I didn't move fast, I was deader than a Philadelphia nightclub. When they start taking statements, you can wire for flowers. I called Jocko and told him to check up on old man Halpern's estate. I borrowed a car and drove up to Sacramento. The accident was just outside of there. When I got to the spot, Hellman was already in charge. He's gonna make a fight for the job and last judgment. They were down in the ravine and Hellman was beating around the bushes making more noise than a venetian blind and a typhoon. Hello, Hellman. Did you find anything?

[Mark Taylor]

Get your own hashtag. I'm busy.

[Pat Novak]

Where's the body?

[Mark Taylor]

You get the blues if you don't see one corpse a day. He's up in town.

[Pat Novak]

Do you notice those tracks up there in the road?

[Mark Taylor]

Yeah, double tracks. Don't mean a thing.

[Mason Moore]

Oh, sure.

[Pat Novak]

Maybe two cars fell down and one got lost. Wake up Hellman. If he drove over the side, he sure had a tough time making up his mind.

[Mark Taylor]

When you're through on that pipe, I'll send over another. I'm going over the car.

[Pat Novak]

Hellman went over to the car and I started looking through the bushes. I don't know what I expected to find. Maybe an old Boy scout. After about 10 minutes, I shifted over to the other side. And it showed up right near the ground, under a bush. Hellman must have seen me because he came right over.

[Mark Taylor]

What is it? What'd you find?

[Pat Novak]

A handkerchief. Oh, that's funny.

[Mark Taylor]

What's funny about it, too? It's a handkerchief. The old man had a nose, didn't he?

[Pat Novak]

Well, he must have loved it then. This hanky's loaded with perfume. Take a whiff.

[Mason Moore]

Here.

[Mark Taylor]

Yeah. Recognize it?

[Mason Moore]

Sure.

[Pat Novak]

I don't know about you, but I smell a rat. Things began to move. This was the first break, and Hellman knew it. I went back to town, and I tried to get in touch with Jocko. But he was running up a tab somewhere. So I drove over to see Mark Taylor again. When I got to the apartment, I found out he wasn't in. But the pinch hitter was all right. When she opened the door, I got a nice warm feeling. Like a melted cheese sandwich. She was standing there in a dark silk evening gown. It was strapless, and she had no worries. When she spoke, it was like saying, put another log on the fire.

[Hilda Travis]

Good evening.

[Pat Novak]

Taylor? In here.

[Hilda Travis]

Won't you come in?

[Pat Novak]

Sure.

[Hilda Travis]

Mr. Taylor won't be in for a while. I'm waiting for him myself.

[Pat Novak]

I see. I'm Pat Novak.

[Hilda Travis]

Is it urgent? Anything I can do?

[Pat Novak]

If it were, you'd get my vote. Who are you?

[Hilda Travis]

I'm Hilda Travis. I'm a friend of the family.

[Pat Novak]

Which family?

[Hilda Travis]

Would a drink take off the rough edges, Mr. Novak?

[Pat Novak]

It might.

[Hilda Travis]

Good. I'll make one.

[Pat Novak]

I brought Taylor a present.

[Hilda Travis]

How nice. A girdle, maybe, or am I being carried?

[Pat Novak]

No, a handkerchief. This one. Do you like it?

[Hilda Travis]

Should I?

[Pat Novak]

I thought you might want it for a keepsake. I found it in a ditch up in Sacramento. About 10ft from Emory Halpern.

[Hilda Travis]

Poor Emory. Here's your drink.

[Pat Novak]

Thanks. Poor Emery. It's full of perfume. You want to smell that?

[Hilda Travis]

Wouldn't do any good. You want to know if it matches my perfume.

[Pat Novak]

Your idea.

[Hilda Travis]

Go ahead.

[Pat Novak]

All right.

[Hilda Travis]

Now closer. That's it.

[Mason Moore]

See? Yeah.

[Hilda Travis]

It's early in the evening, Mr. Novak. Don't blow a fuse.

[Pat Novak]

I won't until I find out who killed Marcia Halpern.

[Hilda Travis]

Good luck, for everybody's sake. By the way, the police think you killed her, don't they?

[Pat Novak]

Did Taylor brief you?

[Hilda Travis]

A little.

[Pat Novak]

I asked him this morning if he knew a girl named Hilda.

[Hilda Travis]

He must have forgotten.

[Pat Novak]

Yeah. Everybody's got amnesia just to make things easy.

[Hilda Travis]

Did you kill her just to make them hard? Did you?

[Pat Novak]

I see. Well, just tell Taylor I called.

[Hilda Travis]

Don't be a savage, Mr. Novak. You haven't finished your drink and it's raining outside.

[Pat Novak]

I'll finish this one.

[Hilda Travis]

That's good. Sit down beside me here. We'll finish our drinks and pray for a cloud burst.

[Pat Novak]

She turned out to be an old fashioned girl. She had about eight of them before I got out of there. I tried to pump her, but she wouldn't talk about Marcia Halpert. I just became a family friend. After I left, I ducked into a drugstore and started phoning Jocko. I finally caught him at the hunt room. He'd worked his way below the label already.

[Jocko Madigan]

Hello, Patsy. I'm having a wonderful time.

[Pat Novak]

Yeah? What'd you find out?

[Jocko Madigan]

I just heard a funny story.

[Pat Novak]

It's old. What about Halpert?

[Jocko Madigan]

He barely changed his will after the girl died. The whole estate goes to her.

[Pat Novak]

Who's next in line?

[Jocko Madigan]

A fellow named Mark Taylor. That's the new part of the world. Drawn up three weeks ago.

[Pat Novak]

Good boy, Joto.

[Jocko Madigan]

So I looked up the dope on Mark Taylor. He's a family friend.

[Pat Novak]

It's a new club going?

[Jocko Madigan]

Looks all right. Some funny bank book stuff, though.

[Pat Novak]

For instance, he drew 3,000 bucks out.

[Jocko Madigan]

Last month for a Lisbon Passage. A girl named Helen Dupre. Maybe she's a foreign cinema discovery.

[Pat Novak]

He's no talent scout. Meet me down in homicide in 10 minutes. Jocko. If we're lucky, we'll show Hellman something.

[Jocko Madigan]

What?

[Pat Novak]

How to draw to an inside straight. Hurry up and don't stop for a bracer.

[Jocko Madigan]

Just don't smell my breath. See you soon, lover.

[Pat Novak]

I'd explained everything I could to Hellman when Jocko got there. I went over it for him and sent him out on an errand. He was to meet Hellman and come.

[Mason Moore]

Up to Taylor's apartment.

[Pat Novak]

I went on ahead. It was about 11:00 o'clock when I knocked on the door.

[Hilda Travis]

Mr. Novak. So soon?

[Pat Novak]

Yeah, I'm coming in. Hello, Taylor.

[Inspector Hellman]

I won't say you're wearing out your welcome, Mr. Novak, but it's getting very thin.

[Pat Novak]

You better take time out and pack your bags.

[Hilda Travis]

Is that nice, Patsy?

[Pat Novak]

Because a guy named Hellman wants you for murder.

[Inspector Hellman]

We've been over that once, Mr. Novak.

[Pat Novak]

Yeah, but we got a whole new infield this time. Hellman thinks you killed a girl named Helen Dupre.

[Inspector Hellman]

I don't know a girl named Helen Dupre.

[Pat Novak]

The bank vouchers say yes they say you brought her over here six weeks ago.

[Hilda Travis]

Wait a minute, Pat.

[Pat Novak]

Oh, you made the team too, Angel. They got you all fixed up for old man Halpern's case up in Sacramento.

[Inspector Hellman]

Get out of here, Novak.

[Pat Novak]

I left a drink here.

[Hilda Travis]

Find a bar there.

[Pat Novak]

Get out of here.

[Inspector Hellman]

I wouldn't want to jam this gun through your face.

[Pat Novak]

Come on in, Hellman. Did you bring him with you?

[Mark Taylor]

Yeah. Come in here, fella. Is that the girl?

[Jocko Madigan]

Yeah, that's her.

[Pat Novak]

Where'd you see her before?

[Jocko Madigan]

Sacramento, last night.

[Hilda Travis]

He's crazy. It's a plant. Mark.

[Pat Novak]

Tell em more, Junior. You sure she's the one?

[Jocko Madigan]

Yeah, she was on the road and I seen her at the car with this old fella.

[Pat Novak]

Hang on, lady. The road gets bumpy from here on.

[Jocko Madigan]

My lights were out, so I guess she didn't see me.

[Hilda Travis]

Take this little guy out of here.

[Jocko Madigan]

I got a story. A senior hit the old fellow. Then start the.

[Hilda Travis]

I didn't hit him on the head. I told you that, Mark.

[Jocko Madigan]

Yes, you did.

[Hilda Travis]

Tell him, Mark. Tell him I was here.

[Inspector Hellman]

How can I when you tip now, mitt.

[Pat Novak]

That's right, Taylor. Get out while you can.

[Hilda Travis]

Tell him I was here, Mark.

[Inspector Hellman]

Are you little fool? Don't you know you've told them already?

[Hilda Travis]

You're a bum guy, Mark. You've been a bum guy all along.

[Inspector Hellman]

I keep my mouth shut.

[Hilda Travis]

I'll give you a chance to talk. I'll tell you about him, Novak.

[Inspector Hellman]

Shut up, you little half witch.

[Hilda Travis]

You're all right on the straightaway, but you're a bad guy on the curves, Mark.

[Pat Novak]

Keep still, Angel.

[Hilda Travis]

A tin horn punk like you all talk lot.

[Inspector Hellman]

You'd better say it fast.

[Mason Moore]

Yeah.

[Pat Novak]

You get any prize in the house, Taylor? Take your choice.

[Inspector Hellman]

Are you working for a living, Hellman?

[Mark Taylor]

Yep.

[Inspector Hellman]

All right then, let's go.

[Mark Taylor]

Yeah. See you downtown, Novak.

[Pat Novak]

She all right, Jocko?

[Jocko Madigan]

I'm out of practice.

[Hilda Travis]

Well, Patsy.

[Pat Novak]

You like it this way, baby?

[Hilda Travis]

No complaints. I've always gone first class. I wouldn't like it the other way.

[Pat Novak]

Yeah, I could have used a little.

[Hilda Travis]

More time, but I'm not greedy. Still raining out, Benson?

[Pat Novak]

No, it stopped raining. Beginning to clear up and over. Come on, Jocko. I'm talking to myself. Well, it seems that Marcia Halpern was dead for years. Somewhere on the other side. A girl named Helen Dupre got the story out of her. She looked a lot like Marcia Halpern. So she waited until after the war and contacted this Mark Taylor. They cooked up a hoax and the pot boiled over. She was supposed to fake Amnesia and stumble into the hospital. The pictures in the wallet would be printed. Mark would identify her as Marcia Halpern. The same night they planned to kill.

[Mason Moore]

The old man the way they did.

[Pat Novak]

That way Helen Dupre and Mark could split the dough. But they figured it wrong. Another girl named Hilda Travers had this story too. She put the squeeze on Mark and he blundered. He found out he didn't need a phony Marcia Halperin after all. The new clause in the will gave Mark the dough. So he loaded Helen Dupre with sleeping pills while Hilda gave the old man his last ride. All he had to do was wait for the dough and then split with Hilda. Few things went wrong. Sometimes it only takes one. Helen did her part, but she was no Bernhard. Then at the last minute, she knew something was wrong and mentioned Hilda. I kind of began to wonder when Mark identified that picture so fast. After more than eight years, he identified it immediately. And then there was that handkerchief. From there in, it was free wheeling. All we had to have was a witness. That guy from Sacramento. Well, he was some actor that Jocko picked up in the hunt room. Hellman finally cleaned up the mess. Taylor's in the clink. And of course, the girl already picked up her end of the check. She was nice too. If you don't mind claw marks. Well, it all worked out and Hellman's happy. Except that actor keeps calling him up for parts.

[Inspector Hellman]

The American Broadcasting Company has just brought you the third of a new series, Pat Novak for Hire, starring Jack Webb. Jack o' Madigan is played by Jack Lewis. Inspector Hellman is played by Raymond Byrd. Music was composed and conducted by Basam abl.

[Narrator]

When the Moore family ditched cable Internet and switched to Zigly Fiber, they got so much more. Mr. Moore got more upload speed for next level gaming and live streaming to the masses. With reliable service. Mrs. Moore is no longer her family's IT guru, leaving her more time to stream games into overtime.

[Mason Moore]

Let's go.

[Narrator]

And young Mason Moore got more done quickly uploading HD product demos and video conferencing without freezing the numbers look good.

[Inspector Hellman]

Brad, you're on mute.

[Narrator]

Switch from cable Internet to zip ziply fiber and get more of what you love for $65 less per month than [e-mail] packages by Expedia.

[Pat Novak]

You were made to be rechargeable.

[Inspector Hellman]

We were made to package flights, hotels and hammocks for less. Expedia made to travel.

[Pat Novak]

Ladies and gentlemen, the American Broadcasting Company brings to its entire network one of radio's Most unusual programs.

[Emory Halpern]

Pat Novak for hire.

[Mason Moore]

Sure, I'm Pat Novak for hire. That's what the sign out in front of my office says, Pat Novak for Hire.

[Pat Novak]

You gotta put it in block letters.

[Mason Moore]

Because down on the waterfront in San Francisco there's a price tag on everything. You gotta do that or marry a rich widow. I don't like to work that hard, so I rent boats and do anything else that's cash and carry. Oh, it's all right, if you don't mind trouble. Because that's one thing you can't duck. It's like trying to dance the minuet in skis. And the best trouble always looks good from the outside. You're all smiles and you feel like a kid opening a hand grenade under the Christmas tree. I found that out Tuesday night was around 7 o' clock. I was getting ready to close the office when this little guy showed up. It was about the size of a golf bag with arms. If he had a cigar box, he could see over a pool table. He walked up to the desk and started talking in a voice that made you think he was trying to put Lily Pons out of work.

[Pat Novak]

Hello.

[Jackie Greg]

You Novak?

[Mason Moore]

You're doing all right so far. What's on your mind?

[Jackie Greg]

I'm Jackie Greg. You heard of me, huh?

[Mason Moore]

You're the shy type. I know.

[Jackie Greg]

I'm Jackie Greg, the jockey. You heard of me, huh?

[Pat Novak]

All right, now.

[Mason Moore]

I heard of you. Put the show on the road.

[Jackie Greg]

I'm looking for a horse. You want to find me a horse?

[Mason Moore]

Yeah.

[Pat Novak]

I breed him in the back room.

[Mason Moore]

What color you want?

[Jackie Greg]

You're so tough, I got to take that from you.

[Mason Moore]

Calm down before you wind up in a boy's choir. If you got anything to sell, put it on the line or beat it.

[Jackie Greg]

I'm riding the horse tomorrow called Fleet Lady. She's disappeared.

[Mason Moore]

She's not here.

[Jackie Greg]

I'm supposed to ride the sixth race with her tomorrow. The banana's a handicap and she's gone.

[Mason Moore]

All right, she's gone. Maybe your horse likes to go out at night. I haven't seen her. Get to the point.

[Jackie Greg]

I'll give you 200 bucks to find that horse. Somebody took her in a van. I trailed him down here at the waterfront.

[Mason Moore]

But you lost him up at the Ferry Building.

[Jackie Greg]

That's right. Something funny's going on. My mount disappeared and you gotta find her.

[Mason Moore]

This is a big waterfront. And where's the 200 bucks?

[Jackie Greg]

You'll get that all right. Down by Pier 19. They turned in you. Think you can find Fleet Lady?

[Mason Moore]

I don't know who owns her.

[Jackie Greg]

Woman named Sybil Thornton. She's mixed up, I think.

[Mason Moore]

Yeah? Why steal your own horse?

[Jackie Greg]

I know. Run a ring and maybe.

[Mason Moore]

That's a tough job, Trick.

[Jackie Greg]

This woman's got some good ones. You want the 200 bucks?

[Mason Moore]

Yeah. How are the odds?

[Jackie Greg]

What's the difference? You're gonna open a book. You better take the 200 bucks now.

[Mason Moore]

Yeah, the dough will keep. You sound frightened, Junior.

[Jackie Greg]

And you sound nosy. Here's a 200. I want you to find the horse. You let me know at the Kingston Hotel, huh?

[Mason Moore]

Sure.

[Jackie Greg]

If you don't find anything around the waterfront, maybe you better try the track. Ask around there.

[Mason Moore]

Yeah. By the way, how do you fit in? How come you got $200 interest in that horse?

[Jackie Greg]

Maybe I love horses. What do you care if maybe I love horses?

[Mason Moore]

I don't. A guy like you's gotta love something. Oh, it was a real sweet proposition. A jockey in search of a horse. There was something phony about the whole thing. I had the 200 bucks, but I didn't feel good. It was like a guy stealing a murder gun to help out on a scrap metal drive. Well, after the little guy left, I closed the office and started to hit the docks, but it didn't work out. You can buy good whiskey these days. So you feel funny walking up to some guy on the pier and asking, have you seen a racehorse around here, mister? Well, by nine, I was sure that horse wasn't around, so I borrowed a car and drove out to the track. I found out where Sybil Thornton's horses were called and headed down. That way. Was pretty dark, so when I bumped into her, all I got was a vague outline. She had a good looking vague outline.

[Hilda Travis]

I'm very sorry.

[Mason Moore]

Yeah, I'm full of regrets too. Should we try it again?

[Hilda Travis]

Aren't you a little mixed up in your animals? They keep horses here.

[Mason Moore]

You don't seem to mind.

[Hilda Travis]

No. You lean nicely, but you'd probably feel safer with a platform.

[Mason Moore]

We'll try this again when I've had three good meals. That's a horse.

[Hilda Travis]

Yes, I know. In fact, I own her.

[Pat Novak]

I see.

[Mason Moore]

That'd make you Sybil Thornton? Yes.

[Hilda Travis]

What would that make you?

[Mason Moore]

A guy named Pat Novak looking for your horse. I was hired in the waterfront to find her.

[Hilda Travis]

Why? They grow big on the waterfront. You must get a lot of sun. By the way, is Fleet lady missing?

[Mason Moore]

Your jockey says she is. That's why I'm snooping around.

[Hilda Travis]

Didn't know he had any friends.

[Mason Moore]

He's got A checkbook. How about Fleet Lady? Is she tucked in bed? Yeah. Let's take a look.

[Hilda Travis]

You'd find it very dull, Mr. Novak.

[Mason Moore]

Yeah, that's what they said to Anthony. Let's see the horse, huh?

[Hilda Travis]

Suit yourself. She's down this way.

[Mason Moore]

Okay.

[Hilda Travis]

I'm doing this out of the bigness of my heart. I think you're wasting my generosity, Mr. Novy.

[Mason Moore]

Don't use it all whistle, Trip.

[Hilda Travis]

It's from in the stable. Come on.

[Pat Novak]

All right.

[Hilda Travis]

Down about here. Fleet Lady's stone. Here. There's a flashlight on the wall.

[Mason Moore]

Okay.

[Hilda Travis]

Poor thing.

[Mason Moore]

Do horses die broke, too? Who is it? Fleet Lady.

[Hilda Travis]

Yes. Are you satisfied?

[Mason Moore]

No. I'm gonna ring up headquarters.

[Hilda Travis]

Are you crazy?

[Mason Moore]

Then I'm gonna call Jackie Greg and tell him his hunch paid off.

[Hilda Travis]

I wouldn't do that, Mr. Novak.

[Mason Moore]

Stop kidding me, sweetheart. She didn't get killed in a fight with another horse. Greg figured somebody was telling the machine. That's why Fleet Lady's dead. That's why I'm going to call headquarters.

[Hilda Travis]

Shoot yourself, but remember what happened to Fleet Lady.

[Mason Moore]

You getting tough, angel?

[Mark Taylor]

No.

[Hilda Travis]

You just wouldn't look good with a saddle, Mr. Nov.

[Mason Moore]

I watched her as she turned and walked out of there. Was the kind of a walk that makes you flip the calendar and find out how far away spring is. I looked around a while, but it didn't do any good. The place was full of doors. So whoever killed Fleet lady got out easy. Like a rumor at a church picnic. I closed the door and went down the line to call headquarters. As I stood in there talking, I saw Sybil Thornton drive by. It was a long convertible with red asbestos seat covers. After I called headquarters, I went back and waited near the stable. About a half hour later, a police car pulled up. And when I saw who got out, I began to get unhappy. Like a three legged man in a ballet school. It was Hellman from Homicide and he had a squad with him.

[Mark Taylor]

All right, I'll talk to you. Hello, Novak. Where's your trainer?

[Mason Moore]

Your boys get paid to laugh at you, Hellman. I don't.

[Mark Taylor]

Yeah, where's the horse?

[Mason Moore]

What are you doing on the case?

[Mark Taylor]

I came for the ride. You mind, Novak?

[Mason Moore]

No, I just wondered if they wised up downtown. Because you could find a dead horse, Hellman. If they staked it out in the middle of Market street, you'd find it before long.

[Mark Taylor]

I'll try this time. Where is it?

[Mason Moore]

Stall 18. Over there.

[Mark Taylor]

Yeah. Keep an eye on him, boys. I'll be back in a minute.

[Mason Moore]

In here, Novak. Yeah, the one with the teeth like yours.

[Emory Halpern]

You better shut up, Novak.

[Mason Moore]

Don't get jumpy. You haven't seen the horse.

[Emory Halpern]

Just shut up, huh?

[Mason Moore]

Wasn't gonna be much of a conversation anyway.

[Mark Taylor]

What color horse was that, Novak?

[Mason Moore]

What do you mean? Take a look.

[Mark Taylor]

Yeah, I did. I just took a look. It's a smart horse, Novak, huh? That's right. That dead horse in there is wearing a double breasted suit.

[Mason Moore]

Hellman got the message straight. I walked in and took a look. Jackie Gregg was lying there on the floor as dead as last year's love. The sickness didn't show until we rolled him over on his stomach. Somebody'd gone duck hunting in the middle of his back. I began to feel a a little sick myself and was ready to send out for the same gun when Hellman started to talk.

[Mark Taylor]

You forgot to mention the guy when you phoned headquarters.

[Pat Novak]

He wasn't there.

[Mason Moore]

I was in here before and the guy wasn't around.

[Mark Taylor]

What was he doing out of the horse?

[Mason Moore]

I don't know.

[Pat Novak]

Hellman maybe crawled out of a crack. I don't know.

[Mason Moore]

There were two shots. I came in and found the horse.

[Pat Novak]

Yeah?

[Mason Moore]

Check the horse.

[Mark Taylor]

You're trying to tell me the horse shot back? Who is he?

[Mason Moore]

A guy by the name of Jackie Gray. He gave me 200 bucks to find a missing horse. Yeah, A horse called Fleet lady running into Mara's Handicap. This is the end of the line.

[Mark Taylor]

How do you know it's the same one?

[Mason Moore]

I don't. Maybe you gotta be a horse to tell. Why don't you ask one of your boys? Yeah, your boy's real tough. Call him off, Hellman.

[Mark Taylor]

He's nasty. We all hate him. Novak.

[Mason Moore]

It's all right. I'll put it on your bill, Hellman.

[Mark Taylor]

That's good. You can write it up at headquarters.

[Mason Moore]

Hellman, you ought to run an idiot. The heavy thinking's too much for you.

[Mark Taylor]

I can piece this together. We come out here and find a dead man with you kicking up dust 40ft away.

[Mason Moore]

Look, Hellman, I didn't kill the guy and then call up headquarters. I know they're bad in Homicide, but I'm not that big hearted.

[Mark Taylor]

We got a spare hook for you, Novak. That's where you stay until somebody gets you off.

[Mason Moore]

You can start out with Sybil Thornton.

[Mark Taylor]

Another horse.

[Mason Moore]

She's got the speed for it. Look her up. She owns Fleet lady. And she was dashing around here in the dark playing easy to get.

[Mark Taylor]

Now look her up.

[Mason Moore]

You better leave the boys behind. After all, she's only a woman. When you see her, ask about that van down on the waterfront. And ask what she was doing before I made that phone call.

[Mark Taylor]

I'll tag all the bases. Don't worry, Junior. And if things fit together, you'll both be in the jug. I'll see you later.

[Inspector Hellman]

I got work to do.

[Mason Moore]

Yeah, it's getting late. You better put the boys back in the cage. I began to worry after Hellman left. There was no murder gun and he didn't have too much to go on. But no one else wanted my job. I knew the girl was gonna have an alibi. And I was the last guy that Jackie Greg had seen. I had about as much chance as a fat girl at a Princeton prom. Hellman didn't like me and he was a smart cop with a disposition like a ton of rhubarb. I had to start right from scratch. I felt like Adam the first morning he woke up. So I looked up a guy named Jocko Madigan. An ex doctor and a boozer who will give you a lift if you show him where the stirrups are. A good guy, but he thinks all food makes a gurgle. I hit all the bars and finally found him up at Maggie Nielsen's apartment. She's a good looking voice that lives up on the hill. And Jocko was working his way into her liquor supply.

[Jocko Madigan]

Hello, Patsy. You're just in time to join me for my first drink of the evening. Or one of my first at least.

[Mason Moore]

Yeah, I see it.

[Jocko Madigan]

Maggie's not here, but I found a whiskey. It was in plain sight, locked in the closet under some newspapers.

[Mason Moore]

All right, Jocko. When are you going to sober up?

[Jocko Madigan]

I plan to do it briefly on April 1. When the rest of the world plays the fool.

[Mason Moore]

Also, I'm in trouble, Jocko. You gotta help me.

[Jocko Madigan]

Good. I've got a special bottle I use to forget your troubles.

[Mason Moore]

Stop caressing that jug and listen to me. I'm in a jam, Patsy.

[Jocko Madigan]

There's nothing in nature so sad as a half empty bottle. It's like a broken vow or an unfulfilled promise in the skies. A falling star. Almost.

[Pat Novak]

All right, Joto.

[Jocko Madigan]

A falling star. And you shrug it off, never realizing that a whole world has ended at that moment. A hundred million dreams, maybe. And you watch it fall and make an asinine wish. And that's all the good it does is start a fall. It gives some kid a chance to wish for a bicycle.

[Mason Moore]

You finished now, Jocko?

[Jocko Madigan]

Yes. What kind of trouble? Anything I could aggravate I mixed up.

[Mason Moore]

Out at the Track? A guy by the name of Jackie Greg is dead and I don't look good.

[Jocko Madigan]

Hellman?

[Mason Moore]

Yeah. The guy's a jockey and he hired me to find a horse named Fleet Lady.

[Jocko Madigan]

Did you?

[Mason Moore]

The horse and the jockey ran a dead heat. But there's something funny about the whole deal.

[Jocko Madigan]

Did you talk to the jockey?

[Mason Moore]

Not enough.

[Jocko Madigan]

Patsy, you've got to break yourself of the habit of waiting until people are dead before you think of a question.

[Mason Moore]

Jocko, I want you to hit all the horse rooms. Find out what you can about the sixth race tomorrow. It's the Bonanza Handicap. And hurry up, will you?

[Jocko Madigan]

If it's the sixth race, why can't we wait a while?

[Mason Moore]

Start now. Get everything you can and call me. I'll leave a message at your place.

[Jocko Madigan]

Where are you going?

[Mason Moore]

I don't know. Maybe up to see the girl.

[Jocko Madigan]

Patsy, you're going to be waving at the hangman's wife when they spring the trap door.

[Mason Moore]

I got to see her. She owns Fleet Lady.

[Jocko Madigan]

Why don't I see her?

[Mason Moore]

She's got a stake somewhere. I got a lot of questions. What could you do up there?

[Jocko Madigan]

Yes. If it weren't an academic question, I'd argue the point.

[Mason Moore]

Looked like a bum deal right from the start.

[Jocko Madigan]

Oh, Patsy, you have the instinct for recognizing trouble, but not the intelligence to duck it.

[Mason Moore]

Jocko, will you get out to those horsepowers? I need facts, not fables.

[Pat Novak]

Now give me a hand.

[Jocko Madigan]

All right. Give my love to Fleet Lady.

[Mason Moore]

Her name's Sybil Thornton.

[Jocko Madigan]

Well, I'll bet I'm not far wrong. Good night, lover.

[Mason Moore]

After I left Jocko, I went to the Chronicle morgue and looked up Paul Stangle. We pulled out the clips on Sybil Thornton. They were nice and fat because she'd been to Reno four times and hadn't broke training for years. She'd been traded around more than a Red Sox pitcher. The clippings said that she was 32. There were a lot of pictures, and from her eyes you got the idea she was around 35. But there were arguments the other way, too. There weren't any stories on her for the last few months. Just a few items from the columns. They all said the same thing. She was hitting the night spots with a gambler named Rudy Hauser. There were pictures of him, too. He would have looked real good in a cave with heavy curtains.

[Pat Novak]

I asked Paul.

[Mason Moore]

He said Hauser had a gambling place out on Geary. So I took a cab out there for 10 bucks. The guy at the door said Sybil Thornton had left the Place an hour ago that made me feel good. When Hauser opened the door to his office, I lost the glow.

[Emory Halpern]

Yeah? What's with you?

[Mason Moore]

I got a problem.

[Emory Halpern]

You got the wrong door.

[Mason Moore]

You can't get any tougher, so I'm coming in.

[Emory Halpern]

Suit yourself. I never throw anybody out until I'm sure they've lost all their money. What's on your mind?

[Mason Moore]

A horse named Fleet lady. She disappeared at 7:00 tonight.

[Emory Halpern]

You check under the rug. I'll try the cabin.

[Mason Moore]

She got back just in time to greet somebody's gunsel.

[Emory Halpern]

If I say no, will you go out and lose your money like a good boy?

[Mason Moore]

Fleet lady was owned by a gal named Sybil Thornton. The columns say you're number five on her list.

[Emory Halpern]

And they never lie. The whiskey's too good.

[Mason Moore]

Also a little bird say she was in your office an hour ago.

[Emory Halpern]

That's right. She said your name's Novak. The next time you get a bombshell, give it a test run.

[Mason Moore]

With Flea lady dead, your money's gonna look good in the six tomorrow.

[Emory Halpern]

What makes you think that gal would throw a race?

[Mason Moore]

For the same reason she goes out with you, huh? When a gal takes a Great Dane like you out in public, it generally means the guy's a few bucks ahead of her.

[Emory Halpern]

You want to fight the team? Now, Novak, just remember you sometimes you can't be right in the gentleman, too.

[Mason Moore]

Yeah, I hope that's the way you feel when they pick you up for Jackie Greg's murder, huh? Oh, you do a real nice double take, mister. The jockey checked out with a horse.

[Emory Halpern]

I didn't know that, Novak.

[Mason Moore]

Yeah? With no brains, you built this gambling club.

[Emory Halpern]

I didn't know that he was dead. I told you that, Novak, and I meant it was all right for a little punk. I'm sorry is dead.

[Mason Moore]

So is he. I'll see you later. Hauser. I got a nose around and find out where you were tonight.

[Emory Halpern]

Yeah, you seem all right, Novak, so I'll tell you if you got any dough left when you leave my table, it's bet it on a horse named Fleet lady in the sixth race tomorrow.

[Mason Moore]

You always bet on a dead horse?

[Emory Halpern]

You got the tip. Use it or bury it, but don't loan it out.

[Mason Moore]

Oh, the case was a regular grab bag. When I walked out of Hauser's office, I began to tick off the things that didn't add up. First on the list was that van down on the waterfront. If it was Fleet lady who got shot in the stable, if it was the ringer that Meant Fleet lady had run tomorrow. I couldn't figure out why Hauser was so sure she'd win. An idea kept racing around in the back of my mind like an ant in a cookie factory. Jackie Greg lied about that van down on the waterfront.

[Pat Novak]

But why?

[Mason Moore]

Not to bail me out of the poor house with 200 bucks? I got part of the answer when I stopped by the pay telephone and called Hellman.

[Mark Taylor]

Yeah, Hellman talking.

[Mason Moore]

This is Novak. I got some news.

[Mark Taylor]

You'll have to put it on the back page.

[Mason Moore]

What do you got?

[Mark Taylor]

Your friend Jackie Greg had some love life.

[Mason Moore]

Well, there's a chance for you, Hellman. Who's the girl? Sybil Thornton.

[Mark Taylor]

Yeah, we found a picture in his wallet. The gooey kind.

[Mason Moore]

I'll bet you stole it for long train rides. What time did he die?

[Mark Taylor]

The right fit for you. Between nine and ten o' clock. Two shots from a.32 caliber pistol.

[Mason Moore]

How about the horse.45 caliber. Two people. It's getting involved.

[Mark Taylor]

Maybe, maybe not. You got two hands, Novak.

[Pat Novak]

Look up a guy named Rudy Hauser.

[Mason Moore]

He's got a joint out on Geary Street.

[Mark Taylor]

I got enough friends. You look him up.

[Mason Moore]

I did. He's still talking about Fleet lady and tomorrow's race.

[Mark Taylor]

All right, maybe he's sentimental. Look, Novak, I'll pick out my own work. I don't need free help from you. Jackie Greg paid 200 bucks and look what he got.

[Mason Moore]

Suit yourself. But Rudy Howser and that gal are close friends. Yeah, like two part harmony in a teleport. Now get off the dime, Hellman. Howser's got that gallon his hip pocket. She owns Fleet lady and he's betting her to win.

[Mark Taylor]

You're trying hard, Novak.

[Mason Moore]

It's got to be a slow field.

[Pat Novak]

To lose to a dead horse. Wake up, Hellman.

[Mason Moore]

You couldn't smell a rat in a basement full of cheese.

[Mark Taylor]

I did all right in your apartment, huh? That.32 caliber pistol. We found it up at your place. See you later.

[Mason Moore]

Well, I wasn't too worried about that. Hellman's smart enough to know a phony plant. I began to think about that.32 caliber pistol. It's a woman's weapon, but that doesn't prove anything. So is a bread knife if she's in a bad mood. Must have been about midnight when I got to Sybil Thornton's place. She was wearing black lounging pajamas tied tight around a slim waist. She looked like a wasp with a nice sting when she had company.

[Hilda Travis]

Come in. Mr. Novak?

[Pat Novak]

Yeah.

[Hilda Travis]

Mr. Novak, this is Ronnie Stark.

[Mark Taylor]

Hello, Novak. He's not very friendly, Sybil.

[Hilda Travis]

He's just pouting because they're going to arrest him for Jackie's murder.

[Mason Moore]

How do you like Hellman?

[Hilda Travis]

You've known him longer.

[Mason Moore]

Yeah. Somebody left the murder gun up at my place. Where you been all night?

[Hilda Travis]

Please, Mr. Novak. You're embarrassing Ronnie.

[Mark Taylor]

That's right.

[Pat Novak]

I'm blushing.

[Mark Taylor]

And it's not the whiskey.

[Mason Moore]

Novak. I see.

[Hilda Travis]

You must stay longer, Ronnie.

[Mark Taylor]

He's persuasive on Novak.

[Jocko Madigan]

I'll see you tomorrow.

[Hilda Travis]

You won't forget, Ronnie?

[Mark Taylor]

Oh, I won't forget. Oh, I'm betting on you, Novak.

[Mason Moore]

What won't he forget, Mr. Novak?

[Hilda Travis]

I hope nobody ever asks you that question.

[Mason Moore]

You don't want to talk about putting that gun in my apartment.

[Hilda Travis]

No.

[Mason Moore]

Let's talk about Rudy Hauser, then. Your meat grinder friend. We just had a good talk and he opened up a new road.

[Hilda Travis]

What'd you tell him?

[Mason Moore]

Don't break a spring. He's all right.

[Hilda Travis]

Will you do me a favor, Patsy?

[Mason Moore]

Like not talking to Hauser anymore, huh?

[Hilda Travis]

That's right. Won't do you any good, Patsy, and it'll do me a lot of good.

[Mason Moore]

How's he gonna know which horse got killed? I'll bet you lied to him, Angel.

[Hilda Travis]

It's my apple cart, Patsy, leave it alone.

[Mason Moore]

Sure, but play your hand right, baby, because I'm gonna watch your cards. And if you got one that says Jackie Gregg, I'm gonna call you the hard way, too.

[Hilda Travis]

Patsy, you're a nice beast. I really think you would. Sit down. Yeah. Drink?

[Pat Novak]

No.

[Hilda Travis]

It'll do you good.

[Mason Moore]

Not right now.

[Hilda Travis]

Well, you've read the book.

[Mason Moore]

Just a couple of chapters.

[Hilda Travis]

Bet they're the right ones.

[Mason Moore]

You better watch out, baby. I may be a long shot.

[Hilda Travis]

Well, you care as long as I bet I don't.

[Mason Moore]

That's good.

[Hilda Travis]

I didn't think you'd mind.

[Mason Moore]

All right, angel, it's time to wire.

[Hilda Travis]

The folks must have Novak. Just wait till you know any better.

[Mason Moore]

That's from me. I left the number.

[Hilda Travis]

It's your fault.

[Pat Novak]

Yeah. Hello, Patsy.

[Mason Moore]

What'd you find out, Jocko?

[Jocko Madigan]

Not much. Nobody seems to care about the sixth race.

[Mason Moore]

I care about it.

[Jocko Madigan]

That's because you killed one of the jockeys. The rest of the people have a more casual interest.

[Mason Moore]

How do the odds run?

[Jocko Madigan]

No heavy favorites. Vinair and Sleepy Time Gal figure to be the best at around 5 to 1.

[Mason Moore]

What about fleet lady down the line somewhere.

[Jocko Madigan]

I talked to one fellow here. Say she's a dog and couldn't beat a paralytic goose over A hundred yards?

[Mason Moore]

Yeah.

[Pat Novak]

What else?

[Jocko Madigan]

Oh, that's all.

[Pat Novak]

What do you mean, that's all?

[Mason Moore]

Start digging. Jocko. We're not getting any place.

[Jocko Madigan]

Not even at your end, huh? I counted on you to do better than that. Right, lover?

[Mason Moore]

On the way home, I bought the morning papers. There was a story on Jackie Greg. No details. Most of the story was a statement by Hellman on Hellman. There was no mention of Flea Lady. And at one o' clock in the morning there was nothing I could do but roll into bed. I woke up about nine and called Jocko. It was like sending a message out to the Farallones by Indian Runner. He just muttered and said he'd meet me out at the track. I had to have some more dope, so I called Ira Snow. He calls the races and bets on him. The way he does it, a horse is a real beast of burden. He was playing elf when I got him on the wire. Yeah, Ira, this is Novak. What do you know about the Bonanza Handicap?

[Pat Novak]

It's a horse race.

[Mason Moore]

You're funny. What about the field? Are the horses any good?

[Pat Novak]

For hamburgers, maybe. Nothing else.

[Mason Moore]

How about Fleet Lady?

[Jocko Madigan]

Eastern track?

[Mason Moore]

Nobody knows. Would she be worth a heavy plunge?

[Jocko Madigan]

If you want to be a monk.

[Mason Moore]

What's this all about, Arrow? I'm in trouble.

[Pat Novak]

How about a fix?

[Mason Moore]

Could they run in a ringer on Fleet Lady?

[Pat Novak]

It's been done before, but it ain't easy.

[Mason Moore]

That's what I figured. How's Rudy Howser on horses?

[Jocko Madigan]

He ain't.

[Pat Novak]

He got burned a long time ago. He never bets.

[Mason Moore]

I think you're wrong.

[Pat Novak]

Look, Novak, I know every guy in town that's got the itch.

[Jocko Madigan]

Rudy Howser?

[Pat Novak]

No.

[Mason Moore]

You know a guy named Ronnie Stark?

[Jocko Madigan]

Sure.

[Mason Moore]

Runs a book. Why? Nothing. I may see you at the track. I'm gonna make a bet.

[Jocko Madigan]

Yeah, I'll tell the horses.

[Mason Moore]

Well, that left me in a hole. If Ira was right, Rudy Hauser on Fleet lady didn't make a bit of sense. I got out to the track about 2:30. Jocko was there and Hellman was wandering around up in the grandstand where they couldn't push him into a stage starting gate. Sybil Thornton waved from her box as I moved over to get a better shot at the starting line for the sixth. They were almost at the post when Jocko came back from the betting window.

[Jocko Madigan]

Well, Patsy, I bet $2 on a horse called Scotch Victory. It seemed like a good omen.

[Mason Moore]

Yeah.

[Jocko Madigan]

I saw your friend Rudy Hauser at the window. He was pouring money down on the favorites. To win.

[Mason Moore]

That's why the odds are going down on Vin Air and Sleepy Time Gal.

[Pat Novak]

Look at that board.

[Jocko Madigan]

Yes, Fleet Lady's gone all the way up to 12 to 1.

[Mason Moore]

Yeah, from 8 to 1 all the way up.

[Jocko Madigan]

Maybe the word got around. She's dead.

[Mason Moore]

No, that's the funny part. She's down there. Number three on the rail, see? Not a peep out of anybody.

[Pat Novak]

They're off and running. Hot Weather is going to the front by one length.

[Jocko Madigan]

Sleepy Time Gal by ahead.

[Pat Novak]

Fleet lady between horses, is running third by one length. On the outside, it's Thin Air and All Soldier by two lengths. Going into the clubhouse turn, it's Hot Weather by two lengths. Sleepy Time Gal by a half length. Fleet lady is moving up on the outside. It's Thin Air, fourth by one length.

[Jocko Madigan]

Fleet lady runs well for a ghost.

[Pat Novak]

Yeah, Rudy.

[Jocko Madigan]

Hows. You'd better hurry or he won't see much, huh? He better hurry. He left the truck 10 minutes ago.

[Pat Novak]

Are you sure, Jocko?

[Jocko Madigan]

Yes. I heard him tell someone he had to make a phone call just before the betting closed.

[Mason Moore]

Well, Jocko, you're a sweetheart.

[Jocko Madigan]

I like.

[Pat Novak]

Let's go to the stable.

[Jocko Madigan]

Well, the race isn't over.

[Pat Novak]

It was over five minutes ago.

[Jocko Madigan]

How about my $2?

[Mason Moore]

Come on, will you? There's only one person who won't try to fix a horse race. That's a horse. I knew there was going to be trouble fast. The horses were just coming under the wire when I waved a helmet and started for the stable. When we got there, Sybil Thornton was clearing out like a fire sale.

[Hilda Travis]

I'm in a hurry, Patsy, darling. Let me Bob.

[Mason Moore]

You made a bad play, Angel. Stick around. Let me buy Patsy.

[Mark Taylor]

You heard him, lady. Stick around.

[Emory Halpern]

Thanks, copper. I'll take charge.

[Mason Moore]

That's a big gun. How's it?

[Emory Halpern]

I got a big beef. You let me drop a hundred grand.

[Hilda Travis]

S was your idea, Rudy.

[Emory Halpern]

Not this way. You let me drop a hundred grand because you ran Fleet Lady.

[Hilda Travis]

Program said Fleet lady, and that's who ran.

[Emory Halpern]

I brought those odds into line at the window. My other 80 looked bad on Fleet Lady. You didn't stay to watch a trail the field.

[Hilda Travis]

All right, I didn't stay. You lost your hundred grand. You killed the ringer. You were a smart big shot who was going to sew up the race.

[Emory Halpern]

The ran Fleet lady and cost me a hundred grand. All right, copper, move away from from her. Over this way, Civil.

[Hilda Travis]

No, don't let him do it, Py.

[Mason Moore]

I want to see how tough you are.

[Emory Halpern]

Come on, Civil. Let Shoe and me move over against the stall.

[Mason Moore]

Watch out. How you're backing into the horse.

[Mark Taylor]

Grab the horse.

[Pat Novak]

No, back.

[Mark Taylor]

He's going to trample him.

[Mason Moore]

You grab him. It's your idea.

[Hilda Travis]

Is he dead?

[Pat Novak]

Yeah.

[Mason Moore]

Should have learned the first time you can't beat the horses.

[Mark Taylor]

That's a bum joke, Novak.

[Mason Moore]

I guess it is.

[Mark Taylor]

Now that we're all here, who do we book for Jackie Gregg's murder? I'll answer that. One, friend. Who's this guy?

[Pat Novak]

One.

[Mason Moore]

You missed, Hellman. Hello, Stark.

[Mark Taylor]

Hi, Novak. What are you waiting for? Sybil? Tell the man you killed Jackie.

[Mason Moore]

Greg.

[Hilda Travis]

I've had enough trouble today.

[Mark Taylor]

Ronnie, you got more coming. You figured it out yet, Novak?

[Mason Moore]

Hauser dumped his 80 grand on you.

[Mark Taylor]

That's right. It's a lot of spending money.

[Hilda Travis]

Wait a minute, Ronnie. I don't like this.

[Mark Taylor]

You get your half, baby. I'm gonna write out an iou. And when they book you for murder and the vote's in, you can't use it.

[Hilda Travis]

You wouldn't do a thing like that, Ronnie.

[Mark Taylor]

A dead girl can't spend 40 grand. She killed your guy, copper, and tried to palm it off on Novak. I was there, so I'll testify.

[Hilda Travis]

Ronnie, you're a Novak.

[Jocko Madigan]

Good God, don't be silly.

[Mark Taylor]

I love justice. A booker for murder, Copper. I want to tear up that iou.

[Mason Moore]

Well, Hellman finally worked it out. Started out as a fixed race. And when they were all through, it was up to the horse, Rudy. Hauser put the squeeze on Sybil for some dough. She offered to run a fast ringer in place of Fleet Lady. So Hauser could pick up a bag full. Rudy just wanted to make sure. So he sent one of his boys around to knock off Fleet Lady. Only the guy killed the ringer instead. It was a break for Sybil. She made a deal with a bookie named Ronnie Stark to take all of Hauser's bets. And guaranteed him that Fleet lady couldn't win because she wasn't that good a horse. It panned out that way. She let Hauser think Fleet lady was dead. He spent 20 grand at the window. Pushing up the odds on Fleet lady. And dumped another 80 on her to win a moving van. It was a phony story Greg used to get me to scare Sybil. He wanted in on the deal. He went back to the stable that night, gotten a beef. She killed him. She had him out in her car. When I went to make that phone call. She figured it was a good way to pass the buck. Hellman asked only one question. Why Would a nice tame horse go crazy and trample a man to death? Jocko had the answer. The horse that killed Hauser was a filly.

[Pat Novak]

The Armed Forces Radio Service has just.

[Emory Halpern]

Brought you Pat Novak for Hire, starring Jack Webb. Pat Novak is produced by William P. Russo.

[Pat Novak]

Jocko Madigan is played by Tudor Owen.

[Inspector Hellman]

Inspector Hellman is played by Raymond Burr.

[Emory Halpern]

Music was composed and conducted by Basil Adnum. Be with us again next week when.

[Inspector Hellman]

Over most of these same stations, we'll.

[Emory Halpern]

Bring you Pat Novak for Hire.

[J]

Marketing is hard, but I'll tell you a little secret. It doesn't have to be. Let me point something out. You're listening to a podcast right now and it's great. You love the host. You seek it out and download it. You listen to it while driving, working out, cooking, even going to the bathroom. Podcasts are a pretty close companion. And this is a podcast ad. Did I get your attention? You can reach great listeners like yourself with podcast advertising from Libsyn Ads. Choose from hundreds of top podcasts offering host endorsements or run a pre produced ad like this one across thousands of shows. To reach your target audience in their favorite podcasts with Libsyn ads, go to Libsynads.com that's L I B S Y N ads.com today. Hi, I'm Chris Gethard and I'm very excited to tell you about Beautiful Anonymous, a podcast where I talk to random people on the phone. I tweet out a phone number. Thousands of people try to call, talk to one of them. They stay anonymous. I can't hang up. That's all the rules. I never know what's gonna happen. We get serious ones. I've talked with meth dealers on their way to prison. I've talked to people who survived mass shootings. Crazy funny ones. I talked to a guy with a goose laugh, somebody who dresses up a as pirate on the weekends. I never know what's going to happen. It's a great show. Subscribe today. Beautiful Anonymous.