JEFF REGAN TRIPLE PLAY: THE MAN WHO LIVED BY THE SEA, THE LADY IN THE FOUNTAIN, THE MAN IN THE CHURCH

Summary

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1001 Radio Crime Solvers

Jeff Regan, Triple Play: "The Man Who Lived by the Sea", "The Lady in the Fountain", "The Man in the Church"

Original Airdate: October 15, 2025
Host: Jon Hagadorn

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Episode Overview

This special triple-feature episode of 1001 Radio Crime Solvers brings listeners three classic cases from hardboiled PI Jeff Regan — "The Man Who Lived by the Sea," "The Lady in the Fountain," and "The Man in the Church." Set in the Golden Age of Radio, these dramatizations plunge Regan into twisting mysteries brimming with glamorous dames, sharp crooks, and LA noir atmosphere, all laced with sardonic wit and moral ambiguity. Regan, the so-called "Lion’s Eye," navigates schemes and betrayals while reporting back to his ever-money-minded boss, Anthony J. Lyon.

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Story 1: The Man Who Lived by the Sea

[Starts ~01:36]

Main Plot

Regan is hired by Prince Nemo, a mysterious psychic, who claims his life is threatened. What begins as a simple protection job quickly entangles Regan in a case of blackmail, murder, and mistaken confessions, centering around an actress, a psychic scam, and the complicated web of relationships among the characters.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

• The Assignment: Regan is asked to visit Prince Nemo, with femme fatale Lena Cara as his escort.
  • Notable Quote (03:17):
    "She's your date." – Regan, when introduced to Lena
• Prince Nemo’s Trouble: Nemo wants protection from Doris Patrick, a dangerous actress he claims is out to kill him.
  • Nemo admits to blackmailing Doris (07:12):
    "He said it's a delicate matter... he wants to explain it to you himself." – The Lion
• Visit to Doris Patrick: Regan encounters Doris, a sultry, sharp-tongued woman with a dangerous ex (Jesse), who tries to rough Regan up.
  • Notable Quote (10:34):
    "I thought you might be running interference, but you look like the whole team." – Doris Patrick
• Violence and Threats: Regan is warned off Doris by her jealous ex-husband Jesse, who, with his thugs, assaults him.
  • Memorable Moment (14:00):
    "Once more. Stay away from her. I've said all the right words. Maybe my punctuation's bad, huh? Lay off. Period."
• Lena’s Breakdown: Lena Cara, distraught, confesses to Regan she believes she killed her husband (Nemo), but her gun hasn’t been fired.
  • Notable Quote (17:57):
    "Tell me, Mr. Regan... do I make a good murderess? Do I?" – Lena Cara
• The Real Murderer: Upon investigation, Regan discovers Nemo shot with a .38 (not Lena’s .25), implicating Jesse in a frame-up to set Doris up as the patsy.
• Climactic Confrontation: At Doris's house, Jesse tries to pin the murder on her and then kill Regan, but Doris kills Jesse, saving Regan.

Standout Dialogue & Noir Tone

• Cynical Narration (18:34):
  "Gave me a feeling like someone was unwrapping an atomic bomb under a Christmas tree." – Regan
• Dramatic Showdown (28:25):
  "Her first slug cut him down like a blade of grass. But she didn't give up."

Outcome

The truth surfaces: Nemo tried to frame Doris for his own protection, but Jesse killed Nemo, tried to pin it on Doris, and ended up dead himself. Lena is acquitted — her confession was a result of hysteria.

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Story 2: The Lady in the Fountain

[Starts ~30:14]

Main Plot

Regan and the Lion are hired to recover stolen jewelry from a Bel Air wedding heist, but what starts as a simple recovery unravels into a tale of betrayal, secret pasts, and murder within the high society Colby family.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

• The Case:
  Regan investigates a $100,000 theft at the Colby wedding, where Francie, the new bride, wore the famed Colby necklace.
  • Meeting Francie: (37:32)
    "I own one Cadillac and two Buicks, but they're all on the fritz. You can help me a lot." – Francie Colby
• Inside Job:
  Regan learns Francie had a previous marriage to Frank Kilmer (alias Pete Florio), a connection key to the mystery.
  • The Pink Lady nightclub and a cigarette girl provide leads about Kilmer and Francie’s past.
• Winters (Insurance Investigator) Killed:
  Ed Winters, the rival insurance investigator, is murdered (43:04), dramatically escalating the stakes.
• Regan Discovers the Heist Plot:
  Francie's former husband Florio helped orchestrate the robbery, using her as an inside woman—she wore the jewels so Florio could snatch them, intending to stash them in the garden fountain.
• Double-Crosses and Confessions:
  Colby, having overheard the plot, planned to claim the insurance money and secretly recover the jewels.
  • Notable Quote (56:08):
    "It. . . It wasn't for me. It was for her. All she wanted was money. Now look at her, Regan. All I wanted was her."
• Violent Resolution:
  In a frantic ending, Colby kills Florio to protect his wife and reclaim the stolen jewels.
• No Reward:
  The Lion laments they won’t get a reward since the jewels never truly left the premises (57:14):
  • "We fouled out on a technicality. And I worked so hard." – The Lion

Memorable Lines & Noir Wisdom

• "Find somebody else to go around trying to make a gentleman out of you. I quit." – Regan (57:35)
• "If you got it, you're okay. If you haven't, you're a bum." – The Lion (57:38)

Outcome

Regan exposes the tangled web of the Colby affair: betrayal, heartbreak, and murder. The true motivations (love, jealousy, greed) come to light, and Regan and the Lion are once again left unpaid — and embittered.

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Story 3: The Man in the Church

[Starts ~60:45]

Main Plot

Fresh out of prison, Charlie Pencole hires Regan to act as a courier, delivering $5,000 to clear an old debt. What seems a straightforward job soon reveals a web of blackmail and revenge, culminating in church with family secrets at the core.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

• The Mission:
  Regan is tasked with delivering $5,000 to Sidney Chambers, a meek civic employee, at the planetarium.
  • (68:57) "Going to the lecture? It's all about a trip to the moon tonight." – Chambers
• Chambers’s Death:
  Regan follows Chambers home, only to find him murdered, money untouched.
• Regan is Framed:
  A patrol cop arrives, discovers Regan at the scene, and tries to detain him for murder (72:20).
• Family Ties & Tragic Secrets:
  Regan uncovers that Meredith Gibbons, a young woman about to be married, is Pencole’s estranged daughter, raised under a new name to protect her from the shame of his criminal past.
  • (79:26) "That lovely girl who just walked out the doors. Charles Pencoll's daughter." – Mrs. Gibbons
• Murder for Protection:
  Pencole had killed Chambers to prevent him from blackmailing Meredith and exposing her parentage; he also kills Johnny Largo, an old rival, tying up all loose ends.
  • (85:02) "So to keep your daughter from knowing who her old man was, you hired me so I could get a line on Chambers, follow him, kill him..." – Regan
• Poignant Finale:
  In the church, Pencole witnesses Meredith's wedding from afar before surrendering to Regan, fatally wounded and emotionally spent.
  • (85:17) "She looks just like a mother." – Pencole
  • (86:03) "Good luck." – Pencole, to his daughter, unrecognized

Notable Quotes

• The Lion’s Greed (62:16):
  "I've already started one. This is my first showing." – Referring to his $50 bill collection
• Regan’s Reflection (86:24):
  "There were four of Largo's slugs in him. He died in the ambulance... They were bending their eyebrows trying to figure out why Penco killed Chambers. I didn't figure it was up to me to explain it."

Emotional & Thematic Highlights

• Redemptive Paths and Consequences:
  Pencole's final acts are driven by a desperate desire to shield his daughter from a shameful past—regardless of the cost.
• Duty versus Compassion:
  Regan, as ever, is caught between enforcing justice and understanding human frailty.

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Timestamps Guide

| TIME | SEGMENT | |-----------|----------------------------------------------------| | 01:36 | Story 1: "The Man Who Lived by the Sea" begins | | 30:14 | Story 2: "The Lady in the Fountain" begins | | 60:45 | Story 3: "The Man in the Church" begins | | 86:52 | Epilogue: Aftermath and emotional closure |

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Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Regan’s Dry Wit:
  "She waltzed in here with a check and you'd sell your grandmother to a glue factory for..." (04:13)
• Hardboiled Noir Atmosphere:
  "He looked unhappy, like somebody fed him a Vaseline sandwich." (13:36)
• Philosophy of the Detective Game:
  "Once the Lion smells a loose dollar, there’s no sense arguing with him. It's like trying to teach ballet to a herd of elephants." (45:12)
• On Family and Regret:
  "All I wanted was her." – Colby, about Francie (56:08) "She looks just like her mother." – Pencole at the wedding (85:17)

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Episode Tone & Style

Faithful to the gritty, cynically humorous and deeply humanistic flavor of golden-age detective radio, the episode abounds with:

• Hard-charging narrative drive
• Acutely observed character details
• Pithy one-liners and rich similes
• A backdrop of 1940s-50s Los Angeles atmosphere: fog, neon, cigarettes, and lives lived at the edge.

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Summary

"Triple Play" is a masterful showcase of classic radio detective storytelling, with Jeff Regan’s relentless pursuit of truth winding through schemes of blackmail, murder, and broken hearts. With each case, the hazards and heartbreaks of detective life—and the flawed, yearning humanity of his city—are painted in all their noir glory.

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For more episodes and stories, visit 1001storiespodcast.com.

Transcript

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Morning Zoe. Got donuts.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Jeff Bridges why are you still living above our garage?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Well I dig the mattress and I want to be in a T mobile commercial like you teach me.

[Meredith Gibbons]

So Dana oh no, I'm not really prepared. I couldn't possibly at t mobile get the new iPhone 17 Pro on them. It's designed to be the most powerful iPhone yet and has the ultimate pro camera system.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Wow, impressive. Let me try. T mobile is the best place to get iPhone 17 Pro because they've got the best network.

[Jeff Regan]

Nice.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Je free.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

You heard them. T mobile is the best place to get the new iPhone 17 Pro on us with eligible traded in any condition. So what are we having for lunch?

[Meredith Gibbons]

Dude, my work here is done.

[Jeff Regan]

The 24 month bill credit on experience beyond for well qualified customers + tax and 35 device connection charge credit send and balance due if you pay off earlier Cancel Finance agreement. IPhone 17 Pro 256 gigs 1099.99 A.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

New line minimum 100 plus a month.

[Jeff Regan]

Plan with auto pay plus taxes and fees required Best mobile network in the US based on analysis by Oklahoma Speed Test Intelligence Data 182025 Visit T mobile.com.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

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[Jeff Regan]

My name's Regan. I get 10 a day and expenses from a detective bureau run by a guy named Anthony J. Lyon. They call me the Lion's Eye.

[Detective Winters]

Jack Webb is Jeff Regan, investigator as CBS offers you hardboiled action and mystery and thrilling adventure in tonight's story of the man who lived by the sea.

[Jeff Regan]

The next time you're out for a drive, pick up Olive street along about the 700 block. You can't miss it. It's a big building made out of white granite. The Cosmopolitan Building. Anthony J. Lyon, the guy I work for, rents an office there. International Detective Bureau, Suite 308. A couple of rooms with a connecting wastebasket. The lion has the only desk in the office and the typewriter that Remington dropped from their catalog back in 1915. I walked in about 11 o' clock last Tuesday morning. The room was loaded with Taboo. She was a tall girl with a flock of black hair and a mink Coat. The kind you see driving a Nash convertible down Sunset Boulevard on warm Sunday afternoons. No wonder the lion's cigar was out. Was wet on both ends. He had one arm around her shoulders. He knew by this time that coat was the real article. Wasn't any music, but he didn't seem to mind.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Come on.

[Jeff Regan]

And Reagan, not much room to dance.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

We got business.

[Jeff Regan]

She's your date.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

This is Mr. Regan, Ms. Cara.

[Meredith Gibbons]

How do you do, Mr. Regan? Mr. Lyon tells me you're just the man I want.

[Jeff Regan]

He said the same thing to a mortician last week.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Miss Cara is associated with the famous psychic consultant Prince Nemo.

[Meredith Gibbons]

I help the Prince look into people's minds.

[Jeff Regan]

That ought to be fun if all your customers are under six.

[Meredith Gibbons]

You don't believe in thought transference, Mr. Eagle, do you?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Prince Nemo sent Miss Cara to retain an operator.

[Jeff Regan]

Why didn't he come himself?

[Meredith Gibbons]

Prince Nemo never appears in public.

[Jeff Regan]

He misses some good ball games.

[Meredith Gibbons]

He has television. Yeah, the Prince prefers to spend his time in meditation and thought. I handle all of his outside contacts.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Regan, I want you to drive out to Prince Nemo's home in Ocean Town with Miss Cara and speak to the Prince.

[Jeff Regan]

What kind of a retainer did he send you?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

We don't discuss finances in front of clients.

[Jeff Regan]

Ah, this is another blind spot. You don't know what this guy wants.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

He said it's a very delicate matter and he wants to explain it to you himself.

[Jeff Regan]

Oh, sure. She waltzed in here with a check and you'd sell your grandmother to a glue factory for.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Is there any way I can reassure you, Mr. Reed?

[Jeff Regan]

Buy me a battleship.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

You got a license and a contract with International.

[Jeff Regan]

You want to tell me about it, lady?

[Meredith Gibbons]

Prince Nemo was very excited this morning. He called me in and told me to make the arrangements.

[Jeff Regan]

It's not enough script.

[Meredith Gibbons]

He never tells me anything. I just work for him. Will you, please?

[Jeff Regan]

All right.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Here's a nickel. Call me and tell me what's up.

[Jeff Regan]

Suppose I can't?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Then you got something for your piggy bank?

[Jeff Regan]

The lion stood there and watched us leave. He looked happy, like a hobo in a bubble bath. Well, we went downstairs. We climbed into her convertible. The guy in the parking lot had to take a walk around the block. When she flashed him a smile. I asked her about lunch. She said no. I asked her about dinner. She said something that meant no. It's like that sometimes. The flag's up, the meter's ticking, and you get nowhere. But from a couple of things she told me. I got the idea that she was doing more than help the prince read minds. His place turned out to be a good hour from Los Angeles up 101, a couple of stories of glass and concrete leaning out over the ocean. Inside, a guy in a white turban and some pants that looked like oversized diapers put his hand on a big curved knife he had in his belt. He was wearing tennis shoes.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Right this way, Mr. Regan.

[Jeff Regan]

Butcher.

[Meredith Gibbons]

That's Ghini, the prince's manservant. He's from India, but the Indians were.

[Jeff Regan]

Glad to get rid of him.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Guinea's harmless, tongueless and he doesn't hear. I like you, Mr. Regan. This is the prince's study.

[Detective Winters]

Come in.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Oh, come in.

[Meredith Gibbons]

This is Mr. Regan.

[Jeff Regan]

Of course. Welcome, sir.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Welcome.

[Jeff Regan]

The Lion's Eye.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

I'm honored, sir. Please sit down.

[Jeff Regan]

That'll be all, Lena.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Of course. I'll be in my office.

[Jeff Regan]

Charming girl, Lena. She handle all your outside contacts. Except for those matters I must attend to personally. Mr. Regan, I'm in trouble. It's paid for. I want you to save my life. We'll look healthy. I am healthy, let me assure you. But my life has been threatened. They got police departments.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

I thought you understood.

[Jeff Regan]

This is a delicate matter.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

We aren't here to discuss.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Me.

[Jeff Regan]

Who's the guy? It's a lady, Mr. Regan. A very beautiful and lovely creature. And she'd like nothing better than to see my carcass go out with the tide. How do you know? She's erratic, ill tempered and ruthless anymore. Yeah, she called me this morning and told me what she intended to do. You got a chance to reach for your gun? To reach for you, Mr. Reekin. Now, I feel the entire matter could be settled amicably if you were to call on her, inform her you are my personal bodyguard and that you are here to protect my life. What makes you figure she'd go for that? It's worth a try. And besides, I'm paying now. Tell me how long you've been blackmailing her. Blackmail? What do you mean? Your racket might last six months, a year, but not long enough to build a place like this. The answer's blackmail, my dear fellow.

[Meredith Gibbons]

I.

[Jeff Regan]

Okay, okay, so I should have told you. Give it to me. Well, I can slip him into a trance. They spill a family secret or two. What kind of secret? Any kind. They want their minds read. I read them 25 bucks a hit. Where does the shakedown come in? When I tell them what they told me. You've been putting a squeeze on her. She's an Actress? She was in on a deal at the studios and she won't shake. She said she'd blow my head off. Look, I'm in a spot, Rick. And she's the kind who do it and make love to the jury. Give me a name. Doris Patrick.

[Detective Winters]

Ever heard of her?

[Jeff Regan]

Where'd she live? Palisades. Here's her dress. You going over to talk to her now? She isn't gunning for me. Oh, thanks a lot, Regan. You know, I've been sweating. It's real good for a cold.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Yeah, I'll try and catch one.

[Jeff Regan]

You guys yell real loud when they answer back.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

I'm just thinking of my future, Regan.

[Jeff Regan]

I won't look good dead. I left him sitting there scratching his bald head under his turban. He looked unhappy, like somebody fed him a Vaseline sandwich. Well, I climbed in my car and I followed the highway to the turnoff back to Sunset. The Malibu fog was coming in for the winter, and by the time I got to the address Nemo had given me, I was looking around for my hands. Doris Patrick's place was too big for a marble game and too small for football. There was a wire fence all around it and a sign every 15 or 20ft or so that said not to trespass. I parked in the boulevard and walked up the driveway. It was about then that a guy in a blue suit showed up. He was tall and heavy, and he thought a lot of his hat. He pulled down on the brim, blew smoke in my face and kind of nudged me with his shoulder.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Move on, pilgrim. We don't want any.

[Jeff Regan]

How do you know?

[Meredith Gibbons]

We're waiting for the 49s. Scram, huh?

[Jeff Regan]

You aren't even on the list.

[Meredith Gibbons]

All right, we'll wait for the 50s. Blow.

[Jeff Regan]

I came to see Doris Patrick.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Yeah? What for? You her? Sure. What do you want?

[Jeff Regan]

Business.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Shop closed.

[Jeff Regan]

You always like this or you miss lunch today?

[Meredith Gibbons]

Look, I don't know who you are, pilgrim, but you don't understand English.

[Jeff Regan]

Well, I know you. There's something about a guy in the lineup. Yeah, he memorizes easy.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Cop, private. Private or city. All smell the same to me.

[Jeff Regan]

Hunting season's over. You always carry a.38, do you?

[Meredith Gibbons]

All that showing?

[Jeff Regan]

Well, maybe you got a broken rib.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Hell, I met all kinds of funny guys.

[Jeff Regan]

I said I wanted to see her.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Ain't in Watchdog. Now you're getting smart.

[Jeff Regan]

Well, you aren't.

[Meredith Gibbons]

What kind of crack is that?

[Jeff Regan]

Just this. I'm going in.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Trick I learned a long time ago you shoot a guy in the Knee. And he don't ever walk straight again.

[Jeff Regan]

Never done it, punk.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Oh, sure.

[Meredith Gibbons]

That's how I learned.

[Jeff Regan]

That's when I learned, baby. He slumped against the side of the wall and he looked tired, like he'd been running from Compton. Well, I left him there and I went up the driveway to the porch. Coming around a blind corner, I bumped into something that kind of relaxed and rolled into me. It was a blonde girl, about 25, in a white polo coat. I was willing to try it again, but she began talking with a voice that was deep enough to go in the oil business.

[Meredith Gibbons]

I thought you might be running interference, but you look like the whole team.

[Jeff Regan]

Whose side are you on, lady?

[Meredith Gibbons]

I keep score. Doris, Patrick, you're on the right field.

[Jeff Regan]

Where's the locker room?

[Meredith Gibbons]

Maybe I like you. Where do you come from?

[Jeff Regan]

Right here.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Didn't know we raised your kind anymore. Or did you grow wild?

[Jeff Regan]

Do I pass?

[Meredith Gibbons]

What'd you say your name was?

[Jeff Regan]

Regan.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Welcome.

[Jeff Regan]

Which highway?

[Meredith Gibbons]

Straight ahead to the den.

[Jeff Regan]

Nice place you got. When's harvest time?

[Meredith Gibbons]

I said welcome.

[Jeff Regan]

That isn't what the tall boy said.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Tall boy?

[Jeff Regan]

A blue suit with a.38 and a hat.

[Meredith Gibbons]

That'd be Jesse. I was married to him once.

[Jeff Regan]

What about now?

[Meredith Gibbons]

He hangs around like that sometimes. I never see much of him.

[Jeff Regan]

Trouble? No, not much.

[Meredith Gibbons]

You got a lot of size, mister. Must have been good. Do that kind of thing often?

[Jeff Regan]

Only when I have to sit down.

[Meredith Gibbons]

How do you like it? Soda or water?

[Jeff Regan]

You're away.

[Meredith Gibbons]

There now. Isn't that better?

[Jeff Regan]

I don't know. This is my first drink.

[Meredith Gibbons]

You'll get another. It's a cold day.

[Jeff Regan]

Not in here.

[Meredith Gibbons]

You're quick. Must have a good straight man.

[Jeff Regan]

His name's Prince Nemo.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Must we talk about him?

[Jeff Regan]

He thinks you're dangerous stuff.

[Meredith Gibbons]

What do you think?

[Jeff Regan]

Right now or when I'm a couple of feet away?

[Meredith Gibbons]

Now.

[Jeff Regan]

Hey, now, look. Remember me? I just got here.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Your name's Reagan and we're gonna get along. Yeah, it's in the cards.

[Jeff Regan]

We got a fast deck.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Go ahead, deal.

[Jeff Regan]

All right. How much time between rounds?

[Meredith Gibbons]

Yes. Who? Oh, just a minute. You know somebody named Lion?

[Jeff Regan]

Yeah.

[Meredith Gibbons]

He has quite a roar. Yeah? Yeah.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Who's the name? Who has the phone?

[Jeff Regan]

Nemo's friend.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Sounds like he's a friend of yours, all right.

[Jeff Regan]

You got something to say? Check. Bounce.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

It was certified. Nemo called 10 minutes ago.

[Jeff Regan]

And?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Cancel a contract.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Now.

[Jeff Regan]

What happens now?

[Meredith Gibbons]

Finished.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Come back to office.

[Jeff Regan]

Who told you I was here?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

The Prince.

[Jeff Regan]

It was a quick change.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

We got paid.

[Jeff Regan]

Well, I Already started something.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

I don't care what you started. You finish it on your own time and expense sheet.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Yeah. Bad news?

[Jeff Regan]

Well, I'm through working for the day. Well, I was an old friend of the family when I left. She didn't want me to go, but I was thinking about Prince Nemo and the way that nothing made sense. Oh, the whole thing looked phony, like an undertaker in a white derby. It didn't take 2020 vision to see that somebody was getting anxious to make a play. By the time I got home, I figured I was out of it. But my company had other ideas. It was Jesse, and he had friends.

[Meredith Gibbons]

You should lock your door, Regan.

[Jeff Regan]

Why? You'd crawl under.

[Meredith Gibbons]

All right, fellas.

[Jeff Regan]

Friends.

[Meredith Gibbons]

I just hired him.

[Jeff Regan]

You got a parade permit?

[Meredith Gibbons]

Stan, say hello to Regan. Hello, stupid.

[Jeff Regan]

What about Skinny Hire Grogan?

[Meredith Gibbons]

Name's Regan. He's a detective. Isn't that right? You're pretty good with your women, Regan.

[Jeff Regan]

You know, you look lonesome. Jesse. You got something to say, stay away from it. You're shaking. You want a drink?

[Meredith Gibbons]

Already had one. Stand skinny. Set him on a bed. Oh, Reagan.

[Jeff Regan]

Once more.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Once more. Stay away from her.

[Jeff Regan]

You said that before.

[Meredith Gibbons]

I want to make sure you understand. Stand skinny. Hold his arms. I've said all the right words. Maybe my punctuation's bad, huh? Lay off. Period. Lay off. Period. Lay off. Period. Okay, okay. Leave him on the bed.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Hey, he rolled off.

[Meredith Gibbons]

That's fine, fine. Now he won't have to change his sheets.

[Jeff Regan]

Oh, Jesse was good. When I got up, my face looked like a really. He was wearing a signet ring. He left out some of the boulevards, but the Rose bowl was right out in front. I found a drink in the cabinet and I started for the mirror to see what was left. It was about then I heard a knock on the door. He was a little guy in a cab driver's suit. It figured that he got the job because they ran out of big uniforms. They double crossed him on that cap. If it wasn't for his ears, he'd have been wearing his snood.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Higher. Yeah, Football.

[Jeff Regan]

What do you want?

[Meredith Gibbons]

Your name, Regan.

[Jeff Regan]

That's what it says in the mailbox.

[Meredith Gibbons]

I met a friend of yours today.

[Jeff Regan]

Get to the point, will you?

[Meredith Gibbons]

A dame named Lena Cara. Yeah, Lina Cara.

[Detective Winters]

Some fish.

[Jeff Regan]

All right, you're in the register.

[Detective Winters]

Wait, wait.

[Jeff Regan]

That ain't all.

[Meredith Gibbons]

She wants to see you.

[Jeff Regan]

What about?

[Meredith Gibbons]

Didn't say. Just said to see if you was home. You home, Kiel? I got her down my cab.

[Jeff Regan]

We'll send her Up.

[Meredith Gibbons]

I don't think she can make it.

[Jeff Regan]

What do you mean?

[Meredith Gibbons]

She looks kind of funny.

[Detective Winters]

Maybe you better come down.

[Jeff Regan]

She was sitting on the edge of the seat, staring out at nothing. Her back was as stiff as a filing cabinet and there was a little ring of white around her lips. I paid off the cabbie and I took her back up to my place without a word. When we closed the door, she was sitting on my sofa the same way. Only this time she had a.25 automatic in her hand.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Well, well.

[Jeff Regan]

Where'd you get the gun, lady?

[Meredith Gibbons]

Gun? Oh, this? I bought it for $30.

[Jeff Regan]

Can I see it?

[Meredith Gibbons]

Oh, yes, Mr. Regan. I brought it so I could show it to you. I paid $30 for it. Paid $30 for it?

[Detective Winters]

Yeah.

[Jeff Regan]

It's brand new, isn't it?

[Meredith Gibbons]

Oh, yes, of course. Did you know Prince Nemo was my husband?

[Jeff Regan]

Since when?

[Meredith Gibbons]

Long time now. Not many people know that.

[Jeff Regan]

Did you come here to tell me that?

[Meredith Gibbons]

No. I came to tell you that you don't have to worry anymore.

[Jeff Regan]

About what?

[Meredith Gibbons]

About what my husband hired you for.

[Jeff Regan]

Well, I've already been called off. Oh.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Aw, I didn't know that. Did you meet Doris Patrick?

[Jeff Regan]

Yeah.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Then it was about her.

[Jeff Regan]

What do you want, lady?

[Meredith Gibbons]

Nothing. Nothing at all. Justin. We don't have to worry anymore, do we?

[Jeff Regan]

Tell me about the gun.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Doris is very pretty, don't you think? Seen her on the screen many times and she's quite pretty. Could hardly blame the prince at all.

[Jeff Regan]

Why'd you bring the gun?

[Meredith Gibbons]

Imagine the air would be cleaner there, don't you?

[Jeff Regan]

What are you talking about?

[Meredith Gibbons]

It's really very humane, they tell me.

[Jeff Regan]

Come on, stop it.

[Meredith Gibbons]

It's just like sitting down and never waking up. I read all about it. Just walk in and sit down. You don't try to hold your breath.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Stop it, sis.

[Jeff Regan]

Stop it. Now listen to me. What is it? What have you done? What are you trying to say?

[Meredith Gibbons]

I'm trying to hold your breath. You go right to sleep, don't you?

[Jeff Regan]

You're trying to tell me that you killed him.

[Meredith Gibbons]

They don't make such a great deal of noise, do they? Sitting there in his house by the sea. He looked very much alive on. Only. Only he isn't alive at all. Tell me, Mr. Reagan. Tell me, do I make a good murder? Do I?

[Jeff Regan]

After she got through screaming, she settled down to a slow, even kind of giggle that started somewhere around her shoelaces and didn't get past her knees. Gave me a feeling like somebody was unwrapping an atomic bomb under a Christmas Tree. Well, she wasn't gonna do any more talking, so I went downstairs and brought back a doctor friend of mine named Sammy Wing. He had his little black bag with him and he gave her a shot of something she wielded like last night's orchid and went to sleep. Sammy wrote down a couple of things and then he looked up at me.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Some playmate. Wish I'd have been here for the party.

[Jeff Regan]

How is she, Sam?

[Meredith Gibbons]

You know her better than me.

[Jeff Regan]

Well, is she going to be all right?

[Meredith Gibbons]

In four or five hours she'll wake up and want some water.

[Jeff Regan]

Then what?

[Meredith Gibbons]

She might ask you what happened. Or it might start all over again. By the way, what was it?

[Jeff Regan]

I don't know. She came over to see me.

[Meredith Gibbons]

I should have visitors like this.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

I've been working too hard.

[Jeff Regan]

She said she killed a guy who was a client of mine.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Maybe I'm lucky at that. Why the past tense?

[Jeff Regan]

The lion called me off the case.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Official, huh?

[Jeff Regan]

Yeah.

[Meredith Gibbons]

You got nobody to protect. Where's the corpse?

[Jeff Regan]

At a house in Ocean Town. Here.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Call the police and you and me can go out and do our Christmas shopping.

[Jeff Regan]

She said she used this gun, a.25.

[Meredith Gibbons]

It killed people.

[Jeff Regan]

No, Sammy. There's a bullet jammed in the chamber.

[Meredith Gibbons]

James don't know how to reload it.

[Jeff Regan]

Hasn't been fired.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Ballistics got better ways of telling. She's pretty and she's nice and I'll bet she looks like a million bucks in a bathing suit. But if I'd have met her within the last three hours, I'd a run for help.

[Jeff Regan]

Was that professional?

[Meredith Gibbons]

Acute hysteria. The kind that pops off guns and.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

People and does a lot of things.

[Meredith Gibbons]

They can't remember later on. Call Sanduchi.

[Jeff Regan]

It doesn't figure she'd do it with this.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Maybe she had another one. While you're at it, call the coroner. Tell him to go out there with some DOA forms.

[Jeff Regan]

No, I'm going first. Corpse Hut. Just an idea.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Labrucerie had an idea.

[Jeff Regan]

Yeah?

[Meredith Gibbons]

This dame's bit somebody and she's told you her story.

[Jeff Regan]

Well, I don't like it.

[Meredith Gibbons]

What do they do when a private eye messes up an open and shut murder case?

[Jeff Regan]

Sammy, stay with her, will you? There's some bourbon out in the kitchen.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Maybe both of us will get our pictures in the papers.

[Jeff Regan]

I left him sitting there. He looks sad. Like a water buffalo caught in a drought. I pushed through the fog for about 40 minutes and I pulled up in front of Nemo's place in ocean town about 9:30. It was dark enough to give a ghost the creep, I used that ring of keys that I'd taken from her purse and I went inside. Smelled dry and still, like somebody was waiting for the world to fall apart. I clicked on my flash and I walked down the long hall to his office. He was there, just like she said. There were three holes in the front of his shirt. Close range. But it wasn't the laundry's fault. He'd been dead maybe two hours. The desk drawer showed some canceled checks made out to Doris Patrick. While I was thinking that over, I spotted a.38 Smith & Wesson on the floor by his hand. Lyn had been carrying a.25. I broke it and three cartridges fell out. From the looks of the holes in his chest, the.38 was the gun for the job. Well, that made her story and the.25 a fairy tale. While I was kneeling there, a light went on by. Fat man wearing a sheriff star was standing by the switch. A tall leather jacket with a flashlight in his hand was in front of me. I began to feel helpless, like a trombone player with a short arm.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Scavenger hunt, son?

[Detective Winters]

You don't talk, Charlie.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Ain't much for him to say, is there, Cap?

[Detective Winters]

Guess not.

[Jeff Regan]

Well, son, you're gonna be calling me names.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

What do you like best? Killer?

[Detective Winters]

Murderer?

[Jeff Regan]

Slayer.

[Detective Winters]

Papers use slayer a lot.

[Jeff Regan]

I don't like any of them.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Kind of breezy for a hot boy, ain't you?

[Detective Winters]

You mind giving me a name?

[Jeff Regan]

Regan. I'm with the International Detective Bureau.

[Detective Winters]

It's Regan, Cap.

[Jeff Regan]

He's with the International Detective Bureau.

[Detective Winters]

Got a car out or something, son?

[Jeff Regan]

Yeah. Here.

[Detective Winters]

This guy here, a friend of yours?

[Jeff Regan]

My client once.

[Detective Winters]

What'd you do for him? Okay, tell me this. Why'd you plug him?

[Jeff Regan]

There's another story.

[Detective Winters]

Any good?

[Jeff Regan]

Better than the one you got.

[Detective Winters]

You'll have a hard time selling it.

[Jeff Regan]

It's a fix.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Oh, why you want to say a thing like that?

[Jeff Regan]

How long you been on the force?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Easy, Regan. Being caps. Being nice.

[Detective Winters]

Phone call a little while ago. Funny kind of voice. Said we'd find us stiff here. Didn't say we'd find you.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Yeah, you're extra.

[Jeff Regan]

The dame who worked for him told him. You tell Homicide? No, that was a mistake.

[Detective Winters]

Where's this girl now? Name? Charlie. Call a coroner. Ocean Town is just a small place. Only me and Charlie around. We borrow from the county when we get something like this.

[Jeff Regan]

Well, I can find you a real answer in an hour.

[Detective Winters]

You got ideas.

[Jeff Regan]

Lots of them.

[Detective Winters]

You can tell me all about him later. We got a corpse we got a suspect. You know, that's good. Even a weapon.

[Jeff Regan]

I'll have an alibi when you check the time of death.

[Detective Winters]

We're worried about that later on. All right, son, let's go.

[Jeff Regan]

I had about as much chance as an elephant in the tea room if those two locked me and booked me. I leaned back into his gun, spun around, knocked his wrist down. He pulled the trigger, but I'd already hit the light switch and he was making rockets in the dark. I left my car there and cut across the highway and doubled back up the hill. They spread out in the wrong direction. An hour later, I was standing in front of the lion's door. He was wrapped in a bathrobe big enough to keep all the silk worms working overtime.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

What do you want?

[Jeff Regan]

Re information.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

You've been drinking.

[Jeff Regan]

I've been working.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Adelina Carris here.

[Jeff Regan]

You sent her?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

She called me and said she wanted to hire you for something else after.

[Jeff Regan]

Nemo canceled the contract.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Yeah. Why?

[Jeff Regan]

You gave her my address.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

I thought you ought to talk to her.

[Detective Winters]

What she wanted?

[Jeff Regan]

She told me that she killed the Prince.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

She can't do that. We got a contract.

[Jeff Regan]

Well, it's already been done.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

We're on a spot.

[Jeff Regan]

Yeah, I figured that'd get through to you.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

They'll be asking me all kinds of questions.

[Jeff Regan]

Why didn't you think of that before you signed?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

What are we gonna do?

[Jeff Regan]

You're gonna find out where this.25 came from and if anybody fired it. She was carrying it when she came to me.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

I don't want to get in far.

[Jeff Regan]

Well, you're in it up to your ears. I went out there and found the prince. Only a.38 might have done the job.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Yeah, well, that cleans her up.

[Jeff Regan]

Not yet. The ocean town sheriff and a guy named Charlie are looking for me. They think I know something. Oh, yeah? Not yet. There was a tip off. Somebody was supposed to be a patsy.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Where's Kara now?

[Jeff Regan]

My place with Sammy Wing.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

I'm gonna get a lawyer. It'll look good.

[Detective Winters]

All right.

[Jeff Regan]

Give me the keys to your car.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Why?

[Jeff Regan]

I got a date.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Find out who fogged Nemo and we won the championship.

[Jeff Regan]

You'll have to give the cup back. You cheated. I drove back out to Doris Patrick's place in the Palisades. And I rang the bell and waited. Took her a while, but she showed. She was wearing a filmy kind of a thing that made a spider's web look like canvas. I began to feel warm, like a sun lamp on a picture set.

[Meredith Gibbons]

We had a date at 9 o'. Clock.

[Jeff Regan]

I broke my watch.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Come in. I'll see if I can fix it. I'm great for the Swiss movement.

[Jeff Regan]

Yeah, it shows.

[Meredith Gibbons]

We were going to look at the stars together.

[Jeff Regan]

How long you been here?

[Meredith Gibbons]

I gave you up at 10. Tell me, how do you like my new dress?

[Jeff Regan]

It's the right color, but the wrong cut for a funeral.

[Meredith Gibbons]

I haven't read the obituaries today.

[Detective Winters]

No?

[Jeff Regan]

It'll be in tomorrow's paper.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Have a drink and let's wait for tomorrow.

[Jeff Regan]

Your friend Nemo was killed tonight.

[Meredith Gibbons]

He was no friend of mine. I told you that.

[Jeff Regan]

So did he.

[Meredith Gibbons]

He fall off his house?

[Jeff Regan]

Murder.

[Meredith Gibbons]

We've been having fun up to now.

[Jeff Regan]

You know you'll be first.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Guess I don't think I like that.

[Jeff Regan]

He tried to blackmail you.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Hmm. Story's backwards.

[Jeff Regan]

Well, that's the way it comes out.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Not quite.

[Jeff Regan]

You got another way?

[Meredith Gibbons]

He never tried to blackmail me. I blackmailed him.

[Jeff Regan]

How?

[Meredith Gibbons]

I went to him one day and put him in a trance. Only I used scotch. I found out what he was doing and how he was doing it. So I turned the tables. It was good clean fun, but expensive for him.

[Jeff Regan]

Well, now, if he was your meal ticket, then you have an alibi, huh?

[Meredith Gibbons]

There'd be canceled checks somewhere right where.

[Jeff Regan]

I could find him.

[Meredith Gibbons]

I'm telling you the truth.

[Jeff Regan]

Where does Jesse fit?

[Meredith Gibbons]

I told you, we were married once. He's jealous.

[Jeff Regan]

Did he know about Nemo? Maybe he was watchdog when I came out.

[Meredith Gibbons]

I told you. Jesse. Hello, gorgeous. I still have a key. What do you want? You get out. You still trapping with his tramp?

[Jeff Regan]

Just in time, Jesse.

[Meredith Gibbons]

You know, you didn't listen good. I told you to lay off.

[Jeff Regan]

Where's your friend?

[Meredith Gibbons]

Paid off. I'm handling the salon. We've been finished for a long time. We're starting up again, Angel. Why didn't you know Nemo was dead?

[Jeff Regan]

I saw your.38 tonight, Jesse.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Ah, you're wrong. It's her.38. It's got her prints on it. What do you mean? I put him there. And you're gonna be tagged for his murder, ain't you? You see, you're sort of in a spot.

[Jeff Regan]

Friggin easy, baby. This punk never did anything right.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Oh, tell me how wrong I've been.

[Jeff Regan]

All right. That tip of the ocean town cops was wrong. Killing Nemo was wrong.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Ah, you're twisted, pilgrim. Cops got a warrant out for you right now. Yeah, I heard it on the car radio. Murder suspect plugging you is something they'll thank me for.

[Jeff Regan]

With her prints on the gun.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Well, how was I to know? I just see you and plug you. Everybody will be sorry. But it'll be manslaughter and suspended. It's pretty right, isn't it? What about me? A friend of mine? Shoving off at Pedro tonight, Angel. Going all over the world. We'd be together. Well, angel, will I plug him and meet you somewhere in two weeks? Yeah. All right. Move over, Regan. The lady's making up her mind now. What do you like?

[Jeff Regan]

Oh, it was a real photo finish. Just as Jesse set the gun up against my head, Doris pulled a gun from the desk drawer and threw a couple of fast ones into him. Jesse tried for her. I'd call it a dead heat, but you'd have to give Doris the edge. Her first slug cut him down like a blade of grass. But she didn't give up.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Angel.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Angel.

[Jeff Regan]

He's all used up.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Never shot anyone before.

[Jeff Regan]

You look like a professional. Give me the gun.

[Meredith Gibbons]

He deserved to die, didn't he? Didn't he?

[Jeff Regan]

I don't know, lady. You knew him better. Well, it all unwound like red thread in a Levi factory. Nemo told me his phony story so he'd have a good self defense angle. When he finally got around to killing Doris Patrick some afternoon. Jesse worked for him to keep me out. But I bounced him out and got inside. When Jesse phoned Nemo about it. Nemo called the lion and had me jerk before we could compare notes. I guess Jesse went kind of crazy when he saw how well we got along. He got an idea and killed Nemo and made Doris a patsy with those fingerprints. Wayne Akara. Well, she went kind of crazy too. She found Nemo dead and got the idea she did it. It took three doctors a couple of days to tell her what really happened. And the lion was mad when he found out there wasn't any money in it. But then when he saw Doris Patrick's picture in the paper, he got kind of curious. He asked just one question. What did I do? All that afternoon? I was out in her house. I didn't even bother to answer him.

[Detective Winters]

Jack Webb is featured as Jeff Regan with Herb Butterfield as Anthony J. Lyon. The story of the man who lived by the sea returned tonight by special request and was written by E. Jack Newman. Produced by Sterling Tracy. In tonight's cast, the role of Doris Patrick was played by Yvonne Petey. Also heard Sidney Miller, Peggy Weber, Paul Freeze, Marvin Miller and Barry Kroger. Music for this program is by Milton Charles. This is Bob Stevenson speaking. This Is CBS the Columbia Broadcasting System? My name's Regan. I work for Anthony J. Lyon, International Detective Bureau. They call me the Lion's Eye. CBS brings you Jeff Regan, investigator. Starring Frank Graham as Regan. With Frank Nelson as Anthony J. Lyon. So stand by for mystery, suspense and adventure in tonight's trouble. Jeff Regan, story of the lady by the Fountain. A block above Wilton, off Hollywood Boulevard, there's a street called Taft. And the first dirty gray apartment house on the right hand side is where I pick up my laundry. 428. I'm finishing out the lease for a guy who's up at San Quentin waiting for for the second week in December. That's where the state's gonna help him forget a blonde he never should have remembered. Well, it's a place to live. I've got a leaky faucet and a bed that comes out of the wall. And that's where I was last Monday morning about 6 o' clock when somebody began pounding on the door. I figured the place was burning down, but it turned out worse. My boss. A couple of hundred pounds of black cigar stuffed into a blue suit.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Regan, it's me, the Lion. It's a nice morning. The sun's up, the birds are up. What are you doing?

[Detective Winters]

Just hoping somebody drop in. What do you want?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Hey, get your pants on. We got lots of work to do. This is gonna be a busy day.

[Detective Winters]

The last time you threw that line I spent six weeks in the hospital.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

You're always suspicious of people. You should learn to trust your fellow man. You can't go through life not having faith in people. Follow my example. Every man is my brother, Regan.

[Detective Winters]

And if you figured there was a buck in it, you'd sell him to a chain gang and I'll see here. And you'd be the first one to turn him in if he got loose.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

That kind of talk doesn't set well with me, Reagan. Remember, I have you under contract international. And I hold your bond.

[Detective Winters]

You can let loose anytime you want to. It's no season pass to come in here in the middle of the night.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Now, now, there's no need for you and I to argue. I guess I'm a bit edgy. Been up all night long.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Mind?

[Detective Winters]

Yes, I do.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

As I said, I've been up all night long. Thanks, Regan. Somebody got Tim Vickers, vice president of American Casualty Company, out of bed at 3 o' clock this morning.

[Detective Winters]

He was at the same party with you.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

They don't get old Tim out of bed unless there's dough involved. I looked into it. Headquarters tells me that a guy named Albert Colby made the call. Lives out in Bel Air. Fine family oil.

[Detective Winters]

Put it on the road.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

I wish you'd buy better stuff. Well, last night Colby got himself married to a tomato named Francis Shaner. Somewhere around midnight, the new Mrs. Colby and 50 or 60 other guests heisted as nice as you please.

[Detective Winters]

And the police are working on it. Goodbye.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

No, you and me, we're working on it.

[Detective Winters]

When they call American Casualty, that means whatever was taken was insured and they've got their own.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

And it means they want it back bad enough to start paying a reward to anybody who can find whatever it is.

[Detective Winters]

And it means the insurance company and the police department will be working on it. And they don't want anybody else sticking their nose in.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Oh, those cops can't pick up reward money, and neither can those company guys. Now, that leaves you and me, Regan. Any international can use some extra dough.

[Detective Winters]

Try the Morris plan.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

I got a better one. You hop out to Colby's and get some details. I'll hang around headquarters and see what kind of story they've got.

[Detective Winters]

You set them up, but they never come off.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

If we find out what's gone, who took it and get it back, we've made rent money.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Yeah.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Haven't had my breakfast yet. What's the matter, Regan? You look worried.

[Detective Winters]

I am. That's my only bottle.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Oh, you got nothing to worry about anymore. Here, it's empty.

[Detective Winters]

Well, the lion only got as far as D in the Alphabet. That's when they showed him how to spell $. And this Kobe thing had a dollar sign in front of it as far as the line was concerned. And that means it's no use arguing. So I threw on some clothes and drove out to the Kobe place. It turned out to be a lot of brick and grill work on top of one of those canyon roads right after you turn off Sunset into Bel Air. When I drove in the gate, I got a feeling somebody better check with London to see if Buckingham was still there. Two guys in uniform stopped me. I showed him my license. They let me through. I parked in the driveway behind three police cars and started looking around for the ladies entrance. That's when I spotted a tall guy in a brown sport coat sitting on a cement bench right by a thumb. Up close he looked sad, like an umpire on a rainy day.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Yes?

[Meredith Gibbons]

What can I do for you?

[Detective Winters]

I'm looking for a guy named Colby.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Are you from the police?

[Detective Winters]

No.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Insurance company? No.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Or we don't want any reporters hanging around.

[Detective Winters]

All right. I'm no scribe. Now, can you tell me where I can find Colby? What do you want to see him about? You're him.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Yes, I'm Albert Colby.

[Detective Winters]

My name's Regan, International Detective Bureau.

[Jeff Regan]

Oh.

[Detective Winters]

What does that mean? Look, I've been through a very hard night, Mr. Regan.

[Meredith Gibbons]

I learned a lot of things I didn't know before.

[Detective Winters]

What kind of things? The police tell me that when a.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Group of jewelry is stolen that it's more or less kidnapping.

[Detective Winters]

It's held in ransom until it's brought.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Back, and that the procedure is to.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Wait to be contacted by one of the thieves.

[Detective Winters]

That's one way, yes.

[Meredith Gibbons]

So I understand.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

It also can be broken up, disassembled.

[Meredith Gibbons]

And sold on the market.

[Detective Winters]

Yeah.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Very interesting and very sound economic structure. I'm surprised at the ingenuity of criminals.

[Detective Winters]

A lot of people are. You want to tell me how it happened?

[Meredith Gibbons]

A man from my insurance office also told me there'd be uninvited private investigators around.

[Detective Winters]

And he told you to keep quiet until he went to word?

[Meredith Gibbons]

In a word, yes.

[Detective Winters]

You want the stuff back, don't you?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

I do, but I believe the police.

[Detective Winters]

And insurance company to be reasonably capable.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

You're Wasting your time, Mr. Regan.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Good morning.

[Detective Winters]

He was right. I was wasting my time. The lieutenant in charge made a statement a half hour later that told me no more than I got from the Lion. It was easy to see they wanted to sit tight and wait for a contact. They were playing at koi and I gave up after a couple of hours and walked out and got in my car. That's when I met her. A tall brunette with equipment to match. She looked good in that sable coat, but she'd have looked good in a fishnet. She didn't waste any time. She climbed in beside me.

[Meredith Gibbons]

I own one Cadillac and two Buicks, but they're all on the fritz. You can help me a lot.

[Detective Winters]

Want me to buy you the Super Chief?

[Meredith Gibbons]

I want you to drive me to Wilshire and Fairfax.

[Detective Winters]

The cab boys might think I'm cutting in.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Look, I don't know who you are, but I've been up all night answering questions and talking to a lot of nosy cops, and I'm tired. Be a good boy, huh?

[Detective Winters]

You were here when it happened.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Do I have to go through all that again?

[Detective Winters]

If I take you to Wilshire and Fairfax, you do.

[Meredith Gibbons]

All right. Mind giving me a name, Regan? All right, Regan. I'm Francie. Francie Colby. I'm not used to the name yet.

[Detective Winters]

Best wishes.

[Meredith Gibbons]

For what?

[Detective Winters]

Isn't that what they say? When you get married?

[Meredith Gibbons]

Yeah. You ever met him? Yeah.

[Detective Winters]

In your garden. Doesn't talk much.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Hurts that way. What do you want to know, Reagan?

[Detective Winters]

When it happened. How they did it.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa, boy. I'll tell you my story, and you pick out what you can.

[Jeff Regan]

News.

[Detective Winters]

Let's hear.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Was two hours after the ceremony, everybody was out in the garden for the reception. I don't know where they came from, but there were three of them.

[Jeff Regan]

What'd they look like?

[Meredith Gibbons]

They were tall, war masks. One handled a gun and lined up everybody, and the other two had pillowcases. They went down the line and took everything that glittered.

[Detective Winters]

Strictly jewelry.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Anything big, 20,000 from the rest of them. I was queen.

[Detective Winters]

Hmm.

[Meredith Gibbons]

I was wearing a thing called the Colby Group necklace and bracelet belonging to Bert's mother.

[Detective Winters]

What price?

[Meredith Gibbons]

100,000.

[Jeff Regan]

Ooh.

[Detective Winters]

There'd be a real payoff on that.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Oh. Oh, so that's your angle. What else?

[Detective Winters]

How'd these guys get away?

[Meredith Gibbons]

They backed out, tipped hats and left.

[Detective Winters]

Fourth man in their car?

[Meredith Gibbons]

No, no. One of them went ahead of the other two.

[Detective Winters]

Anybody go after him?

[Meredith Gibbons]

That's why I couldn't drive myself. All the cars were Jimmy. Phone lines got neat. I suppose so. That all you wanted to know?

[Jeff Regan]

Enough.

[Detective Winters]

Tell me, what kind of friend have you got who drives a green coupe?

[Meredith Gibbons]

Well, I haven't got any friend who drives a green coupe.

[Detective Winters]

Neither have I, but he's been following us ever since we left your place.

[Meredith Gibbons]

What now?

[Detective Winters]

Look, I'll stop at this next corner, jump out and run into the drugstore. You'll have to follow me.

[Meredith Gibbons]

You're a nice guy, Regan. I hope you make the great on us now. So long.

[Detective Winters]

She made it to the drugstore and he stuck with me. I turned right when I hit Santa Monica Boulevard, and that's when he began playing games. His front bumper tapped my fender and I pulled over. He crawled out of his car. Heavy man in a suit that didn't fit him around the middle. I didn't like the way he smiled.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

What do you think of the new Mrs. Colby?

[Detective Winters]

Nice girl. You a friend of hers? No, no, never met her any. You never met me, either. That's where you're mistaken.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Your name's Reagan.

[Detective Winters]

You're within the National Detective Bureau. You work for the lion.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Sent you out on a job.

[Detective Winters]

What did I have for breakfast? A lot of talk from the lion about the Colby case, right? You follow me just to tell me that? I wanted to make sure you heard it.

[Jeff Regan]

Real sure.

[Detective Winters]

Well, you can unwrap your bumpers and get moving, Buster. I don't listen easy. That's what they tell me.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Regan. Yeah.

[Detective Winters]

My name's Winters.

[Jeff Regan]

I got that badge four years ago.

[Detective Winters]

It says American Casualty Company on it, and right next to it there's a license that makes me one of their investigators. Right now, I'm working on one of their cases. You're wasting a lot of time. No, you're wasting the time, Regan. This is a one man show. I'm handling it. And I don't want any private peepers snooping around trying to fall in the cracks. You talk like you got it all figured.

[Jeff Regan]

I got so much of it, there.

[Detective Winters]

Isn'T any left for you and the Lion. You really know that much?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

I really know that.

[Detective Winters]

Name me. Three hoods and black masks. I'll have their files by six o' clock tonight. Show me some important stuff. Call the Kobe Group. I'll have that, too. Are they going to close it on? Talk.

[Jeff Regan]

Reagan.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

I went to a lot of trouble to make sure you understood that you're not wanted.

[Detective Winters]

There's nothing in this for you or the Lion.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

No reward, nothing.

[Detective Winters]

You're not wanted.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Clear?

[Jeff Regan]

Yeah.

[Detective Winters]

So clear, I'm taking your license number right now. From here, I go to 3500 Hope Street City License Bureau. They're gonna tell me if you're what you say you are. But no matter what you are, if you get my way, Buster, I'm gonna look you up. And if you want to keep your arm, get it off of my car. And I checked on him. He was with American Casualty Company, all right. And a phone call to their office told me he. He'd been put on the Kobe thing. So I gave up on that one. It was like trying to do a toe dance in a pair of hip boots. It was about 6 o' clock when I got to the office. The lion was there. He looked unhappy, like somebody fed him a wax sandwich.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Where you been? I've been phoning all over town for you.

[Detective Winters]

I went to a double feature. I met a guy named Colby and a girl named Colby. They're husband and wife.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Well, that's that. That's just great. You can forget them all. It's finished.

[Meredith Gibbons]

We struck out.

[Detective Winters]

What do you mean?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Know what happened in Chicago this afternoon?

[Detective Winters]

Want me to guess?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

A cop threw a couple of slugs into a bimbo named Mickey McIntyre. The other guy, Swede Swanson, gave up right away.

[Detective Winters]

Tie it up.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Mickey and Swede were carrying some of the ice they heisted from the Colby place last night. They talked and the Guy Chicago's looking for now is named Pete Florio. Some gumshoe around Chicago's gonna tag him. And there goes our reward.

[Detective Winters]

Where'd you get all this?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Robbery detail here was in on it. So it was over for us three hours ago. Any expenses after that are your own. And in the future, Regan, don't spend all day on a thing. Check with me.

[Jeff Regan]

Shut up.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

What did you say he was looking at?

[Detective Winters]

The same thing I was looking at. The three bullet holes across the front of the man who was standing just inside the door. A heavy set man with a bad smile. He wasn't smiling this time. He was trying to talk.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Regan, I. I got it all.

[Meredith Gibbons]

But.

[Jeff Regan]

You.

[Detective Winters]

I get better than me if you.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Who is it, Regan?

[Detective Winters]

What's he dead? Winters, investigator for American Casualty.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

He in on this?

[Detective Winters]

He was.

[Meredith Gibbons]

What do you mean he's dead?

[Detective Winters]

The whole Kobe thing looked as phony as an undertaker in a pink derby. Kobe and his wife Francie had a lot of conversation, but they didn't say anything. But the insurance investigator, Ed Winters talked like he had something on his. He didn't get a chance to tell his story. He fell in our front door, loaded down with slugs. And it didn't take 2020 vision to see that all the action wasn't going to be around Chicago where they picked up two of the three hoods. The land didn't waste any time. He locked the door and pulled the shades. Then he turned around. To me his eyes looked like dollar signs.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Regan, this is a stroke of luck. We're in business again.

[Detective Winters]

You got it wrong. The coroner's office got something to do.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Now look, we aren't calling up any office until we find out who killed Winters and why.

[Detective Winters]

You're out of your mind.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Remember, there's a reward for that Colby stuff. And collect with this insurance company guy.

[Jeff Regan]

Out of the way.

[Detective Winters]

This is Homicide now call him.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

And let some rookie walk into the answer? Not on your life, Regan. Somebody here in town's in on this big and you're gonna find out who.

[Detective Winters]

What about him?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

He isn't going anywhere. Listen, we're the only ones who know about him. We can keep a secret for a while and that gives us an advantage. He had a secret, he didn't play it smart. You realize what this can mean to us?

[Detective Winters]

About five years at Folsom?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Let me worry about that.

[Detective Winters]

Don't you ever give up?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Find out who bumped Winters, Regan, and we've won the cup.

[Detective Winters]

You'll have to give it back. You cheated once the lion smells A loose dollar. There's no sense arguing with him. It's like trying to teach ballet to a herd of elephants. Well, I went through Wood. His pockets found a bill fold and a driver's license. Some keys. Nothing that had helped, but downstairs is Green Cross. The coupe was parked by the curb. The front seat was wet and sticky, but there was a notebook lying there. The single name Frank Kilmer was scrawled on the top page. And below it, Pink Lady. That didn't mean anything either. Then I took it with me. When I went back out to Bel Air, I found Colby out by the fountain again. He read the opening line. Hello, Mr. Regan.

[Meredith Gibbons]

What do you want now?

[Detective Winters]

Information.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

All right, here's something up to date.

[Meredith Gibbons]

They caught two of the three men.

[Detective Winters]

In Chicago this afternoon, I know that much.

[Meredith Gibbons]

And the Chicago police expect to arrest the third one, Pete Florio, any minute. And when they arrest Mr. Florio, that will be the end of it.

[Detective Winters]

You make it sound easy.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Facts are facts, Mr. Regan.

[Detective Winters]

There's another version.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

What is that?

[Detective Winters]

Inside work.

[Meredith Gibbons]

I don't know what you're looking for, and I don't think I particularly care. I'll just ask you to leave these premises and not bother me nor my wife. Hello, darling. I didn't know we had company. Francis, Sweetheart, this is Mr. Regan. I was just telling him I didn't like him. Hello, Mr. Regan. Have you heard the news? I'm going to get my jewelry back. So things aren't so bad after all.

[Detective Winters]

That's what Brooklyn thought today.

[Meredith Gibbons]

My, you sound vicious. I've met him twice, darling. He always sounds this way. He doesn't think the police will apprehend Pete Florio, do you, Mr. Regan?

[Detective Winters]

You're a long way from the end, Colby.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Well, if he feels that way, Bert, and it does happen to work out that way, you'll buy me another bracelet and necklace, won't you? Of course, sweetheart. Now, Regan, you can see how worried.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

We both are about this whole thing.

[Meredith Gibbons]

I'm certain there's nothing more for you to do.

[Detective Winters]

You're wrong. I got two things to do.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Yes?

[Detective Winters]

Find out who Frank Kilmer is and look up the Pink Lady. Good night.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Just a minute.

[Detective Winters]

You have to swing wild in the preliminaries. Colby and his wife figured to be in on the main event. I started with the phone book. It didn't turn up a Frank Kilmer, but it did show a Pink lady nightclub in San Marino. It wasn't much. It was a little pale guy playing piano in one corner. Figured he'd never been out For a music lesson. I put the question to the bartender.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Nope.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Never heard of a guy named Frank Kilmer. Just got here from Cheyenne myself.

[Jeff Regan]

Worked at the frontier for four years.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Nice place.

[Jeff Regan]

Yeah.

[Detective Winters]

Sure, sir. Anybody else might know?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

I don't know, pilgrim. Why don't you ask somebody?

[Jeff Regan]

Ask her. She's a cigarette lady.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

A kitty. A kitty?

[Meredith Gibbons]

Yes, mom, what is it?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Oh, this is Mr. Regan. Yes, Mr. Regan. He wants to ask if you ever seen a guy named Frank Kilmer. He don't know what he looks like.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Oh, see?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

She don't know.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Why don't you go crack some ice?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

You got plenty of ice, Kitty. Enough ice to last.

[Meredith Gibbons]

It's gonna be a hot night. Beat it.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

All right, Keaton.

[Jeff Regan]

All right.

[Detective Winters]

Turn the music.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Ready? You know the other guy, Mr. Regan?

[Jeff Regan]

Maybe.

[Detective Winters]

What'd he look like?

[Meredith Gibbons]

He had a name and he paid for his information. Yeah, his name was Winters. He was around this morning, knocking on my door.

[Detective Winters]

What do you want to know?

[Meredith Gibbons]

What you want to know about Frank Kilmer?

[Detective Winters]

Go ahead, I'm listening.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Wait a minute. Is Frank in trouble?

[Detective Winters]

He's a name on a scratch pad to me, lady.

[Meredith Gibbons]

I don't want to get anybody in any trouble.

[Detective Winters]

Just tell me what you told Winters.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Okay. I met Frank two years ago. We used to go out once in a while. Then. Oh, a little over a year ago, we didn't. What happened? He met somebody else. Yeah, he met somebody else. Who? A singer named Francie Shaner. They picked up together. Frank and Francie. They were lousy, Regan. I hated her.

[Detective Winters]

Then what?

[Meredith Gibbons]

They went over to Las Vegas one night and got married.

[Detective Winters]

When was this?

[Meredith Gibbons]

Over a year ago. I haven't seen them since. But I saw Francie in the paper last week. All about her marrying some guy named Cold.

[Detective Winters]

What'd Kilmer do for money?

[Meredith Gibbons]

Funny? I don't know. He had money sometimes. Sometimes he didn't. I lent him some. Why?

[Detective Winters]

Does the name Pete Florio mean anything to you?

[Meredith Gibbons]

No. Should it?

[Detective Winters]

Mickey McIntyre. Sweet, Swanson. Thanks, angel.

[Jeff Regan]

This helps.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Regan, you meet lots of people. Maybe you understand things.

[Detective Winters]

Like what?

[Meredith Gibbons]

Like. Like why she'd take him away from me and then not use him. Why would a girl do a thing like that?

[Detective Winters]

I don't know. Maybe she did use him. It was beginning to shape up by the time I left her. But I needed more to go on. The old telephone book gave Francie shaner, the new Mrs. Colby, an apartment address near Fairfax and Wilshire. I took a chance. She hadn't moved all the things out yet. It was on the third Floor, right next to the fire escape. I pulled out a ring of skeletons. The third one did the trick. All the stuff was still there, some of it packed, some of it just spread around. In the desk drawer, I found a copy of a Nevada divorce action, separating Francie and Kilmer. And in the bedroom, a picture. Tall, dark looking guy I'd never seen before. It said, love, Frank. I was still looking for things when I heard the front door open. I clicked off the light and waited. He was a tall, black shadow to me. I couldn't see his face, but that.45 stood out like a wart on an egg. His didn't come near me, but I had better luck. Spun him around enough to start him back down the hall toward the fire escape. I had to take cover. I got to the fire escape in time to see him run out of the alley and jump in a car. Whoever it was, he was carrying one of my slugs in him. The place was beginning to crawl with people. I went back inside. I figured I'd better check with the lion before I started explaining to the cops. Yeah, I'm calling from her old apartment. I was looking through his stuff when somebody began throwing lead.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Gunplay, Regan, how many times have I told you?

[Detective Winters]

Shut up and listen. I'd hit whoever it was, but he got away. The cops will be here any minute and I'm gonna have to do some explaining. And when I tell it, they'll want a story from you about that stiff in your office.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Now look, Regan, we're about at the end of this thing. What do you know?

[Detective Winters]

Francie once had a boyfriend named Kilmer. She married him, divorced him.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Not Frank Kilmer.

[Detective Winters]

Give it to me.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Pete Florio has an alias.

[Detective Winters]

It's Frank Kilmer. I left my card with a skinny guy in blue pajamas so they could find me for the quiz games down at headquarters. It took me 10 minutes to get out to that house in Bel Air. I parked outside the gate, walked through the garden to the back. Somebody had drained the fountain. Somebody was sitting there, and it wasn't Colby. Reagan, it was Francie, and she had a big hurt.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Reagan.

[Detective Winters]

I'll have to get a doctor.

[Meredith Gibbons]

2. Too late for who?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Did it be?

[Meredith Gibbons]

Florio. He thought I tipped Chicago. But you don't know.

[Detective Winters]

I know you were married to him when his name was Frank Kilmer. I know you worked this thing out with him. You kill Winters?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Who's that?

[Detective Winters]

This is no time to lie.

[Meredith Gibbons]

All I know is Pete and I worked at the heist. I wore the jewels that night so he could get it. Only he didn't take it. He ate it in the fountain here.

[Detective Winters]

Yeah, so Pete could come back for it after. He's breaking out with those other guys in Chicago, huh?

[Meredith Gibbons]

Yes, but it didn't work that way, Regan.

[Detective Winters]

Where is it? Did Peter so bad.

[Jeff Regan]

And they're not making that model anymore. Don't move a finger.

[Detective Winters]

Plane service good from Chicago, Pete?

[Jeff Regan]

The best.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

I've been there and back in 24 hours.

[Jeff Regan]

You get around, too, don't you? What's your name?

[Detective Winters]

Regan.

[Jeff Regan]

Regan, I'm gonna plug you. Stand up.

[Detective Winters]

You're making all kinds of mistakes tonight.

[Jeff Regan]

My mistake was tying in with Francie. Burst up a hundred grand to stick that knife in her. Now, I don't know where the stuff is.

[Detective Winters]

Somebody else had a pot. Wait till you try our gas chamber.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Turn around.

[Jeff Regan]

Now stand real still. That's it.

[Meredith Gibbons]

I want to watch your collar wilt.

[Detective Winters]

It was Colby. One hand was hanging like he'd never use it again. The other one was doing all right. He just kept on, keep grabbing for the bench. Then slid down and shook all over a couple of times, like it was saying no in a big way. It was finished.

[Meredith Gibbons]

He was going to shoot you, Regan.

[Detective Winters]

He was going to kill you.

[Meredith Gibbons]

I did right, didn't I? I did right.

[Detective Winters]

Yeah. Yeah, you did fine. You saved the state some expenses. Give me that gun.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Yeah. Here.

[Detective Winters]

Same one you used on windows? Yes.

[Meredith Gibbons]

He came to me for money.

[Jeff Regan]

He found out the same thing.

[Meredith Gibbons]

I caught you finding out that my own wife had planned to steal from me.

[Detective Winters]

How did you tip to it?

[Meredith Gibbons]

A week before we were married, I saw Florio Kilmer, whatever you call him, watching the house. I'd seen his picture in Francie's apartment. I. I found what they were planning. I listened in on the phone.

[Detective Winters]

And you wanted him to get away with it so you could get the stuff out of the fountain before Florio got back. So you could stick the insurance company for the payment. I didn't think you needed dough that bad, Regan.

[Meredith Gibbons]

It. It wasn't for me.

[Detective Winters]

It was for her. All she wanted was money. Now look at her, Regan. All I wanted was her.

[Meredith Gibbons]

I didn't care if she stole from me. All I wanted was her.

[Detective Winters]

The lion and I saw spent the next 36 hours at headquarters trying to explain away that stiff in our office. It didn't explain easy, but they began to listen better after Colby showed him where he hid that necklace and bracelet. After he took it out of the fountain. Chicago police told us their tip off had been on a long Distance call. That straightened that part out. Colby tipped him. He'd been hoping that Pete and all of them would get shot up in the pinch. Well, it didn't work that way. When I got back to the office, the lion was sitting there. He looked sad, like a derby entry with a broken leg.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Regan, I just got terrible news. We aren't gonna get a reward.

[Detective Winters]

I knew that when I turned in Colby. Stuff never left the premises.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Oh, we fouled out on a technicality. And I worked so hard.

[Detective Winters]

Sitting here with that stiff must have kept you real busy.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

It's your fault. You should have let Florio or Colby or somebody walk out of there with that stuff and then nab him.

[Detective Winters]

There's money. All you ever think about.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

What else is there to think about? If you got it, you're okay. If you haven't got it, you're a bum.

[Detective Winters]

Find somebody else to go around trying to make a gentleman out of you. I quit.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

You what? Oh, now, now, just a minute, Jeffrey, please, let's. Let's not fly off the handle. I'm just upset, that's all. I'm not myself.

[Detective Winters]

Yeah?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Why? International couldn't get along without you. I couldn't get along without you. You're like my own son. I'm an old man, Jeffrey.

[Detective Winters]

You sure are.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

The rigors of the business. The scars of the battle are heavy with me, Jeffrey. I need you. Oh, sure. You'll stay? Yeah.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Good.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Here. Stop by American Casualty on your way home. Give this to Tim Vickers.

[Jeff Regan]

What for?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

For two days work. Even if we can't collect a reward, we got something coming.

[Detective Winters]

You never learn, do you?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

That's a legitimate bill. Didn't I stand guard over the body of one of their agents all day long? I charged them union rate.

[Meredith Gibbons]

What?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

The pallbearers are organized. It's a branch. What's the matter, Regan? You look worried.

[Detective Winters]

I am. I'm just wondering how they're going to explain you and the time capsule. Jeff Regan, Investigator, written by E. Jack Newman, directed by Sterling Tracy, is heard at the same time each week over the same station. Frank Graham plays the title role. Frank Nelson is Anthony J. Lyon. Original music is by Richard Aran. Be with us next week at the same time for another story of suspense and mystery and adventure with Jeff Regan, investigator.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Morning, Zoe. Got donuts?

[Meredith Gibbons]

Jeff Bridges. Why are you still living above our garage?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Well, I dig the mattress. And I want to be in a T Mobile commercial like you teach me. So, Dana. Oh, no.

[Meredith Gibbons]

I'm not really prepared. I couldn't possibly at T Mobile get the new iPhone 17 Pro on them. It's designed to be the most powerful iPhone yet and has the ultimate pro camera system.

[Jeff Regan]

Wow.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Impressive. Let me try. T Mobile is the best place to get iPhone 17 Pro because they've got the best network.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Nice. Jeffrey.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

You heard them. T Mobile is the best place to get the new iPhone 17 Pro on us with eligible trade in in any condition. So what are we having for launch?

[Meredith Gibbons]

Dude, my work here is done.

[Jeff Regan]

Bill credit is on experience beyond for well qualified customers. Plus tax and $35 device connection charge credit sending balance due if you pay off earlier. Cancel Finance agreement. IPhone 17 Pro 256 gigs $1099.99 and.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

New line minimum $100 plus a month.

[Jeff Regan]

Plan with auto pay plus taxes and fees required. Best mobile network in the US based on analysis by Ooklove speed test intelligence data 1H225 visit t mobile.com.

[Detective Winters]

My name's Regan. I work for Anthony J. Lyon, International Detective Bureau. They call me the Lion's Eye. Jeff Regan, investigator. Starring Frank Graham as Regan. With Frank Nelson as Anthony J. Lyon. So stand by for mystery and suspense and adventure in tonight's story of the man in the church. You'll find the Cosmopolitan building on 7th street near Olive. A pile of white granite holding up a brass clock that hasn't kept time since 1932. That's the year Anthony J. Lyon, the guy I work for, took out a 30 year lease on suite 308. You can't miss it right after you get off the elevator. International Detective Bureau. Good bargain counter if you want to buy your trouble wholesale. Right after the SC game last Saturday, I walked in. The lion was at his desk. He had a sparkle in one eye and a jeweler's glass in the other. And even though he tried to cover up, I could tell he was looking at a $50 bill.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Oh, oh, oh. You, Regan? I. I was just noticing the engraving on this bill. Intricate. Fascinating work of art, really.

[Detective Winters]

Grant took a good picture. Yeah.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Didn't he, though? Ulysses Simpson Grant was one of our greatest presidents, Regan.

[Detective Winters]

So you're starting a collection?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

I've already started one. This is my first showing. All right.

[Detective Winters]

Who's the new client?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Client? Oh, I didn't get this from a client. Really? Rather an old friend. Just a little errand. Yes, I called you in because I want you to do a favor for a friend.

[Detective Winters]

Last time we did a favor for a friend, he turned out to have a record as long as a rolled up kite string.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Oh, Pencole's not like that.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Not at all.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Yes, Charles Pencole. Our. My friend, he. He wants a bonded licensed operator at his place at six o' clock tonight. Capitol Hotel on Aliso Street.

[Detective Winters]

And just what does Charles Pencold, Capitol Hotel, Aliso street want this bonded licensed operator to do at 6 o'?

[Jeff Regan]

Clock?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Now see here, Jeffrey, there's no need to take that attitude. All Penbo wants is someone to deliver a cash amount of 5,000 bucks.

[Detective Winters]

You took another job without asking any questions, didn't you?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

What do you mean, ask questions?

[Detective Winters]

When a man who lives in a two bit hotel on Aliso street needs a license operator to deliver 5,000 bucks, there's questions to be asked.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Well, I ask questions.

[Detective Winters]

Well, then give me some answers.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

All right, all right, so I lied to you a little about his being an old friend. He isn't that really. But the man asked for help. I couldn't turn him down.

[Meredith Gibbons]

He.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

He touched me in some way. Jeffrey. Here. There was a look about him. Gentle, soft.

[Detective Winters]

A fifty dollar look.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

I tell you, Mr. Pencold was a distressed soul when he came in to see me. If you could have seen him. So disturbed, so helpless. It was our opportunity to help a brother in distress. Charles Pencole is our brother, Regan.

[Detective Winters]

Come on, answers. Start talking.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

All right, all right, I'll tell you what I can. Pencole has a problem, but it's in strictest confidence. I told him I'd give him our best operator. You, Jeffrey. But I had to swear I wouldn't divulge details, even to you. But I promise it's nothing illegal, just a simple little job. My word, Jeffrey, if you're lying to me again. I'm not. Go see this man, Jeffrey. Take one look at him. You'll see I'm telling the truth. Now, I. I told him you'd be there. The reputation of the agency is at stake.

[Detective Winters]

You took his 50 bucks?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Yes, I took his 50 bucks.

[Detective Winters]

And we're on the hook?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Yes, we're on the hook.

[Detective Winters]

Okay. Okay, Fats. So I'll see him. Just see him. But you stay right here.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Stay here?

[Jeff Regan]

Why?

[Detective Winters]

Because if this ball has a curve on it, I'm coming back here to ram that $50 right down your throat. Well, the lion had put on a good act and I went for it again. Maybe it was because I figured he lied so much he'd accidentally have to tell the truth once in a while. Or maybe it was because he looked different when he was describing Charlie Penco. Anyhow, it was dark on Aliso street, and it was trying to rain when I found a white blister over the sidewalk that blinked out capitol hotel rooms. $1 and up. I walked through a lobby that smelled like last year's laundry. Nobody was behind the desk, but I spun the register around and picked up a Charles A. Pencole in room H. It was upstairs, in between a broom closet and a fire escape, but I didn't have to knock. A tall, big bone man with a lot of gray hair had the shorter one by the lapels.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Yeah, Johnny, I've been out of touch, but I don't know how to handle a punk like you. Now, listen to me. Get in my way once again and I'll break you in half. Look, I'm warning you. All right, big shadow. Don't try a gun.

[Detective Winters]

You drop the heater, buster?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

I should drop it.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Got a lot of friends, Charlie. They always show up just in time. I remember you, too, mister.

[Detective Winters]

I remember you.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Get out of here. Go on, get out. Remember this? I remember all of this. You're a pretty good soldier. What's your name?

[Detective Winters]

Regan.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Oh, here's some. Thanks. Thanks, Reagan. Might have used that thing.

[Detective Winters]

You know, we try to keep our clients alive until we've earned our fees.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Clients?

[Detective Winters]

I'm from International, and if you're Charlie Penkol, you're a client until 50 bucks is used up.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Oh, yeah, sure, sure.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Come on in, Reagan. Make yourself at home. Isn't much.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Why?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

A bed and a neon sign outside? I've had better. Regan. Yeah.

[Jeff Regan]

Hey, you want a drink?

[Detective Winters]

Why not?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Probably got a lot of questions to ask, Regan. I'll answer them fast.

[Jeff Regan]

Here you are.

[Detective Winters]

Thanks. Suppose you start with the plunk.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Johnny Largo. Look, he hasn't got anything to do with you and me. He's a separate few.

[Detective Winters]

Sure, he's used that.38 before.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

You know him?

[Detective Winters]

I've seen him in the mug files.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Well, I can handle him. I want you to handle something else. What's the look for?

[Detective Winters]

I've seen that kind of suit before. Did 10 bucks come with it?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Yeah, just got out of San Quentin.

[Jeff Regan]

Did 18 years.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

It's over. Time served.

[Detective Winters]

It shows.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

You don't do that much vacation standing on your ear, Reagan. It's hard to get any exercise in a 10 by 8 room. And the nights, too. They're always a couple of million years long. You got somebody to worry about.

[Detective Winters]

Somebody like Largo?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

No, no. I tell you, he's nothing. In 29, he was a truck driver.

[Jeff Regan]

Who had big ideas.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

He still got them, but he's got nothing to back him up with.

[Detective Winters]

All right. You got somebody else to worry about.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Yeah.

[Jeff Regan]

Guy's name is Sidney Chambers. Owe him some money.

[Detective Winters]

You sure you want a detective?

[Jeff Regan]

I can pay Chambers, but I can't see him. I'm gonna be busy.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

You're bonded. I can trust you to carry the.

[Detective Winters]

Money messenger boys are bonded for.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

It's a simple job, Regan. That's why I'd only pay the lion 50 bucks to have it done.

[Jeff Regan]

There you are.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

5,000 right there. Go ahead, count it.

[Detective Winters]

I'll take your wood. Where do I find your man?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Sydney Chambers will be at the Planetarium in front of the entrance. He'll be in a black suit, wearing a white Carnation briefcase.

[Detective Winters]

And just like that, I walk up and hand him five grand.

[Jeff Regan]

Just like that.

[Detective Winters]

How do you know I won't feel like taking a trip?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

I don't. But then I still haven't got anything to worry about.

[Detective Winters]

You got that much money?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

No, Reagan, I got Me and Charlie Pinkel. Never let anybody put anything over on him.

[Detective Winters]

What about the state of California?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

It was a bummer after.

[Detective Winters]

Oh, sure it was. Good night. I left him sitting there. He looked as happy as a Eubanki with a fever blister. Maybe the lion was telling the truth. So I put the five grand in my pocket. But it felt hot, like a dynamite stick with a short fuse. It was 10 minutes to wait. When I parked in front of the planetarium, a little guy in a black suit was standing at the entrance looking at his watch. I was afraid he was going to get trampled. But the briefcase and white carnation saved him.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Doors will be closed at 8 o'. Clock. Always wishing to listen to the nice lecture.

[Detective Winters]

Going to the lecture? It's all about a trip to the moon tonight.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Oh, is it? Well, I. I don't think I'll go in. I'm expecting a friend.

[Detective Winters]

Friend named Charlie Penco.

[Meredith Gibbons]

What?

[Detective Winters]

Penco? You gonna meet him here?

[Meredith Gibbons]

Yes. But you can't be Penko. You're much too young.

[Detective Winters]

That's right. I'm not Penko.

[Meredith Gibbons]

I don't understand, Mr. Regan. Oh, Mr. Penkol promised me faithfully he'd meet me here tonight.

[Detective Winters]

Your parents, didn't you?

[Meredith Gibbons]

Hmm.

[Detective Winters]

Name?

[Meredith Gibbons]

No, I'm Sidney Chambers, but I.

[Detective Winters]

You got the briefcase to collect some money in.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Did you bring it? Did you really bring it?

[Detective Winters]

How much? Expecting.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Why, $5,000 and not a penny less. All right?

[Detective Winters]

Oh, yeah.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Well, say now. Say now.

[Detective Winters]

It's all there.

[Meredith Gibbons]

It certainly is. It certainly is. It most certainly is. Yes, Indeed. Thank you, Mr. Regan.

[Detective Winters]

If I hadn't seen him pat his bulged pocket, I'd have gone on home and played canasta with my landlady. When I saw him drive away, I began to get a slow feeling like all my troubles were already he started. So I crawled in my car and followed him. I was still following when he pulled up in Palos Verdes and parked in front of a little house stuck up on a hill all by itself. I had that same feeling when I cut my engine, coasted to a stop and sat there thinking about nothing. I watched a light go on somewhere in the back of the house. I was just putting my cigarette out when the place lit up like a car. I pulled my gun and started for the door. But I wasn't fast enough to stop that black group that was in the alley. I found Chambers wrapped around the dining room table. He was holding on to that briefcase and the five grand was still there. But he'd never get a chance to spend it. He was all used up. Anthony J.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Lion speaking.

[Detective Winters]

You better have something good to say, fatso.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Regan, where you been? I've been looking all over.

[Detective Winters]

You know where I've been.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

I called the Capital Hotel, but no one answered. Listen, Regan, I don't want you to take this job.

[Detective Winters]

I took it three hours ago and now I need those answers.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Answers?

[Detective Winters]

You told me Pen Cole had filled you in on the background of this thing. Well, it's time you shared secrets with me, Regan.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

I. I can't tell you anything.

[Detective Winters]

You'd better.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

But I didn't get anything from you, Regan. I. I made up that stuff about a personal problem just to get you to take the job.

[Detective Winters]

All for 50 bucks.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

There's no time for that now.

[Detective Winters]

You said it.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

After you left, I got worried. So I looked up Pencold. He's really good Time Charlie Pencole, an old time racketeer.

[Detective Winters]

And he just got out of San Quentin. And somebody's already dead.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

What?

[Meredith Gibbons]

Now get this.

[Detective Winters]

I'm calling you from a house in Palos Verdes. It belongs to a little guy named Sydney Chambers. I made the delivery and decided to follow him home. Just as I got here, somebody blew his fuse.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

What happened to the 5,000?

[Detective Winters]

The killer stealing it's still here.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Still there.

[Jeff Regan]

Good.

[Detective Winters]

I thought that'd get action now.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Hold on to it. International will keep it safely until the police. Go ahead. Regan. Regan? Hello? Are you still there?

[Detective Winters]

I was still there, but I wasn't listening to the Lion. I was looking at the traffic cop standing in the doorway. He was looking at what was left of Chambers, at the money spread all around. And then at me. I began to feel helpless. Like a fiddler without a chin. I'll take your gun.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Go ahead. Finish your call.

[Detective Winters]

I won't listen. It isn't important.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Dead, huh?

[Detective Winters]

You got anything to say, mister?

[Meredith Gibbons]

Huh?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Nice gun.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Yours?

[Detective Winters]

Yeah, it's my gun, but I. Yeah, yeah, yeah, sure.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Just been fired.

[Detective Winters]

Those bullets won't match up with the ones in him. You got this all wrong.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Money too. Well, well. Weapons, motive. I'll be in plain clothes this time tomorrow.

[Detective Winters]

Look, the guy who did it's making time right now.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

You'll be surprised the kind of drivers we have around Los Angeles. I'm working Palace Verdes. I stop a minute, I hear noises like guns. And I just cruise around on my bike where I think I hear the noise and I find you. All right, killer move. My turn to make a call.

[Detective Winters]

I leaned into his gun, spun around and knocked his wrist down. The bullets went wild and I hit the light switch.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Come back here. Come here.

[Detective Winters]

That gave me time enough to get through the door. He lost me when I ran up the hill and back of the house toward the oil derricks. But I knew we'd keep right on looking. And so would every cop in Los Angeles. I had as much chance as a snowball in a Turkish bath. None of it made sense. I delivered Penco's five grand to a little guy named Sydney Chambers. Before I knew it, a question mark in a black coupe blew out Chambers light. But he left that five grand scattered all over the place. And an eager cop who likes double breasted suits tagged me for the the job. When I broke away from that cop, I knew I'd have to get some answers. I made my way back downtown and dropped into the Capitol Hotel. Any key fitted. Room H. It was as clean as a bookie stall when a long shot comes in. No Charlie Pen call, nothing. The newspaper clipping on the dresser with an ad on how to handle your muscles on one side and part of a society column on the other meant nothing. But the knock on the door had possibilities.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Charles, are you in there? Are you asleep? Charles?

[Detective Winters]

She was a tall, gray haired woman in a fur coat. She didn't look like Pencro's kind of company.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Oh, I'm so sorry. I. I thought this was Mr. Pencald's room.

[Detective Winters]

He's left town. Maybe I can be a helper.

[Meredith Gibbons]

No, no, I'm sure you can't. I just made a mistake, that's all. I'M sorry I bothered you. I'm terribly sorry. Please forgive.

[Detective Winters]

For just a minute, I.

[Jeff Regan]

Relax. You can see her later inside.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Come on in, boys.

[Detective Winters]

Come in.

[Jeff Regan]

I wanted Charlie, but you'll do for now.

[Detective Winters]

You got a parade permit, Largo? I don't need one.

[Jeff Regan]

This is gonna be a quiet little party. You and me and my friends this time.

[Detective Winters]

Don't they talk?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Sure.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Sure, they talk.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Boys, there's a friend of Charlie Penkle.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Hello. Hi. You see?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

All right.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Friend of Charlie Pencro's.

[Detective Winters]

We had all the introductions.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Now let's have a putt.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

You took my gun away tonight. I told you I'd remember you.

[Meredith Gibbons]

This is gonna be fun.

[Jeff Regan]

Harlem. Here we go with.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Feel it.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Boy, she's getting. He's getting heavy. No, no. Don't let him fall, Sam.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

I'm just getting a good start.

[Detective Winters]

Well, it was almost morning when I started to come around. I was still in Room H. Some cold water and a trip to the drugstore didn't make me feel any better. But I had some answers to find. The morning papers were full of the brutal murder of city employee Sidney Chamber. He'd run out to tell how he worked in the hall of Records. My name was in the article. They'd matched the bullets and my gun didn't figure. But Homicide had wanted some answers and I didn't have any to give them. I started with that clip of I'd found in Penco's room. Wasn't much, but it had names. Something about a Meredith Gibbons and a Donald Townsend getting married. There was an address in the phone book. Sherman Oaks. Nice house on a nice street.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Good morning, darling. I didn't expect you so. Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you were Donald.

[Detective Winters]

My name's Regan. I'd like to see Meredith Gibbons.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Why? Why, I'm Meredith Gibbons. Please come in, Mr. Regan.

[Jeff Regan]

Thanks.

[Meredith Gibbons]

I'll have to apologize for the appearance of the house. I'm packing and all. I'm being married this afternoon.

[Detective Winters]

Yeah, I read about that.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Oh, Mr. Regan, I'll have to apologize again. I. I don't believe I know you.

[Detective Winters]

No, you don't. Look, I won't take a lot of your time. I'm a private investigator. I'd like to ask some questions.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Private investigator? Well, certainly, Mr. Regan, but I don't know.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Hey, darling, I like.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Oh, Donald, you're here. Morning, sweet. Donald, this is Mr. Regan. He's a private detective. He wants to ask me some questions.

[Detective Winters]

Oh, well, glad to meet you.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Regan.

[Jeff Regan]

What's this all about?

[Detective Winters]

Probably nothing. Just a Lead. Look, do you people know a man named Penko?

[Meredith Gibbons]

Penco?

[Detective Winters]

No, no, I think it's important. His name's Charles penkowl.

[Meredith Gibbons]

No, no, Mr. Regan, I don't.

[Detective Winters]

I'm sorry.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Neither do I.

[Detective Winters]

Does the name Sidney Chambers mean anything to you?

[Meredith Gibbons]

Oh, sorry again, Regan. Nothing again. I. I can't think so.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Well, I'm marrying her today.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Oh, Donald. No, Mr. Regan. I've never heard that name before. You're looking for these men?

[Detective Winters]

One of them's dead.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Oh, which one?

[Detective Winters]

Chambers. He was shot last night.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Oh, dear.

[Detective Winters]

I've got to find Penco. Well, I sure wish we could help you more.

[Meredith Gibbons]

But tell me, Riggan, why did you come here?

[Detective Winters]

I found this clipping about your marriage in Pencoll's room.

[Meredith Gibbons]

That's funny. Truly, Mr. Regan. I never heard the name before. Donald, you have so many things to do today. Oh, Mother, I want you to meet Mr. Regan. He's a detective. This is my mother. How do you do, Mr. Regan?

[Detective Winters]

It was the same gray haired woman I'd met the night before in Charlie's room. Had to hand it to her, she didn't raise an eyelash. She looked right through me like she was meeting me for the first time. I didn't give her away. There was something in her eyes that said. Don't.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Mr. Regan, I know you'll excuse us, we have so many things to do. Perhaps mother can help you. Sure. Bye, Regan. I hope you find your man, Mr. Regan.

[Detective Winters]

They look like a real nice pair, Mrs. Gibbon.

[Meredith Gibbons]

They're wonderful children, Mr. Regan. Wonderful.

[Detective Winters]

You know what I have to ask you?

[Meredith Gibbons]

Yes, yes, I know.

[Detective Winters]

Man's been killed.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Sit down, Mr. Regan, please.

[Detective Winters]

Thanks.

[Meredith Gibbons]

That. That lovely girl who just walked out of the doors. Charles Pencall's daughter. Oh, yes. Charles married my younger sister in 1929. She never knew what Charles did for a living. She was in the hospital, Mr. Regan, dying while Charles was in court. And when his sentence was pronounced, his. His daughter was born at a hospital in Glendale.

[Detective Winters]

That'd be Meredith.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Yes. Go on. Before Charles began his life sentence, he. He took what money he had left and established an irrevocable trust fund for her and for me. It was his plan. I adopted it legally. He promised that he'd never write or bother in any way. And he hasn't. Oh, after so much heartache for a real mother, he was trying to do one decent thing.

[Detective Winters]

It worked out.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Oh, yes. Yes. He kept his word. He was paroled last week. I read it in the papers.

[Detective Winters]

And you went to see him? At his hotel. I met you there.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Yes. Yes, I went to see him last night. The parole officer gave me his address. A little man had been here last week on some pretext or another, and I was worried. I thought he was a friend of Charles who. Who might want to make trouble.

[Detective Winters]

Nobody else knows about this adoption?

[Meredith Gibbons]

No, no, no one, Mr. Regan. No one at all. Just. Just Charles and I. My sister, well, she had the baby under my name.

[Detective Winters]

I see.

[Meredith Gibbons]

I. I read the morning papers. The little man, the one who called on me last week and acted strangely, was murdered last night. His name was Chambers. I read about it in the paper.

[Detective Winters]

Yeah, that's right.

[Meredith Gibbons]

And the police are looking for you, Mr. Regan. Oh, please, I. I can't ask you to continue being a fugitive. I know you didn't kill him, but if there's any way I. Any way at all, Mr. Regan. Oh, listen to me. Meredith can't become involved in something like this.

[Detective Winters]

If there's any way to keep her out of it, Mrs. Gibbons, I'll do it.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Oh, thank you, Mr. Regan. Thank you.

[Detective Winters]

When I left there, I had a pretty good picture of the whole thing. A check with the Civil Service Commission did the rest. As far as Chambers park fitted in. Besides working at the hall of records from 1932 on, he'd worked at the city morgue before. And before that, the county hospital was an orderly. And before that, a private hospital in Glendale. But that still left Johnny Largo on stage. The lion had part of it when I found him at the office. Regan, Who'd you expect?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Never mind. Anybody see you? You're a hot boy.

[Detective Winters]

You know how I got that way.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

I know, I know. But those things will happen. Where's it?

[Detective Winters]

Five grand a cop on the Palace Verdes. Division is looking at it.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Huh?

[Detective Winters]

Don't you read the papers? They're looking for me. They want. They want to talk to me about a murder.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Oh, and I wanted to see how that much money looked all at once.

[Detective Winters]

What have you been telling Homicide?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

That I don't know anything about it.

[Detective Winters]

Well, maybe I better make a call.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Now, now, look, look, Jeffrey, we've got to find out who tagged Chambers. It's the only way we can square ourselves with homicide.

[Detective Winters]

You afraid of that jailhouse? Coffee, please.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Please. I. I had another one of my attacks today. Knowing you were out there somewhere in this vast city, hunted because of my indiscreetness. Jeffrey, I've done you wrong.

[Detective Winters]

You're gonna drown in those tears.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Oh, now, please. Please find out who killed that poor man. Chambers Square Yourself with the police, make a clean breast of everything.

[Detective Winters]

Well, then you start giving me more answers.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

I'll help you in every way I can, Jeffrey.

[Detective Winters]

All right. Where does Johnny Largo tie in with Charlie Penco?

[Jeff Regan]

Largo?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Oh, it's an old time feud. I went through the 1929 morgue files. Largo tried to kill Pencole over some money or something. He claimed Pencole held out on it.

[Detective Winters]

Nothing else?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Nothing else.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Why?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

You got a lead?

[Detective Winters]

What does Largo do now?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

He runs a joint in Gardena that runs for a roulette wheel. Hey, where you going?

[Detective Winters]

To try my luck.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

By the way, what happened to your face?

[Detective Winters]

It got stepped on.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Somebody had big feet.

[Detective Winters]

Yeah, six of them.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Bye.

[Detective Winters]

I knew I was coming into the home stretch. I made Largo's place about 3 o' clock that afternoon. But I was too late. Three squad cars were piled up in front and the morgue wagon was there. I checked with the driver, looked inside and saw that their customer was Largo. He was extremely dead. It was easy to see Penco was making the rounds. First, Chambers second, Largo. He figured to have one more stop. And I found it. That black coupe was in front of St. Anne's Church in Sherman Oaks. Inside, Meredith, Gibbons and Townsend were kneeling at the altar. There were a lot of people watching. But the one I was interested in was the guy in the dark suit. He was standing in the back.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Hello, Regan.

[Detective Winters]

I came to get you, Charlie.

[Jeff Regan]

Yeah, I figured you would.

[Detective Winters]

They don't like murder in this state, no matter what it's for.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

The state doesn't know Chambers was trying to buy that kid up there out of her life.

[Detective Winters]

So to keep your daughter from knowing who her old man was, you hired me so he could get a line on Chambers. Follow him, kill him.

[Jeff Regan]

He was just a name on a phone to me. You had to tag him for me. It's the only way to treat him. Somehow he knew she was my kid.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

He had all the facts for blackmail. He waited 18 years to trap me.

[Detective Winters]

Largo was just a sideline.

[Jeff Regan]

He was.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Until he found out I'd killed Chambers.

[Jeff Regan]

You see, he was following me that night in Tawas Verdes.

[Detective Winters]

So you traded one blackmail for another.

[Jeff Regan]

Yeah.

[Detective Winters]

And no way out. We'd better go, Pimco.

[Jeff Regan]

No, no.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Just a minute. Rig it.

[Jeff Regan]

I want to see a walk.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

She.

[Jeff Regan]

She looks just like a mother.

[Detective Winters]

What's the matter?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

But I'll go through some. They're connected.

[Jeff Regan]

Here.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Put your arm in back of me. Hold me up, Riggin.

[Detective Winters]

At least till she Gets by.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

I don't want to ruin anything, please.

[Meredith Gibbons]

But. Donald. There's Mr. Regan. He came to our wedding. How nice.

[Jeff Regan]

Yes.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Hello, Regan.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Thanks for coming. Oh, we're so happy. Did you ever find the man you were looking for?

[Detective Winters]

Yeah, I found him.

[Meredith Gibbons]

I'm glad. We're so very happy today.

[Jeff Regan]

We sure are.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Mr. Egan. Keegan. Do I know your friend? He. He looks familiar.

[Jeff Regan]

No, no, You. You don't know me. Not at all.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Good luck.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Thank you very much.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Come on.

[Detective Winters]

Okay. Penco.

[Jeff Regan]

Thanks, Regan.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Oh, get me out.

[Detective Winters]

There were four of Largo's slugs in him. He died in the ambulance. Homicide knew about the old feud and that satisfied them. Why Pencold killed Johnny Largo and those two hoods. But they were bending their eyebrows trying to figure out why Penco killed Chambers. I didn't figure it was up to me to explain it. The next morning when I came into the office, somebody was just leaving. The lion had one arm around her shoulder.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Oh, no, no. Just part of our service. Glad to be of help. Oh, Regan.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Oh, Mr. Regan.

[Detective Winters]

Hello, Mrs. Gibbons.

[Meredith Gibbons]

Oh, I just came by to thank you. To thank you for everything. I didn't know that people could be so understanding. I didn't know. Thank you. Thank you so much.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Fine figure of a woman, Regan. Fine figure of a woman.

[Detective Winters]

And what else does she want?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Well, she just came to thank us, that's all.

[Detective Winters]

Yeah.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Regan, you don't think that after all that's happened.

[Detective Winters]

Yes, I do.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Well, that certainly doesn't show a very good opinion of me.

[Detective Winters]

How'd she get the address?

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Well, I gave her a call.

[Detective Winters]

Give me.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Now, you don't really think.

[Detective Winters]

I said give me.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

It's just a small check. A gesture of her appreciation. Regan, that's dope.

[Detective Winters]

You got paid for this once.

[Anthony J. Lyon]

Yes, but this was a bonus for the rest of it. After all, International has expenses. This is a legitimate. Oh, well, maybe this time you're right.

[Detective Winters]

Jeff Regan Investigator is written by E. Jack Newman, directed by Sterling Tracy, and stars Frank Graham as Regan, with Frank Nelson as Anthony J. Lyon. Original music is by Dicker. Marketing is hard, but I'll tell you a little secret.

[Jeff Regan]

It doesn't have to be.

[Detective Winters]

Let me point something out. You're listening to a podcast right now, and it's great.

[Jeff Regan]

You love the host, you seek it out and download it.

[Detective Winters]

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.

[Jeff Regan]

Did I get your attention?

[Detective Winters]

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.

[Jeff Regan]

That's L I B S Y N Ads.

[Detective Winters]

Com Today.