Jeff Regan and Philo Vance

Summary

Case Closed! – Jeff Regan and Philo Vance [May 6, 2026]

RelicRadio.com

---

Episode Overview

In this hour-long episode, “Case Closed” delivers two classic radio mysteries from the golden age:

1. Jeff Regan, Investigator: "The Gambler and His Lady" (original air date: Dec 11, 1948) – A gritty Los Angeles investigation entangles Regan in a web of romantic deception, murder, and a high-stakes fur heist.

2. Philo Vance: "The White Willow Murder Case" (original air date: Mar 22, 1949) – The cerebral investigator unravels the murder of a stockbroker, diving deep into a tangled net of suspects, motive, and clever forensic clues.

Both stories showcase the classic hard-boiled detective style: sharp dialogue, shady characters, fast twists, with overlapping themes of greed and betrayal.

---

Part 1: Jeff Regan, Investigator – "The Gambler and His Lady"

Main Plot (00:10 – 29:39)

• Regan (Jack Webb) is tasked by his boss “the Lion” to help a frantic mother, Mrs. Bascom, whose daughter Georgia has taken up with gambler Louie Desmond.
• The investigation leads Regan into LA’s dingier corners—hotels, gambling clubs, and wealthy Beverly Hills homes—where nothing is as it seems.
• A supposed romantic elopement gives way to murder, revenge, and a high-value fur heist.

Key Moments & Timestamps

• Regan’s Worldview (01:36):
  • Classic opening monologue paints a noir Los Angeles:
    “Four story apartment building the color of a rainy afternoon. They call it the Haven Wood. It sags in the middle like a tired frankfurter… The town’s all right, I guess, if you can afford the sedatives…”
• Mrs. Bascom’s Plea (04:40):
  • She’s desperate to keep Georgia from “a real bum” like Louie Desmond, fearing for her daughter's safety and virtue.
  • Quip by Regan:
    “She’s old enough to call her plays.” (05:07)
• Confrontation at the Five Aces Club (07:30):
  • Regan runs into Desmond’s muscle, then meets Louie, only to find Georgia with a wedding ring and plans to “go away” with the gambler.
  • Georgia, showing off her ring:
    “Look, Regan, three carats with a wedding band to match.” (09:32)
• Murder Strikes (12:32):
  • Regan arrives at the Bascom apartment to find Mrs. Bascom has been shot. Homicide, led by detective Sanducci, is on the case.
  • Sanducci to Regan:
    “You’re pretty far from home. How’d I get around?” (12:49)
• Regan follows the fur trail (21:26):
  • Max Loper, a suspicious furrier with a cube habit, visits Regan. Loper fears being framed but dodges the truth.
  • Loper (jitters):
    “I want you to prove to them I wouldn’t do a thing like that.” (22:20)
  • Loper is shot on Regan’s doorstep.
• Everything’s a Con (24:45):
  • The Lion discovers Georgia’s marriage is a sham; Desmond was already married to Stella—a heavy-drinking wife with a jealous streak.
• Showdown at the Lorena Hotel (25:24):
  • Regan corners Georgia, exposes her involvement in the fur heist and the elaborate deception.
  • Georgia breaks under pressure, blames Desmond for the murders.
• Climax (26:41-28:35):
  • Louie Desmond appears, holding Regan and Georgia at gunpoint. Stella, the real wife, intervenes with a gun of her own. Georgia and Louie’s plot unravels.

Notable Quotes

• “Go home and pull a blanket over your head and say it’s all a bad dream.” – Louie Desmond to Regan (08:52)
• "You’re the only guy in town who can turn a shaving cut into a bankroll.” – Regan to the Lion (11:30)
• "That whole setup’s a phony." – The Lion, blowing the case wide open (24:45)

Conclusion (28:35–29:39)

Desmond and Georgia’s fur scam is exposed thanks to Regan’s persistence and the Lion’s research; Stella’s jealousy acts as the catalyst for downfall. In classic noir fashion, justice is ultimately served—mostly by circumstance—and everyone is left a little colder and a little sadder.

---

Part 2: Philo Vance – "The White Willow Murder Case"

Main Plot (31:11 – 56:32)

• Stockbroker Stuart Ames is murdered after his bad tips ruin George Leroy, who soon vows revenge. Nate Amico, a gangster, and Dawn Vander, a nightclub singer entangled with both men, are swept into the case.
• District Attorney Markham and detective Philo Vance piece together the solution using minute forensic clues—an impression in a matchbook cover, cigarette brands, and alibis.

Key Moments & Timestamps

• Leroy Vows Revenge (32:51):
  • After losing everything on Ames’ “dog stock,” Leroy snarls,
    “You don’t think I’m going to take a loss like that lying down, do you?... Somebody’s going to take it lying down. But it won’t be me."
• Love, Betrayal, Blackmail (33:23):
  • Dawn’s affair with Ames threatens her relationship with gangster Nate Amico, who oozes jealousy and menace.
• Hiring a Killer (36:37):
  • Leroy tries to pay Amico to kill Ames; Amico chillingly responds he might “do it for the fun of it.”
    "Maybe this is one job I don’t do for money. Maybe Ames gets knocked off just for the fun of it."
• Philo Vance on the Case (38:21):
  • Vance, with Markham, gets details of the murder: a burning cigarette left at the scene (Ames didn’t smoke), a sports jacket button in Ames’ hand, and zero signs of struggle.
  • Vance instantly deduces the button is "planted" and useless, focusing on the real clue: a matchbook cover with distinct fingernail markings (42:00).
• Women and Smokers (47:01):
  • Vance interviews Dawn in jail. Her lighter is new—and tricky—suggesting it was a recent purchase to cover up a habit exposed by the fingerprinted matchbook.
• Cigarette Trap (50:46):
  • Vance confirms with a tobacconist that Dawn bought the lighter and brand-new cigarettes to hide her true habits.
• Unmasking the Killer (52:28):
  • Vance confronts his suspects. Leroy admits to hiring Amico, but Vance isn’t satisfied:
    “Not quite, Markham. Not quite.”
• Vance’s Solution (53:16–55:53):
  • Vance expertly explains how the clues point not to Amico or Leroy, but to Dawn:
    • Cigarette left without lipstick? Dawn used a holder.
    • Switched to a new brand to throw the police off.
    • Bought a new lighter to avoid leaving matchbook traces.
    • She marks her matchbooks unknowingly, as seen during her jail stay.

Notable Quotes

• “Finding murderers consists exclusively in knowing where to look.” – Philo Vance (38:43)
• “The answer is simple: she had a perfect self-defense alibi, an alibi you would have given her. But she might have gone to the chair if Nate Amico had ever decided to talk about her killing Ames.” – Vance’s summary (54:13)

Memorable Moments

• The Button Red Herring (40:00):
  • Vance instantly dismisses the “button clue” as a plant—showcasing the detective’s sharp logic.
• The Matchbook Clue (42:00/53:16):
  • The forensic detail—a nervous habit imprint—leads Vance straight to the real killer, despite red herrings and conflicting testimonies.

Conclusion

Vance exposes Dawn as Ames’ killer. Motive: rejection and lost money. The murder of Nate Amico, done while Vance and Markham listened, provides a ready-made alibi, but Vance is not fooled. A perfect blend of psychology, forensic evidence, and deductive reasoning leads to the truth.

---

Episode Highlights & Takeaways

• Classic Noir Style: Both stories feature the atmospheric, moody language and dialogue that define golden age crime radio.

• Notable Characters:

  • Jeff Regan – world-weary but dogged, with a sardonic wit.
  • Philo Vance – calm, rational, almost Holmesian.
  • The Lion – a comic, money-obsessed boss who "can turn a shaving cut into a bankroll."
  • Georgia Bascom & Dawn Vander – femmes fatales whose vulnerability conceals darker motives.

• Standout Quotes:

  • “You sound like a radio commercial.” (Mrs. Bascom to Regan, 06:35)
  • “Finding murderers… consists exclusively in knowing where to look.” (Vance, 38:43)

---

Important Segments (Timestamps)

• [01:36] – Jeff Regan’s opening internal monologue sets the noir mood.
• [07:30] – Regan vs. Louie Desmond’s goon at the Five Aces Club.
• [12:48] – Discovery of Mrs. Bascom’s murder.
• [21:26] – Furrier Max Loper’s confession and subsequent murder.
• [24:45] – The Lion explains the "phony" marriage.
• [25:24] – Final confrontation with Georgia Bascom; Desmond’s downfall.
• [32:51] – Leroy threatens revenge in Philo Vance episode.
• [38:21] – Vance and Markham begin the "White Willow" investigation.
• [42:00] – Discovery of matchbook cover clue.
• [47:01] – Vance interviews Dawn, focuses on her lighter and smoking habits.
• [53:16–54:53] – Vance meticulously reveals how he deduced the killer’s identity.

---

Final Thoughts

This episode exemplifies the best of Old Time Radio crime drama: vivid settings, crisp dialogue, ethically gray characters, layered mysteries, and razor-sharp deductions. Both Regan and Vance solve their cases with experience and intuition, revealing the timeless allure of the hard-boiled and the intellectual detective.

---

For more mysteries, visit RelicRadio.com.

Transcript

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Foreign.

[Jeff Regan]

This is Case Closed crime stories from the golden age of radio. Welcome back to Case Closed, one hour of mystery from the golden age of radio every [e-mail] if you'd like to help support this show, visit donate.Relicradio.com or click on that support link in the show notes. Your donations make this show and all of relic radio possible. Thank you as always to those who have helped out. Thanks for joining me this week. We're going to begin with Jack Webb as Jeff Regan, investigator, and hear his story from December 11, 1948 titled the Gambler and His Lady. After that it's Philo Vance and the White Willow murder case for March 22, 1949. My name's Regan. I get 10 a day in expenses from a detective bureau run by a guy named Anthony J. Lyon. They call me the Lion's Eye.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

With Jack Webb as Jeff Regan, the Lion's Eye. Stand by for hard boiled action and mystery and thrilling adventure in tonight's story of the Gambler and his lady.

[Jeff Regan]

You find it in Hollywood on Taft Avenue. Four story apartment building the color of a rainy afternoon. They call it the Haven Wood. It sags in the middle like a tired frankfurter. That's where I live. Apartment 3K. Two rooms with a pull down bed and a pair of windows that stick when it's hot. The view isn't much. Six strands of telephone wire and the head of a shaved off palm tree. Beyond is the city, Louisiana, spread out on the map like a raw egg with a broken yolk. The town's all right, I guess, if you can afford the sedatives. The lion likes it. He set himself up as a receiving clerk for trouble and I work for. It was about 11:15 Tuesday night when my phone began making itself felt. Turned out to be the lion breathing hard. It figured he was running his fingers over a greenback.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Reagan. Wanna hear the sound of a brand

[Jeff Regan]

new fifty dollar bill? Send me a record.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

What's the matter? You sound like you're flat on your back.

[Jeff Regan]

How do you sleep?

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Who's sleeping?

[Jeff Regan]

I'm working. And that's what you're gonna be doing. Try me tomorrow. Throw on some clothes. You're going down to Venice Boulevard to see a lady.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

She's got daughter trouble.

[Jeff Regan]

Well, marry her off.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

She didn't pay us 50 bucks for that. The problem goes deeper.

[Jeff Regan]

How much? She'll tell you. I want it from you. I don't know it all for sure. Don't you ever check into things? I do the general work. You get the details? Yeah. You drag a wet rag over the 50 and if the ink stays on, we got a client. That's insulting. How would you know, Regan? You don't want to keep a lady waiting. Now get a move on. Give me the name. This is Eleanor Bask of Pierpont Hotel. Yeah, and phone me after you talk to her. What for? I want to be sure it's legit. Do you care? Better make that call to me tomorrow after 10. I'm sort of going to be tied up till then. Doing what? Sleeping. Well, I put on some clothes, picked up my car and moved out to Venice Boulevard. The Good Humor men were all gone and I had the street to myself. Twenty minutes later I came to a stop beside a garbage can near San Pedro. Behind it stood the Pierpont Hotel, a two deck pile of wood left over from the sinking of the Spanish Armada. There was a black and dirty white sign outside said rooms 50 cent weekly and monthly rate. The names Eleanor and Georgia Bascom showed in the mailbox and gave a room to 10. I climbed a flight of stairs and walked down a hall that looked like a passageway in a pyramid. It was dark and it took my cigarette lighter to turn up the numbers. 210 finally showed and I wrapped on the door. A bush of black and gray hair pulled it open. It was wearing a red kimona and an impatient look, like a tax collector in January. She was pushing 50 and looked tired.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Yes?

[Jeff Regan]

I'm Regan, international detective.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Oh, yes. The Lion's Eye been waiting for you.

[Jeff Regan]

Come in.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

I'm Mrs. Bascom.

[Jeff Regan]

Eleanor or Georgia?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Georgia's my daughter. I want to apologize for getting you out here this time of night, Mr. Regan, but it's urgent.

[Jeff Regan]

The lion said that the girl's the problem.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Yes.

[Jeff Regan]

How old is she?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

22. Who's the man? How'd you know there was a man?

[Jeff Regan]

What other kind of trouble would she go after?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

She's a good girl, Mr. Regan. She always has been.

[Jeff Regan]

Until now.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

That's what I want to know.

[Jeff Regan]

She's old enough to call her plays.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

That's not the advice I'm paying for.

[Jeff Regan]

Where'd you get the 50?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

It took a lot of saving.

[Jeff Regan]

All right, give me his name.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Louie Desmond.

[Jeff Regan]

Gambler? Card sharp, Bookie all around. Con man.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

He's got a car. Drove out toward Gardena someplace. A Five Aces Club.

[Jeff Regan]

What does your daughter see in him?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Oh, it's this place. The way we have to live. Tired of having nothing? I've tried, but she's looking for a change.

[Jeff Regan]

I'm Taking a wrong turn?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

I'm not sure yet.

[Jeff Regan]

Yeah, other girls have it real tough. They go to work.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Well, we had a little trouble in the family. Once it shows up if someone starts looking.

[Jeff Regan]

When can I talk to Georgia?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

You'll have to work that out yourself, Mr. Rican.

[Jeff Regan]

What does that mean?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

She put some clothes in a suitcase and left earlier this evening. That's why I had to call you so suddenly.

[Jeff Regan]

Where'd she go?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Louie is a real bum, Mr. Regan.

[Jeff Regan]

You talk like you know him.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

We've met. I want to know just what's going on. If Louie's forcing her into anything crooked, she force easy a fur coat makes a young girl do a lot of things.

[Jeff Regan]

Yeah.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Oh, here's a picture of her. You may need it. Not very good, but only one I've got.

[Jeff Regan]

I'll make it work.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

That's about all, Mr. Regan. Get in touch with me as soon

[Jeff Regan]

as you get something. Okay.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Oh, Mr. Regan.

[Jeff Regan]

Yeah?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

As you can tell, I'm the kind of person who sometimes gets hysterical over things. But I'm also the kind who demands results.

[Jeff Regan]

You sound like a radio commercial. It was after midnight when I followed the fog out Vermont toward Gardena. The yellow lights were pressing, but they were doing about as much good as a pint of bourbon at a Shriners convention. I wound around the flatland for a while before the Five Aces Club turned up by a bend in the road. Looked like a blue wart with a neon sign. There was a front door and a back one and a couple of pairs of shoulders standing at each. A little guy in a pinstripe gray was figuring the size of the wallets going in. Louis Desmond's office showed at the top of the stairway and I moved for it but a muscle looking down on six feet feet was playing frontman. He put a knotted hand on my arm and when he spoke it sounded like a gear factory doing double time. Slow down, pilgrim.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

The room you're looking for is the other way.

[Jeff Regan]

Yeah? Well, this one says office.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

That's the trouble with you guys who read. Can't take hint.

[Jeff Regan]

Spell it out. Not until I see Louie Desmond.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

What's your business?

[Jeff Regan]

I'll tell it to him. You owe him some dough. No, I don't.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Then he ain't interested.

[Jeff Regan]

He will be.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Listen, Junior.

[Jeff Regan]

Get him off of me.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

What's all the noise, Patsy? Sightseer without a ticket.

[Jeff Regan]

My name's Regan. Cop? Maybe.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

You want me to bounce him down the stairs, boss? Maybe.

[Jeff Regan]

What do you want? Talk.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

That's always a waste of time.

[Jeff Regan]

Not if it's about Georgia Bascom. Come on in.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Never saw you around here before, Regan.

[Jeff Regan]

No, I can't afford it.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Oh, don't say that. Some people go out of here with

[Jeff Regan]

more than they come in with. Yeah, you

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

guess you're right at that, guy.

[Jeff Regan]

No, thanks.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Well, what about Georgia, Regan?

[Jeff Regan]

You tell me.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

That doesn't add you came to see me.

[Jeff Regan]

She's got a worried mother.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

They're all like that now.

[Jeff Regan]

This one figures you're doing a little forcing. Oh, you'd know more about that. Give me a clue. Blackmail, maybe.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

You're a kick Arthur Godfrey.

[Jeff Regan]

Love to get a hold of you, I come too high.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Let me give you some good advice. Go home and pull a blanket over your head and say it's all a bad dream.

[Jeff Regan]

You know, you talk a lot, mister, but you don't say much. What's the hold on Georgia?

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

All right, wise guy.

[Jeff Regan]

A name.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Come over here, baby.

[Jeff Regan]

Regan.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

You know this girl?

[Jeff Regan]

I've seen a picture, Georgia.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

This is a peeper named Regan. He come to rescue you.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

But what for, Mr. Regan?

[Jeff Regan]

$50.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

My mother gave you that to come and take me back?

[Jeff Regan]

Something like that.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

But I can't go.

[Jeff Regan]

Why not? Well, go ahead. Show him, baby.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Look, Regan, three carrots with a wedding band to match.

[Jeff Regan]

On what dice table did you pick those up? The noise. Regan. Congratulate the lady. Not on a bad mistake.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Oh, never mind him, Louie. He doesn't matter.

[Jeff Regan]

When did the furs come?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Louis said soon. Tell Mama we're married and not to worry. We're going away for a few days and so?

[Jeff Regan]

For some gambling and fishing. You won't enjoy it.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Sure I will.

[Jeff Regan]

You'll be in la. The alley behind the Five Aces Club hadn't been dusted in a week. My brown flannel suit fixed that. Well, I picked myself up and made it for the car. Moving north on Vermont, I tried to add a couple of things. There was a funny smell in Louie's office when I first walked in. Like rope on fire. Somebody'd been there before me. Who smoked cubebs. Desmond worked on cigars. Georgia held a king sized Pall Mall. Well, whoever it was still played it coy. About 1 o' clock I started raising a small campaign with a lion's door knocker. His dream must have been a real good one because it took him 10 minutes to get to the door. He was wearing a nightgown. He looked like a poor imitation of the Fisk Tire ad. All it was missing was the candle. Regan, I told you not to bother me until after 10am it's no bother. Get out of here. Let a man sleep. Your dreams will be bad. What do you mean? You just lost a client. What's the matter? The money. 40. Georgia Baskin married Desmond. There's nothing I can do about it. Well, think of something. Say you married her first. You're out of your mind. Oh, it's a bad idea. Get a good. Yeah, I already have. What is it? You give Mrs. Bascom her case back. You can't do that. Try me. Think a minute, Vegan. She's come to us for help. A lonely woman with no place to turn entrusts her trouble to International. You got that 50 spent. It's not the money. It's the moral obligation. Oh, stop it, will you? You don't give blood anymore. Since you found out somebody'd pay for it.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

You're getting out of line.

[Jeff Regan]

You're the only guy in town who can turn a shaving cut into a bankrol. Enough. Let's do it this way. You go over to Mrs. Bascom and give her the lowdown. Let her decide if she wants you to carry on or not. You sure go to a lot of trouble for a 50. I need a lot of new stuff around the place. Well, it's close to Christmas, right? To Santa Claus. Well, I left the lion looking for a fountain pen and I drove out to Venice Boulevard in the Pierpont Hotel Tell the place still looked the same. A black Nash was parked up the block, a motor going. A couple of cats were doing a duet on a garbage can. I climb the stairs to the second floor and I started down the hall for 2:10, walking real easy to keep the boards from creaking. But somebody else didn't care about the noise. Was a gun with a silencer working in Mrs. Bascom's room? I pushed the door in, but by then all I could hear was silence. The light showed an open window with a fire escape and the wind was blowing the curtains. Mrs. Bascom lay face down on the bed, real still, and the holes in her blanket were turning wet. The lion really lost a client that time. Well, it didn't take Sanducci and the boys long to get there. The fingerprint man and the photographers went to work in the room. Sanducci picked me. He had a grouch on like a fat lady in an upper berth.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

What's the matter, Regan?

[Jeff Regan]

You get lost? What do you mean? You're pretty far from home. How'd I get around?

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Who is she?

[Jeff Regan]

Name's Eleanor Bascom. I know that. What she do where she come from? I don't know.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

What were you doing out here?

[Jeff Regan]

She called in the Lion. Her daughter ran off with Louis Desmond. Oh.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

He in it?

[Jeff Regan]

How far? Ask him. Mrs. Bascom want you to bring her daughter back. She wanted to know if the girl was moving into a racket. Was she? I haven't found out.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

I should have known better than to ask a detective.

[Jeff Regan]

Why didn't she call us? She was behind on her taxes. What do you do? Private sit up nights. Figuring ways to make my job harder. You through with me?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

No.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Who killed her Eagle?

[Jeff Regan]

I don't know.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Bad choice of words.

[Jeff Regan]

Go check a black Nash parked up the street. Got a license number? No, I haven't. Thanks a lot. Look, I'm no medium. I didn't know she was marked. Any other big ideas? A few. Well, keep them to yourself. They're all wrong. Now get out of here. Yeah. Say, Santucci. Yeah, the lion can handle another client now. So what? Wanna sign up? Well, I went home and slept. Coffee and warmed over biscuits at the drugstore. Took care of breakfast the next morning. Then I checked the phone book. Louie Desmond's home address turned up on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. And so I drove out. There was on a corner, a two story colonial place with white colors and green shutter. The doorbell sounded like a second chorus of the Hollywood Bowl. The Japanese maid let me in and I waited in the anteroom. That's when I caught that peculiar smell again. Somebody had just been there. Who smoked those Cubeb cigarettes? Well, a couple of minutes later, a tall blonde fighting 30, stepped up to me. Smell like she just crawled out of a bottle of platinum. It was a bright morning, but she had the kind of look that had you wishing for an eclipse.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Well, what do you want? Louie Desmond, census taker.

[Jeff Regan]

No.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

What's he done?

[Jeff Regan]

I don't know yet. Where is he?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

I don't know where he is. He didn't come home last night.

[Jeff Regan]

Lots of work at the office card

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

room out in Gardena.

[Jeff Regan]

Lots of work out there.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

He didn't say. He doesn't tell me everything.

[Jeff Regan]

Should he?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Depends on what you think of your marriage vows.

[Jeff Regan]

Who are you?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

His wife. Want a drink, mister?

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Sure.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

What'll it be?

[Jeff Regan]

Yours.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

You pause. I don't know when to stop.

[Jeff Regan]

All right.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Here you go.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

To marriage. It's a mess.

[Jeff Regan]

Cigarette?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Never touch him. Interferes with my drinking.

[Jeff Regan]

Who smokes the Q bib?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Is that what that stuff is?

[Jeff Regan]

Yeah.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

A little guy walked in here looking for Louie and smelled up the place.

[Jeff Regan]

Hi. Stubborn.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Oh, hello, Patsy. Just in time for a drink.

[Jeff Regan]

Complete.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Yeah. What's your name, fellow?

[Jeff Regan]

He knows you earn hard, don't you, Regan?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

What's going on?

[Jeff Regan]

He's an eye.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

So what?

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

So he gets a bounce.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

He's my friend.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Beat it, Seamus, or I'll split.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

You stay right where you are. This is my house.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

And I'll entertain who I want with the boss's liquor.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

I've got some. Right.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

We'll figure out what they are and

[Jeff Regan]

try them on the boss.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

I don't like you, Patsy.

[Jeff Regan]

Beat it, people. Get your paws off of me. Come on, get them off.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Stop it, Py. Stop it, I said.

[Jeff Regan]

Well, you hit him pretty hard, lady.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

No, I didn't. His head soft.

[Jeff Regan]

Well, I left her picking up pieces of glass and I drove back toward Hollywood. I was moving east on Sunset, trying to make some sense out of Desmond's domestic life when I spotted that black sedan again. It was doing a real bad tag job on me. I pushed the pedal closer to the floor, but the sedan had better gas. It caught me going around a bend past Beverly Glen and started pushing me. It was a great place for a boulevard stop, but none showed. All it did was a reflection in my rear view mirror of the driver in the black sedan. It was feminine and the voice spelled out Georgia Bascom. That's when she moved in for a closer look.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

You are listening to the story of the gambler and his ladies. Tonight's adventure with Jeff Regan, investigator. Listen, this is good news. Good news for you if you're between the ages of 20 and 26 and a half, married or single, a high school graduate and want to fly for the United States Air Force. Yes, the Air Force Aviation Cadet Program is offering you the opportunity to become a pilot officer in the mightiest air force in history. You can be one of the Air Force's men of renown. And there's more offered than the pride you feel in being a member of America's flying team or after your 52 weeks of training, you will graduate as a second lieutenant in the Air Force with an income of more than $300 per month. Remember, the Air Force offers you what it offered General Jimmy Doolittle, General Carl Spaatz and General Hoyt Vandenberg. Now, at 42, the Air Force chief of staff. Call at your local army and Air Force recruiting station tomorrow. Apply to become an aviation cadet. And now back to the story of the gambler and his ladies and Jeff Regan investig.

[Jeff Regan]

Well, things were moving as fast as the last reel in a Western movie. The Lion Sent me out to see a lady who was having daughter trouble. Georgia Bascom had done a tie in with a gambler named Louie Desmond. Only it looked real permanent. She was wearing his wedding ring, and the mother ended up carrying a couple of bullets. And Homicide moved in. That's when I met a blonde at Desmond's house who said she was Louie's wife. Now, I was working on the mess when a black sedan with George at the wheel ran me off the road and the slugs began to fly. I peeled myself off the side of the hill and I got in touch with the police. San Ducci took over and invited me to headquarters for some more talk. He put me in a little room with pale green walls and sat behind a big desk chewing. A dead cigar. Was taking me all in like a Hoover vacuum cleaner on a dirty rug.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Well, how do you feel, Regan?

[Jeff Regan]

All right.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

You shouldn't.

[Jeff Regan]

Why not? Looks to me like from here on

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

in, you're a marked man.

[Jeff Regan]

I'll get along. It'll be really interesting to see how. All right, now, look. Have you got something to say?

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Maybe.

[Jeff Regan]

Well, let's hear it.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Relax, Regan.

[Jeff Regan]

You're not going anyplace. You can't hold me. I was the one who got shot at. I'll work out a way to hold you for creating a disturbance. It won't work.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Listen, you.

[Jeff Regan]

The bullets we pulled out of your

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

upholstery match the ones in Mrs. Bascom.

[Jeff Regan]

So what? So we figure she was knocked off

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

because she knew something somebody didn't want said.

[Jeff Regan]

We also figured that applies to you. Well, I'd get you nothing. All right, Regan, play it your way. This time you'll come running back when the eaters close in. Don't make buck on it. Well, if you gotta get yourself knocked off, don't mess up our city street. Yeah, I'll be real careful. Oh, and wear a dark suit.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

That save our morticians a little trouble.

[Jeff Regan]

That off? Yeah, go on, be it. Sir Oregan.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Yeah.

[Jeff Regan]

Buffy. Toadre. What's that mean?

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Your father's mustache.

[Jeff Regan]

Well, it was late afternoon by the time I walked out ahead. Headquarters. The sun was still working, but it was cold. The cab driver with a lot of conversation drove me to my place over on Taft. When I opened my front door, I smelled it again. Those cube apps. A small face was sitting on my sofa, sucking on him. It belonged to a guy who had a stand on a box to see over a fox terrier. When I shut the door behind me, ground the cigarette into an ashtray and turned on A nervous look like a pig in a football factory. You'll landlady let me in.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Mr. Regan, I hope you don't mind,

[Jeff Regan]

I have to talk to you. We met before.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

We did?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

I don't remember.

[Jeff Regan]

Just me and your cigarettes.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Ah.

[Jeff Regan]

Oh, you mind if I smoke? You just finished one.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Oh, yeah. Yes, yes, so I did.

[Jeff Regan]

May I have a drink, then?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Just a small one?

[Jeff Regan]

All right.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Thank you. I. I generally don't drink, but tonight. Yeah. Thank you. Now I barely know where to begin.

[Jeff Regan]

Well, you better figure it out. You haven't got much time. Yes. Yeah. Well, start with a name.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Is that necessary?

[Jeff Regan]

Yeah, it is. Loper. Max Loper. I'm a businessman. What kind?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

What kind?

[Jeff Regan]

Oh, furrier.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Yeah.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Yeah, I'm a furrier, Mr. Regan. All sorts of furs.

[Jeff Regan]

Ermine's nice.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Generally, I prefer sable, but it depends

[Jeff Regan]

on the woman, you know, what does Georgia get?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

I beg pardon?

[Jeff Regan]

Let it go.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

I'm not the man I used to be, Mr. Regan. My fortunes have changed.

[Jeff Regan]

Yeah, yeah, changed.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

I. I think I better have that cigarette.

[Jeff Regan]

Save it for later and start making sense.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Well, I need help.

[Jeff Regan]

Why come to me?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Well, Mrs. Bascom thought enough for you

[Jeff Regan]

to ask you to help her.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

You.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

You see, I know Mrs. Bascom. That is, I knew Mrs. Bascom.

[Jeff Regan]

Her death was so sudden, it was forced.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Yes, so the papers say. But, Mr. Regan, I want you to know I didn't do it.

[Jeff Regan]

Who said you did?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Well, nobody yet, but I didn't do it.

[Jeff Regan]

Look, why tell me?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

There's nobody else I can tell.

[Jeff Regan]

Try the police. No, no, no.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

That's what I can't do.

[Jeff Regan]

I want you to prove to them that I wouldn't do a thing like that. Loper, what's your tie in with? Desmond? Desmond what?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

There is no tie in.

[Jeff Regan]

You were at his card room. I smelled your cigarettes there. You got nothing, I guess.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

And you went to his house, Mr. Regan. That's got nothing to do with it.

[Jeff Regan]

I think different.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

But you're wrong, all wrong.

[Jeff Regan]

Convince me.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

I didn't do the murder. That's what I want you to tell the police.

[Jeff Regan]

Who did?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

I don't know.

[Jeff Regan]

Well, now I think you do.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Come on.

[Jeff Regan]

Who killed George's mother?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

It was her stepmother who was killed.

[Jeff Regan]

Give me some more.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Oh, you got me all confused.

[Jeff Regan]

I guess coming to you for help

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

was a bad idea.

[Jeff Regan]

Something was.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

I'll find somebody else who doesn't ask so many questions.

[Jeff Regan]

I better go. No, no, not yet, little man. You got too many answers.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Take your hands off me. Mr. Regan.

[Jeff Regan]

I never Used one of these.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

But the theory is simple.

[Jeff Regan]

Just pull the trigger if you can find it.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Don't urge me.

[Jeff Regan]

Open the door.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Go on. Sure.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Now step away. See you later, Mr. Regan. Hello.

[Jeff Regan]

He made it to the staircase and then the noise came. A couple of bullets blew up the spiral and caught him in the chest. He stopped in midair for a second like a yo yo on a string. And then he toppled over and rolled down. By the time I got to him, he was all used up. Well, McCall and a homicide brought some of the boys out and they took care of them. A fat guy with a head like a plunger took him pictures for a paper and a girl with a leaky fountain pen got the story. Took about an hour and a half to clear my place. But the minute the crowd moved out, the lion moved in. He had a sheet of paper in one hand and his face was lit up like an old maid at a cocktail party. This concerns Louie Desmond and Georgia Bascom. You interested? Yeah. Desmond's got a wife, and her name's not Georgia. No, it's Stella, and she's a ripe candidate for a drunk tank. What else do you know about her? She's jealous. Well, there's no record any place of a divorce or of a marriage between Georgia and Desmond. That whole setup's a phony. Tell me why. George's father, named Peter Bascom, was a furrier and he was once in on a fur job with the same Louis Desmond. Go on. The old Bascom ended up with a bullet in him and Louie with a pile of dole. How did it work? I can't find out everything. You got to do something. You know a Max Loper? Never heard of him. You got an address on this Georgia? Well, Arena Hotel, room 406. And Catalina, off Wilshire. All right. The way I figured, an insurance company might be real interested to get hold of her. No, the gas chamber's got priority. We figured the swindled first, collect the fat bonus, then let the city handle her anyway it wants. Call me when you get it. All sold out. What are you going to be doing? Resting at home? I'm all worn out. Yeah, well, that figures. You've been doing a little thinking. The Lorena Hotel. Six stories of plush carpet and gold paint. It was night when I got there and the neon was on. The buzzer. Brought the door open and Georgia Bascom stood there carrying an overcoat. She had her purse under her arm and it figured she was leaving. When she saw me, she turned on a surprise look.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Oh, Mr. Regan.

[Jeff Regan]

Moving out?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Just a little errand.

[Jeff Regan]

It'll keep. Shut the door.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Now, see here. Well, that's a lot of nerve.

[Jeff Regan]

Don't let it bother you. They're bigger things.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Like what?

[Jeff Regan]

A fur job you and Louie are working on.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

What are you talking about?

[Jeff Regan]

And a little murder. Throw your purse on the sofa.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

I will not.

[Jeff Regan]

Come on, lady. It's getting heavy

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

now.

[Jeff Regan]

Open the closet door. Come on.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

There. I hope you're satisfied.

[Jeff Regan]

I'm not much on fashions. Read them to me.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Three airmen, three sable, 10,000 a piece. More max.

[Jeff Regan]

Loafers?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Yeah.

[Jeff Regan]

You can't wear them all. You got a friend?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

I don't need one.

[Jeff Regan]

All right, sis, what is it?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Nothing.

[Jeff Regan]

That's your version.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

You could be wrong.

[Jeff Regan]

When'd you marry Desmond?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Last week.

[Jeff Regan]

Bad answer. He's got a wife named Stella. Bigamy will get him in trouble.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

That's his problem.

[Jeff Regan]

No, it's yours, too, if the courts can prove you knew.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

All right, I didn't marry him.

[Jeff Regan]

Then why the wedding ring?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Hey, you ask a lot of questions.

[Jeff Regan]

Yeah, I do.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Why don't you get out of here?

[Jeff Regan]

Louie's not new on fur jobs. He knows how much work it is to palm him off.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

You're talking to yourself.

[Jeff Regan]

Loper never got to outlive a double cross.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

What are you gonna do with that?

[Jeff Regan]

Nothing. Homicide will work it out.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

I didn't kill anybody.

[Jeff Regan]

You'll work up a sweat proving it.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Louie did it. Honest. He killed my stepmother because she knew how the job worked. He gave it to Loper, too. He would.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Hiya, friends.

[Jeff Regan]

It must be raining. The worms are coming to the top.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Hello. Louis Reagan's got it figured out. I was just following him till you got here.

[Jeff Regan]

Sure.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Georgia, I know.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Honestly. Honest, I. I didn't mean to say you did the knockoffs.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

We'll talk about it later.

[Jeff Regan]

Better finish it now. You're not gonna be around.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

We'll see.

[Jeff Regan]

They got a spot all staked out for you up north. Isn't that interesting?

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Regan, I got a set of instructions for you.

[Jeff Regan]

I want you to be real nice and follow them. What's in it for me? You killed me, Sheriff.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

I'm holding all the cards.

[Jeff Regan]

You want to rake in the pot.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

I better get going. Lily, we shouldn't be seen together right now.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Slow down, baby.

[Jeff Regan]

I got something for you, too, Lily. Big mouth. Lucky you didn't have to hit her more than once. She got off easy. Everybody's got 32 teeth. Desmond moved us out of the apartment down the hall. Georgia was beginning to sob, but Desmond Wasn't impressed. He held the gun under his coat and walked behind us, careful, like an elephant on the crate of egg. The button brought the elevator and the three of us went in. And then it started down. When the door swung open on the first floor, a whiff of bourbon came floating in. Packing a.32. Louie turned white, Stella. Still.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

I told him if he kept messing around, he was gonna have trouble at home.

[Jeff Regan]

Wanna give me the gun?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

No. What's your name, girlie? Georgia. Were you in love with Louie? I. I don't know. Well, go find out. You want it now, Regan? It's empty.

[Jeff Regan]

You know, lady, you fixed nothing.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

What do you mean?

[Jeff Regan]

Where you're going, you'll all. Well, it was all over fast, like a dollar dinner. The coroner's office sent out some boys for Georgia and Louie and Sanducci picked up Stella. Desmond had himself a pretty good thing do a tie in with a furrier and move the furs across the border with nobody making a fuss. All it was slow work, but 10,000 a week's pretty good pay and it was real safe. Loper wasn't going to say the furs were even stolen until they were turned into money. Of course, he never got to say it at all. Everything would have been all right if Stella didn't see green every time Louis saw blonde. Well, the insurance company thanked us for what we did to expose the fraud. The lion was unhappy, he said. They should have shown their gratitude with something more lasting. They gave it to him. A 1949 pocket calendar.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Jack Webb is featured as Jeff Regan with Herb Butterfield as Anthony J. Lyon. It's CBS at the same time next week for more hard boiled action and mystery with Jeff Regan, investigator, Written by Larry Roman, produced by Sterling Tracy. Included in tonight's cast were Mary Lansing, Marvin Miller, Pat McGeehan, Laurette Philbrandt, Jack Petruzzi, Yvonne Patey and Sydney Miller. Original music for this program is by Milton Charles. Bob Stevenson speaking. This is cbs, the Columbia Broadcasting System. Yes, it's a good buy, I think. Of course, the next evident is questionable. If I were you, I'd get into White Wheeler Refineries. They want to move that stock up five points in the. It's in your office, Mr. Oh, excuse me, sir. I'll call you back. Fifteen and one half. Davis Holders, 1, 68 AIM speaking.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Stuart.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Oh, yes, darling, what is it? I'm quite busy holding its own. I'd say White Willows off a fraction. That's what you're really interested in, isn't it?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

You're What I'm really interested in Stuart.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Well, tell me about it tonight, will you darling? I've got some people waiting to see me. I'll be up around. Well, you better name the time.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

I can get rid of Nate around 8:30. Play safe and be up around 9, will you?

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

I'll be there. Goodbye, darling.

[Jeff Regan]

Goodbye.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Sit right down again, Ames. I want to talk to you. Oh, it's you, Mr. Leroy. How are you? I'll let you know in a little while. As soon as I close this door so we can have some privacy. Yes, what is it, Ames? Three months ago you urged me to buy 10,000 shares of White Willow Refineries. I wouldn't say I urged you. I pointed out that the company was in good financial shape and had excellent possibilities. There was going to be a merger. It gone through. The shares had been split two for one. Yes, I know that's what you told me. But there was no merger. And the stock is off 15 points from what I paid for it. I'm sorry, Mr. Leroy. I don't control the companies. I just recommend investments for my clients and most times they turn out well. You knew White Willow was a dog stock when you put me in it. I've lost $150,000. All the money I had in the world. Oh, look here, Mr. Leroy. You can't be blaming me for that. The investment must have looked good to you. Yes, it looked good because you recommended it. I mortgaged everything I own. When it's a debt to buy that stock, I'm bro games. If I sold that stock now, I couldn't get enough money to pay my debts. I'm really sorry, Mr. Leroy, but there isn't anything I can possibly do about it. No?

[Jeff Regan]

No.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Well, there's something I can do about it. You don't think I'm going to take a loss like that lying down, do you?

[Jeff Regan]

Oh no.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Somebody's going to take it lying down. But it won't be me.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Oh please, Nate, you know you have to leave. It's after 9 o'. Clock.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

You know the funny thing about time, honey? It goes so fast sometimes and so

[Jeff Regan]

slow at a time.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

So sure. Now come on, I'll help you with your coat.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

What's the hurry, Dawn? What's with this Russian act? What have I got, the measles or something? But what have you got? A date or something with some other guy?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Oh, Nate.

[Jeff Regan]

Now look,

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

I'm not the kind of a character who thinks my baby will cross me. She wouldn't do that, would she, baby? She's too smart, ain't she, baby? I'll be seeing you, baby. Bye.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Oh, Dawn Stewart.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Where? Heard you and Nate talking, so I came in the back way and waited until he left. Oh, good thing you didn't catch me walking in here. It's all I'd need.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

What's the matter, Stu? Is something else wrong?

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Oh, yes, yes. The market. Dawn started to bend in the last hour. Afraid it's going to crack at the opening tomorrow.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Is White Willow down two points?

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

That's White Willow. That's got me worried. George Royce says he went broke on that stock, that it's my fault. Looked like it was desperate.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Oh, forget about Leroy, darling. Listen to me. It's Nate. I have an idea he knows about you.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

What? How could he?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Well, don't ask me. Only Nate has a way of finding things out in this town. He's got a finger in every racket and a finger man on practically every block.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

What makes you think he knows about me?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Just a couple of things he said, that's all. Nothing definite. Nate never says anything definite. Just a few hints. Enough to worry me, I'll tell you that.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Enough to worry you? What about me, Nate? Amico knows that I'm seeing his girl. I'm really in trouble, darling.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Don't you think I'm worth a little trouble?

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Oh, yes. Yes, of course you are. Listen, maybe. Maybe it'd be better if we didn't see each other for a while. Maybe I ought to take a little trip somewhere for my health.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Oh, but your health is wonderful, darling.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Yes, it is now. But there's no telling how long it'll stay that way with George Leroy and Amico around. Sit down, Mr. Leroy. Sit down. Always like to have somebody that comes to see me sit down. Thank you, Mr. Amico. Thanks very much. It is perfectly all right with me should you want to cut out that Mr. Amico stuff and call me Nate. I am known mostly to most people as Nate. All right, Nate. I don't want to take up too much of your time. I know you're busy. Never too busy. I shouldn't take time out for something on which maybe I can make a buck. What's your proposition, Mr. Leroy? Well, I don't exactly know how to begin. Okay, so I'll help you. Somebody's lost you up somewhere and you want him taken care of, right? That's approximately right. Nate, a man in this town has ruined me, left me with hardly anything. Whatever it is I have, I'm willing to spend to see that he gets what's coming to him. That sounds like a very reasonable proposition. I'm very glad to take the details under advisement. You should tell me what's going on. How much would it cost to kill a man?

[Jeff Regan]

8 your1 who should be knocked off, huh? Yes.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Well, that requires a little working on, Mr. Leroy. It's a pretty hot time for killings at D.A.

[Jeff Regan]

we got Markham.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

He's a rough character. Now, if you want this friend of yours worked on a little, that could be different. I want him dead. I see what you mean. I could get him good and scared for you and wouldn't cost you too much. Scratch. I want him dead, I said. I know. I heard you. Who. Who is this guy who wants you to be suddenly taken dead? His name is Stuart Ames. Stuart Ames, eh? Yes. He has an officer. I know all about him, Mr. Leroy. He's the guy you want to kill, don't he? That's right. How much will it cost me? Well, I don't know. You see, I kind of have a reason I should kill that bum myself. Maybe this is one job I don't do for money. Maybe Ames gets knocked off

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

just for

[Jeff Regan]

the fun of it.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

97 precinct, Murphy speaking. Hello, police. There's been a murder at the Cayton Apartments. Come right away. Caton Apartments, you say? Who was killed? A stockbroker named Stuart Ames. It only happened a couple of minutes ago. I was passing by his apartment.

[Jeff Regan]

I heard a shot and I went

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

in and found him on the floor dead. No sign of the murderer? Well, he must have gotten out the back way. I grabbed the phone and called you. Hey, you did good. Wait right there. We'll have some men up in five minutes. Oh, Ms. Williams, has my secretary come back from lunch yet?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

No, Mr. Vance. Ms. Dearing isn't back yet. Anything I can do?

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Yes, I think so. Just a second. I'll come into the outer office. Ms. Williams, will you get me the files on the last case we worked on?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

The million dollar murder case, Mr. Vance.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

I believe that's what Mr. Markham, the district attorney, called it.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Ah, the files right here. Oh, you did a wonderful job on that case, Mr. Vance. You certainly know how to find murderers.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Finding murderers, Ms. Williams, consists exclusively in knowing where to look.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

It certainly sounds simple when you say it that way. Now, if it was me, I. Vance,

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

I'm glad I found you in. Well, Markham, my friend, we were just speaking of you. What's the excitement? Or should I guess? Do you ever guess, Vance? I didn't think so. Let's go into your private office. I have something to tell you. Of course, Markham.

[Jeff Regan]

After you.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Thank you. A murder this morning, Markham? No, last night, Vance. I just received word of it this morning. Apparently, Sergeant Heath tried to reach me last night. But I spent the night at a friend who was killed. Man named Stuart Ames. Stockbroker. He was a specialist in a stock called White Willow Refineries. You know anything about it? I know nothing about it. Or about him. What are the details? Well, a neighbor heard the shot, rushed into Ames apartment, found him lying there on the floor and called the police. Any other details? Several. There was no sign of a struggle. No powder marks on the body. No disturbance at all in the room. And a cigarette was still burning in the ashtray. Only Ames didn't smoke. I see. Anything else? Yes. We have three prospective suspects and one definite clue. A clue, Markham, what is it? In the dead man's hand, Sergeant Heath found a button from a sports jacket. One of those leather buttons. You know the kind? Yes, I do. And that's your clue, Markham? Of course, I'd forget it if I were you.

[Jeff Regan]

What? Why?

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

The button was planted there just to throw off any investigator advance. What can you possibly know about my dear Markham? If there were no signs of a struggle and no powder marks on the body. How could the killer have been near enough to the victim for Mr. Ames to yank a button from a coat? Yeah, now that you mention it, I see what you mean. Of course, the killer might have been near enough to Mr. Ames to shoot him after a struggle. Providing there was time enough for him to straighten up the apartment after firing the shot. But apparently there wasn't. No, there wasn't. The neighbor came rushing in immediately. He says the murderer undoubtedly went out the back way. Undoubtedly? Well, it's nice to know I'm right about something. You want to know about the suspects, Vance, please. First, there's a man named George Leroy. Who lost a fortune due to the dead man's stock recommendations. Yes. Then there's a gangster named Nate Amico. Ames was fooling with his girlfriend. And last, there's the girlfriend. Who's she? Her name is Dawn Vander, former nightclub singer. She's the one who supplied Sergeant Heath with the information about the two other suspects. She's being held at the apartment now. Is she attractive, Markham? From what I understand, she is. Well, in that case, what are we doing here? Miss Vander, if there's anything you can tell me about this case, I'd be very grateful.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

I can't tell you anything if I don't know anything, can I? Vance. And if I did know anything, anything more than I told the police, I'd tell you, wouldn't I?

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

I certainly hope so. This was Mr. Ames living room, I imagine.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

That's right. I wish I could help you.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

I do too, Ms. Vander. Oh, Markham. Yes, Vance? Come in, will you please, Markham? Yes, of course. Something I can do? I think so. You can let Ms. Vander go for one thing.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Oh, no kidding? Gee, thanks, Vance. Is it all right for me to go, Mr. Markham?

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

It is if Vance says so. But please don't leave town, Ms. Vander. We may need your testimony later.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

I'll be around. Thanks, Mrs. Mr. Markham and Mr. Vance. I wish I could think of a way of thanking you.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Forget it, Miss Vander. So long, Markham. You mentioned to me that Mr. Ames didn't smoke. Yet there was a cigarette still burning in the ashtray when his body was found. Yes, a menlo king size. It was smoldering. Somebody. The murderer probably tried to put it out but wasn't successful. You know how cigarettes sometimes keep burning? Yes, of course. No lipstick marks. You know better. We don't often get breaks like that. Sergeant Heath, incidentally, was very disappointed when you exploded his pet clue. The leather sports jacket button. I'm sorry. I thought it might save him some time trying to track it down. It did. He has another clue he picked up near the back door, Vance. Here, take a look. Book of paper. Matches, eh? It's the book. The matches are all gone. But look at the edge of the cardboard, Vance. There are several indentations, you see? Apparently made by a thumbnail. Well, that's not too unusual, Markham. Many people have the nervous habit of putting their fingernail into a paper match cover. Do it myself sometimes. Yes, I know. I've seen you. You didn't murder Stuart Ames, did you, Vance? Not that I remember. But I wouldn't be too surprised if it was the murderer who discarded this match holder. Seems to me we ought to make a survey of our suspects and find which one had a habit of putting his nail into the cardboard. Good. I must remember to tell Sergeant Heath to withhold any mention of our finding this clue. I wouldn't want the newspapers to get hold of it. Wouldn't you mark him? Why not? Well, it's perfectly plain.

[Jeff Regan]

Why not.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

The newspaper's printed. The murderer will know we're working on that angle and he'll be extra careful when we interview him. He'll make sure he doesn't give himself away. That's very good logic, Markham, but I think that the newspapers Ought to get the story. But, Vance, I've seen you do this very thing on other cases. You hold back some bit of evidence so that you can capitalize on it later on. Yes, I do, Markham. But those were other cases. This case is an entity in itself. I think another theory applies to it.

[Jeff Regan]

Yes.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Make sure the reporters get the story of the match. Cover Markham. Then give me 24 hours and I'll deliver your murderer to you. This is District Attorney Marco. The White Willow murder case began with the finding of the body of Stuart Ames, stockbroker, specialist in White Willow stock. Suspects include George Leroy, who went bankrupt following Ames market tips. Nate Amico, gangster, boyfriend of Dawn Vander, nightclub singer whom aims of seeing and Ms. Vander herself. Philo Vance believes that a paper matchbox cover with fingernail markings is a vital clue, but hasn't said why. One of my men has reported that Ms. Vander has just visited Nate Amico's apartment. But we don't have anything.

[Jeff Regan]

No, no, no.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Look, honey, you're blowing your top. Put that gun away.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Oh, no, Nate. It stays just where it is. And you stay right where you are. Don't make a move and don't say anything till I tell you it's okay to talk.

[Jeff Regan]

No, no, don't. Baby.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Shut up, I said.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Who you calling?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

The district attorney. Oh, you thought you were awful cute, didn't you, Nate? Well, I'm cuter. Shut up and don't come near me. Mr. Markham, this is Dawn Vander. I'm in Nate Amico's apartment.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Yes, I know. One of my men saw you go in.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Good. Get him to come right up here. Markham. Nate killed Stuart Ames. I know he did.

[Jeff Regan]

You're no good.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Two time and fraud, Ms. Vander. What was that?

[Jeff Regan]

Please. You did it. I didn't get. Didn't you? Hello? You did it.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Hello?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Hello, Mr. Markham?

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Oh, yes. I'm still here, Ms. Vander. What happened?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Don't bother sending up any men for Nate Amico, Mr. Markham. Send them up for me. I just shot and killed him.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Do you want me to go in with you, Vance, or do you prefer to talk to Ms. Vander alone? Either way, Mark. In that case, I'll leave you here. But first, Vance, may I ask you why you're going to see Ms. Vander? Certainly, Markham. There are things in this case with which I'm not satisfied. I don't understand how you can say that. It's very obvious that Amico killed ames and that Ms. Vander killed Amico when he tried to prevent her from Telling that to me on the telephone. The last part of that statement is correct, Markham. I have an idea. You have an Idea it was Ms. Vander who killed Ames. Frankly, I don't have any such ideas, Markham. Oh, just in case you did, I'd like to remind you, Vance, that Ms. Vander uses a great deal of makeup. And there was no lipstick stain on the cigarette we found smoldering in Ames apartment. I realize that. That practically removes suspicion from her. Then there's the clue of the matchbox. Ms. Vander certainly doesn't seem to be the nervous type, does she?

[Jeff Regan]

No.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

And while we're on the subject, she doesn't seem to be the type to carry paper matches either. But I'm going to see her regardless. As you say, that's. Which cell is she in? First one to the right. I'll talk to her from the outside through the bars. Thank you, my friend. I'll see you later. Right. Come into Heath's office when you're through, will you? I'll do that, Miss Vander.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Oh, hello, Mr. Vance. I'm sorry I'm being such a baby.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

I'm sorry you're being held in this detention cell, Ms. Vander. But you will have to stand trial, you know.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Yes, yes, I know. I don't really care what happens to me. The trial, Evans. As soon as I found out that it was Nate who killed Stewart, my whole world fell apart.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

When I questioned you, why didn't you tell me it was Nate? That would have saved you a lot of trouble and a prison sentence.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

I know, but I was afraid of him. Later I thought it over. He tried to stop me from telling Mr. Markham I shot him when he went for his gun. Cigarette, Vance?

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

No, thank you.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Here, I have my own lighter, thanks. It was self defense, Vance. Malcolm knows that. He could hear Nate threaten me over the telephone.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Yes, I know. He told me that. Having trouble with that lighter, Ms. Vander?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

No fluid, I guess.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Allow me. Please, just hand it to me through the bars. These Burton lighters are tricky. There.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Thank you.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Is there anything I can get for you while you're here, Ms. Vander?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Oh, no, I don't think so. Unless you can get me my compact, I'm lost without it. I'd even settle for my earrings or a cigarette holder or a couple of bobby pins. Anything so I don't look like everybody else in this cell row.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

I'll ask Mr. Markham to get them for you, Ms. Vander. I'll send you some cigarettes. What brand are you smoking, Douglas?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Cork tips.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Right.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Oh, thank you.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Oh, no trouble, Ms. Vanderbilt. After all, you did me a favor, you know.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

You mean by finding Stuart Ames murderer for you?

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Yes. That is, if it was Mr. Ames murderer you killed. I beg your pardon. You're Mr. Leroy? Yes. Who are you? My name is Vance. Philo Vance. Oh, how are you, Mr. Vance? Fine, thank you, Mr. Leroy. You follow the market? I did when I had enough money to play with stocks. I don't anymore. I just come down here now to see how much money I might have made if I bought stocks of my own choosing. Instead of the ones the late Stuart Ames picked out for you. Yes, that's right. That was the information we had, Mr. Leroy. I just wanted to be sure. By the way, you smoke. Well, yes, of course I do. May I see your lighter? I don't use a lighter. Ordinary paper matches are good enough for me. You want to see them? Yes, as a matter of fact I do. Here you are. Have them right in my hand. It's a habit, I guess. These nail punctures in the side, that's habit two, isn't it? Well, I. I don't know. I hadn't thought much of it. I didn't realize I was doing it. No, I venture to say you didn't. Now wait a minute, Vance. Don't build anything. The police know that dead gangster killed Ames. I didn't kill him. You've got to believe that. Do I, Leroy? Why? Well, Vance, you asked me to meet you on the corner of 5th Avenue and 57th Street. I did. Now tell me, where are we heading? Toward the solution of the White Willow murder case, I hope. Mark, see this tobacco shop? Yes, I do. But what has it to do with our case? Come on in here with me and find out. Gentlemen, may I help you? Yes, please, if you will. If I'm not mistaken, this store is the exclusive agency for Douglas cigarettes. That's correct, sir. We import them. Douglas cigarettes and Burton lighters. I'd like a carton of Douglas's, please. Cork tipped. Very good, sir.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Thank you.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

I'll have them ready. Vance, I don't know what you're driving at. You remember of course, that it wasn't a Douglas cigarette we found in Stuart Ames apartment. It was a Menlo. Of course. This Carton is for Ms. Vander. She asked me to get her some Douglas cork tipped cigarettes. So I'm getting them. Oh, that's different. The cigarettes will be wrapped in a moment, sir. Is there anything else I can do? Yes. A Burton lighter was sold sometime recently. Yesterday perhaps. To a very Attractive young lady. I'd like to see the gentleman who waited on her. If it's the young lady whose photographs are in the newspaper, sir, I'm the man. She came in and purchased a lighter and a package of Douglas's the first thing yesterday morning. Never saw her before that. That's what I thought. Dawn Vander bought a cigarette lighter yesterday morning, Vance. How did you know that? I'll explain later. Will you have her and Mr. George Leroy in your office this afternoon, Markham? I'd like to talk to them both, but I'm sure only one of them will want to listen to me.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Darn.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Having trouble with that cigarette lighter, Ms. Vander?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Yes. You want to try and make it work again, Mr. Vance?

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Try these matches of mine. They never fail.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Thanks.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Here you are. Now, Mr. Leroy, you and I had a little chat in the brokerage office this morning. You didn't tell me all I wanted to know. I'll tell you the whole truth, Vance. I offered to pay Nate Amico to kill Stuart Ames for me. But he told me that he would do it for the fun of it. Well, Vance, that just about cinches the case against the dead Nate Amico, doesn't it? Not quite, Markham. Not quite.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

What do you mean not quite, Vance? I told you I knew he'd killed Stuart Ames. That's the reason I shot him. Now you hear this Mr. Leroy tell you Nate told him he was going to kill Stewart. What else do you want?

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

For one thing, I want those matches I gave you, if you don't mind.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

What? Thank you.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Now, in case you'd still like to know What I want, Ms. Vander, I want Mr. Markham to hold you for the murder of Stuart Ames. Miss Williams, will you please read back these notes on the White Willow murder case?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Oh, sure, Mr. Vance. It'll be a pleasure.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Nothing like combining fun and work, Ms. Williams, is it?

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

That's right. Especially when I get to work for you, Mr. Vance. Here. Here are the notes. To FX Markham, District Attorney. You have asked me why I was certain that Ms. Vander was Stuart Ames killer. And you cited the cigarette left burning in Ames apartment when his murderer fled.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Go ahead, please.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Yeah, you wanted to know how a girl could have left that cigarette there and there'd be no lipstick marks on it. Very simple. Ms. Vander used a cigarette holder. It was one of the articles taken from her when she was in jail.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Oh, that's right so far.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

About her murder of native Miko. Apparently, Mr. Miko saw her enter or leave the apartment of the dead Mr. Ames immediately after she had killed him, he reminded her of this hole he had on her. And she killed him too. Very cleverly. Inasmuch as she had you on the telephone when she did.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

That was quite a trick. Please continue Ms. Williams.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Right. Now Martha, you will want to know why Ms. Vander would kill a man while you were listening just to cover up another killing. The answer is simple. She had a perfect self defense alibi. An alibi you would have given her. But she might have gone to the chair if Nate Amico had ever decided to talk about her killing AIDS. Well, that's all there is so far, Mr. Vance. Would you. Would you please tell me how you knew it? Was she.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Well As I said, Ms. Vander was clever. She knew about the clue of the matchbox cover with its nail impressions because she'd read about it in the papers.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Uh huh.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

She immediately went out and bought a cigarette lighter. The Burton's a little difficult to work at first so I knew it was new when she tried to use it while I was visiting her.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

Right.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Another thing. She realized we knew the brand of cigarette she had left in Ames apartment. So she switched brands. Switched to Douglas's. But the clerk said he'd never seen her in the store before she bought the lighter. Therefore that was another lie that came back to haunt.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

From what I read Mr. Vance, that other suspect, Mr. Leroy, well he used to mark a match cover with his fingernail. Just like the one that was left in Mr. Ames apartment.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

Yes he did. But he made no effort to hide that fact from me when I questioned him. He had nothing to hide, you see. Oh, yesterday in Mr. Markham's office I let Ms. Vander have a book of matches while I was questioning Mr. Leroy. She was so interested she forgot herself and used her fingernail on the match cover. But when I saw that and added up all the other factors I knew I was certain she was the killer.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

You know the reason why she killed Amos, Mr. Vance?

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

I think so. It seems that he was about to leave town. And her? It also seems that when she came up to see him the night of the murder, he refused to either take her with him or return a lot of money he had borrowed from her. That was enough reason for her to put an end to him.

[Mrs. Bascom / Georgia Bascom / Max Loper / Dawn Vander]

I guess that's right. And calling you in Mr. Vance was enough reason to put an end to the White Willow murder case. Sam.

[Anthony J. Lyon / District Attorney Markham / Philo Vance / Nate Amico]

It.

[Jeff Regan]

Visit relicradio.com for more. From Jeff Regan, Philo Vance case closed and all of the relic radio shows. You'll find our shout out cast stream there as well. And as I mentioned, you can donate through that website if you'd like to help support us. Thanks again to those who have thanks for joining me this week. Talk to you again next Wednesday with another hour of mystery on Case Closed.