Narrator (0:00)

This is case closed. One hour of mystery and crime from the golden age of radio every Wednesday@ Relicradio.com our first story comes from the new adventures of Nero Wolf. This week we'll hear the bashful body from December 29, 1950. After that it's Barry Craig, confidential investigator and the girl on the doorstep. That story aired February 15, 1953. Stay tuned for Nero Wolf transcribed in 30 seconds. The chimes are all set to wish you a happy new year this Sunday with a gala broadcast of the big show. The unpredictable Tallulah will emcee with a host of leading stars of stage, screen and radio, including Ken Murray, Gloria Swanson, Margaret o', Brien, Jose Ferrer and many more. And there's a carnival of fun with Theater Guild on the air. Also this Sunday when the sparkling Lockhart family, Gene Kathleen and daughter June co star with Van Heflin in Theatre Guild's presentation of the exciting story of State Fair. Ladies and gentlemen, the ringing of that phone bell means mystery adventure near Olf's office. Archie Goodwin speaking. Who? Oh, I see. Or do you think Mr. Wolf might be interested in going over and. Hold on a minute, Archie. I'm not interested in going anywhere. Ill considered movement is the curse of our times. Not to mention the mania for fresh air. Bottle opener, if you please. Here you are. But that was Zabro's flower shop. Mr. Wolf got a new shipment of orchids from upstate. In that case, Mr. Wolf, remember the curse of our times. Not to mention the mania. I'll be there. He'll be there. After all, a man must risk his life sometimes. Ladies and gentlemen, it's the bulkiest, balkiest, smartest and most unpredictable detective in the world. That chairborne genius, Nero Wolf. Created by Rex Stout and brought to you in a new series of adventures over this NBC network in the person of Mr. Sydney Greenstreet. Orchids don't grow up overnight. They have to be carefully planted, tended, watered and watched. The same thing goes for murder. Take Zabro's flower shop. Minutes after we got that phone call. Zabro. Mr. Hansen. I did not notice. You are here. I'm here. And what's more, you. You like the way I display your orchids. I don't like the way you've been avoiding meeting your obligations. Please, please. It is better not to shout. It'd be still better if you paid me what you owe me. Mr. Hansen, business has not been so good. I will pay better. I. I intend to. My lawyers aren't going to be satisfied by intentions. Your. Your lawyers? I'VE no particular desire to own a flower shop. But it looks as if I'm going to unless you raise some money. Mr. Hansen, I have worked years. I have given of my blood to make a success of this establishment. You cannot take him from me. You are a rich man. I intend to stay rich too. You've got 24 hours, Avro. A man can accomplish a lot in 24 hours. Yes, Mr. Hanson. Even maybe murder. Mr. Zabro. Oh, good afternoon, Ms. Hansen. Is uncle here? Yes, he is here at the display towards the back of the store. Thanks. How is he? He is the way he always is. Hard, vindictive. Mr. Zabra, I am sorry. Excuse me. Now, Uncle. What is it, Enid? I am. Have you seen my display? The lilies? Yes. Pretty. Thank you. He's not here. Well, I didn't say. Didn't have to. John Arndt is not here. Why he is not here? I don't know. His job was to look after my display. Perhaps he doesn't need a job anymore. You know he does. Fiddlesticks. After all, if he marries my heiress. Uncle. My dear girl, John Arndt is a fairly capable man with orchids. Outside of that, I have no use for him whatsoever. Especially in the role of your husband. Isn't that for me to decide? Of course it is. Except that, pretty as you are, John Arndt is seeing you through a golden haze. To be precise, the money that will come to you from me when I die. That's nasty. It's the truth. But you can't know that. I'm going to find out What? I saw my lawyers this morning. Among other things, I instructed them to draw up a cudel to my will. A cudel? To the effect that all my money goes to you. On one condition. Oh, you couldn't. I did. Condition was that you refrain from marrying John Arndt either now or at any time in the future. That's not fair. It's a very good way of discouraging Mr. Arndt. What'll you bet his Arda cools off quickly? You. You told him? Yes. Probably why he hasn't appeared as yet. He's sulking. You really sign that. That codicil? I will, as soon as the papers are drawn up. Where are you going? I don't know. I've got to get away someplace and think. Very well. Think about forgetting John Art. Best thing in the world for you, Uncle. Do you really think you can manage other people's lives for them? I don't see why not. No. Well, people don't like to Be managed. They get desperate sometimes. And sometimes they kill. Mr. Wolf. What are you doing? Getting up. I'm a bow. That makes you eligible for the Explorers Club or something. Ah, my coat and muffler, Archie. I got him. Here. Thank you. You're really going out into that. That weather outside? Archie, must you try to be witty? It amuses me no end. Haven't you seen enough of those weeds yet? An orchid is not a weed. Another muffler, Archie. The woollen one. You've already got two on. Please. Fresh air, clogs and lungs. Sure. Everybody knows that, but they won't admit it. Of course not. The conspiracy of silence. Archie, I'm ready. You sure? I can see a square inch of skin showing. Come. You're driving me to Zapra. Mm. All right. Careful and take a deep breath. I'm going to open the door. You ready? Very well. Open it. Be brave, Mr. Wolf. We'll keep the car window shut and maybe you'll make it. Careful, the risks one takes. In you go. Well, okay, boss. Now, where is Zabros? 45th Street. Gee, 10 blocks. Grit your teeth, Mr. Wolf. We're off. Oh, Mr. Wolf, I'm glad you are here. Those orchids you wrote me about had better be worth the trip. The trip? But I think you live only a little way from here. Don't forget, it had to be made in the open air. Mr. Zabro, where are the orchids? Towards the back. They are from Hanson's place. He is a fine grower. I have made an exhibit. Good. Oh, excuse me. Oh, others are here. You go look for yourself. No. Very well. Archie. Oh, I. I was just noticing the. Did a girl just enter the store? A girl? A goddess. Tall, graceful, Venus de Milo with arms. Arms that were made. Never mind. Let's go look at orchids. Thank you. Very fine. The exhibit is laid out like nature, huh? Reminds me of a spot in Central park that I spent some of my happiest moments in. Then you do like flowers. I don't go to Central park to look at flowers. I went there to forget it. Gladly. Now go away and annoy someone else. Venus, I want to concentrate on these orchids. Goodbye. Okay. I leave you alone with your loved ones, see? Maybe I can arrange to be left alone with something I could very easily learn to love. Hey, boss. Don't bother me, Haji. Oh, this is serious. There's a lily display just like this one over at the other end of the store. Nothing connected with lilies could possibly be serious. Maybe not, but there's a corpse Planted among these lilies? Indeed. A lot of ferns were banked up in back of the display. I saw a foot sticking out, so I slipped back, lifted a few ferns and found a body. Fresh? Very. The wound was still bleeding. Knife wound? Sad. Very. Now run along. Aren't you going to do anything about it? Why should I? Anyone who'd permit himself to be found dead or alive among a display of lilies is beneath contempt. Well, maybe the poor guy didn't have a chance to crawl into an orchid display before he died. However, if that's the way you feel, I'll tell the police all about poor Mr. Hanson and let them. Who? Hanson, the orchid grower. He's one of the finest in the country. Not is. Was. Wasn't me who pushed him out. Of the lilies and the lilies. Bah. He would have hated it. Have you told Zabro? No, no, Zabra's been busy up front. Where is this display? Ah, right along here. There's been a number of people in the store since we came. Someone else may have noticed that dead man's foot. Uh, I covered it. Satisfactory. At times you give the illusions of intelligence. Is this the display? Yep. Come around to the back. There's a little space between the back of the display and the wall. Now, here, right under this pile of ferns. Of ferns? Yes. Aren't you? Hey, that body. What about it? It got bashful. It's gone. The corpse was dead. Corpse is off now. Confirmed. You, Archie? Have you been drinking too much milk again? Now look, boss, I saw him there, the blood still coming out of his back. And I tell you that. Let me understand you. Are you suggesting the corpse rose and walked away? No, but somebody could have dragged it away. Somebody who put it here in the first place. Pictures, no doubt. Come along, Archie. If this is some half witted trick to distract me from the orchids. Oh, no, no. I never come between a man and his love. Hey, wait a minute. Mr. Wolf. Yes? Do ferns bleed? Let me see. Indeed, yes, there is blood, fresh arterial blood on these ferns. Bright red color. Which means there was a wounded person among these lilies recently. Thanks for the late vote of confidence. Whoever killed Hanson, apparently he found a bit of praise for him, took him home to put him over the mantelpiece. Unlikely. Hansen wasn't very decorative. Okay, now she'll tell the police you have nothing to show them except a fern leaf covered with blood. No. Don't tell me you smell a fee among all these flowers. Hanson was a man I admired. Good heavens. Are you the number of first rate orchid growers is small enough without one of us being murdered. Unsportsmanlike, huh? Okay, we won't stand for it. What next? The body was removed from the building. How? Well, I wouldn't swear to it, but there's a window here that leads out to an alleyway. Could the alleyway be seen from the street? I don't think so. There's a bend in it wide enough for a car. Yep. Bring Zabu to me. Oh, don't bother. He's coming himself. Well, Mr. Wolf, what do you think of this? Mr. Wolf, I do not believe this. Why don't you believe you are looking at lilies? Not exactly. Whose flowers are these? Oh, Mr. Hansen's niece. Gross lilies. I see. Sabro, did you get all your orchids from Hanson? Oh, yes, yes, he is an artist. Practically an old master at the moment. How much money do you owe him? Who tell you I owe him? I. And you do, don't you? Well, yes. Business has not been so good, but. Did he speak to you? No. I guess you owed him money. I do not understand. Was Hansen in the store today? Yes, yes, he came. You hear us quarrel, eh? Where is he now? I do not know. He leave maybe? I rather think he did. Zabra, who else was in the store within the last half hour? Who might have known Hanson? Oh, Ms. Hansen was here. And John Ahern. He is Mr. Hansen's assistant. And how you say, sweet. And Ms. Hansen, was she the tall girl came in shortly after we did, Mr. Zapper? Oh, yes, yes, I think so. Are either them still here? No, no, no, they go together. Ms. Hansen go first. Very well. Come along, Archie. Okay. Mr. Wolf. You will not tell Mr. Hanson you know. You know of my debts. No, Mr. Zabra, I won't tell him. As a matter of fact, even if I wanted to, I don't think he would. Listen, I love these long drives in the country. Where are we going? Hansen's place. Oh, you think you returned to it to haunt it, huh? He's returned there, I suspect. Uh huh. In order to cast suspicion on himself. Ms. Hanson lives with him. Mr. Aunt works for him on the premises there. Ms. Hansen will be there? I imagine so. Why? Oh, nothing. Nothing at all. Boss, can we stop at the next town? Why? I want to buy a book on lilies. This sudden? You mean Ms. Hansen grows them in there? You see, that way we'll have something in common. Perhaps. But Archie is an interesting faz what you want to have in common with her? So this is the house that orchids built, huh? Snazzy. Very handsome country home. The streamlined zombies. Hello. I take that back, Ms. Hansen? Yes, I'm near a wolf. The person ogling you is my assistant, Mr. Goodley. Oh, well, Uncle's spoken of you, Mr. Wolfe. Come in please. Thank you. I was not Oakley, I was merely tracing a resemblance. Oh, between uncle and me? Between you and my heart's desire. Archie, stop being poetic. It doesn't become in here please. My uncle isn't at home yet. But. Oh, John, this is Mr. Wolf, Mr. Goodwin. John is Uncle's assistant. How do you do? How do you do? Mr. Hanson hasn't returned from town yet, Mr. Wolf. Are you quite sure? Why yes, unless he need saw him. No, no I didn't, John. Indeed. In that case you don't mind we'll wait for him. Of course, we'd be delighted. Sure. Excuse me, won't you? I've got some work to do on orchids or lilies? The orchids. Well then, go right ahead. See you later. Oh, can I get you something to drink? Beer will do, thank you. I better help you bring the bottle in. Ms. Archie. On the other hand, maybe you can manage your lawn. Well of course I can. I'm a big girl, Mr. Goodwin. I noticed. I mean why not, why not call me Archie? Takes less time. I'd like to, Archie. Swell. Remember what old Dr. Titmouse said I want a bottle of beer. Said I want a bot. Yo. No, never mind. Enid, you better go gather some beer for Mr. Wolf. All right. I'll be back in a minute. So much of her and all so nice. Ain't forgetting why we are here. I don't care why you're here. Me, I. You're waiting for uncle. Uh huh. Mr. Wolf, it's unlikely that uncle is going to walk in through that front door. True, that is why you're sneaking out the back door to find him. How do you know he'll be around here? This is where he lives, isn't it Archie? Yes, but if you'll remember, uncle gave up living earlier this afternoon. You mean he was persuaded to. Nevertheless, I rather think he'll be around, body and all. He wasn't in the house, so I tried the conservatory, hothouse, what have you. It was hot in that steam heated orchid paradise. Also it was full of orchids. Unfortunately it wasn't full of Ms. Hanson. I wandered hither and yarn for a moment dreaming of her, until I noticed a foot. Same foot I'd seen back at Zabro's. And peculiarly enough, the same Corpse was attached to it. Uncles. I was bending over to take a closer look when I felt a thud. Realized that thud was the sound of something hitting my head. And I began to realize too, that I'd been knocked almost unconscious, which the second blow did. I can't understand where my uncle is, Mr. Wolf. His staying away so late is unusual. Then? Of course it is. Which reminds me, Archie's been gone for several hours. Yeah. Where did he go? Mr. Wolf, look about. Were you in the hot house, Mr. I? No, I was packing some plants. You, Ms. Hanson? Well, after I brought your beer, I went upstairs and rested for a while. Why? Because if either of you harmed Archie, I shall personally murder you. Oh, Mr. Wolf, come on, we got to find the boy. Why should either of us want to harm him? Because he probably found your uncle's body. His body? What are you. I don't understand. Mr. Hansen has been murdered. Oh, Enid. Enid. Oh, stop there, Ms. Hansen. You're perfectly healthy, young woman. There's no reason for you to swoon. Now look here, you. Besides, I rather suspect she lost no love for him. Am I right, Ms. Hansen? He. He was my uncle. You're aware of the fact he opposed your marriage to Ms. Odd here? That's none of your business. Which means he did oppose it, Mr. Aunt. Mr. Hanson was a friend of mine. I intend to find the murderer after I find his body. Shows a lack of proper respect to transport a corpse about the countryside. Come, both of you. We must find Archie. This whole thing's like a nightmare. If you can't wake up from it, let's go on with the same. Oh, look there on the ground. I'll see if he's all right. Why, this is fantastic. Mr. Hanson stabbed to death, and now Goodwin. He's just been stunned. Thank heavens he's. He's coming too. Oh, I died. Oh, correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm dead. Archie. Archie, speak to me. Oh, I went to heaven. Are you all right, Arjun? All the other place. Ah. Get up. Sure, if somebody will hold my head. Oh, are we having an earthquake? You poor boy. Take my army. I'll take both. Louie. He's normal. What happened, Archie? Somebody hit me when I wasn't looking. Yeah, why? I don't know. Oh, yes, I remember. Yes, I found uncle lying right there. Right there. The poor boy's delirious. Don't tell me he's gone again. I'm afraid he has. Archie, are you sure you saw it? I'm positive. And then somebody slugged me that corpse is the shyest one I've ever met. Blood would have dried. There'll be no signs of his having been placed here. Bad? Why? Your testimony would be valueless. Especially since you were found unconscious. The jury would suspect you of having hit the bottle. Why didn't we stay the night? I'm a sick man. Enid would have nursed me. Ah, you're not sick. And I won't have you taking advantage of that girl. In my condition, I couldn't have. But maybe she would have taken advantage of me. Is that what they call it in your day? Stop the car. Okay, here we go. Oh, I can manage. Don't. I'm not entirely helpless. Place is closed. Dark. I was afraid it might be. Don't tell me Zabra's gone. Traveling too. Possibility, Archie. Mean he killed Hanson to cancel the dead. He Odom. Then followed us out to the country house and dumped Hanson there, hoping to depend suspicion on Eden and John. Hans. Uh huh. Slugged me when I found the body. Too soon. And then. Guess we better get into the joint. George Luck. A guy I know got out of jail the other day. He's reformed. So he gave me all his skeleton keys. You have them with you? Mm. We'll find out in a minute just how good a burglar he was. Mmm, Very good. Will you come in? Shut the door. Okay. Now. What's that? Somebody's been hurt. The lights? Nothing up front here. Back of the store where the exhibits are. I'll go see. Maybe you better stay here. Nonsense. Where? Oh, among the lies again. But this time there are two bodies there. Sabr. Where? Got you. Mr. Zabro. Mr. Z. He's been shot, boss. Bad. He's trying to say something. L. Yes, yes, we know about him. Who shot you? From the window? Alleyway. I mean the Zabra who inherit money. Inherit? Down, Mr. Wolf, quick. Somebody shooting from that window. Haji. All in one piece. Are you all right? Yes. That guy. It's gone. Brought the body here. And Zabra? He couldn't duck. He's dead. Yes, Police, boss. This time we've got more than a fern leaf smeared with blood to show them. Not yet, Archie. I prefer handing the murderer over to them along with the victims. I'm going home. Archie, get Ms. Hansen and Mr. Aunt there as soon as you can. Well, suppose they don't want to come knock them unconscious and drag them there? Not Enid, boss. Enid's. Hey, what Zabro said about inheriting. Don't anticipate, Archie. When you get them to my office, we'll identify the murderer then. Mr. Wolf, don't you think this is all a little high handed? Dragging us here in the middle of the night? Murder is even more high handed, Mr. Aunt, please. John. Ms. Hansen, do you inherit? Well, I guess so. I'm Uncle's only relative, so I suppose. Wait a minute, Enid. Mr. Wolf, are you suggesting that she had anything to do with this invisible corpse? The corpse is no longer invisible, Mr. Hunt. You seen Uncle? Yes, dead in Zabra's establishment. Lying with a knife in his back in his own orchid display. Now you're trying to pin something on me. You know I set up that orchid display. Indeed, the police will be interested in that information. But he wasn't found in the orchids. He was. Yes, Ms. Dunn, he was found Where? I don't know. You were about to say the lily display, weren't you? I wasn't going to say anything. You're a little late. You already informed us that you knew his body was not placed in the orchid display. How did you know? I just guessed. Jury will be very much impressed by your remarkable clairvoyance. Especially since. Archie. Ask Mr. Zabro to come in. Mr. Zabro. Okay, don't bother, Goodwin. John, the gun. Shut up, you little fool. Enid's a big girl. I don't know how you tumbled, Wolf. Lucky guessing maybe. Oh, come now, neither of us has indulged in guesswork. You killed Hanson, placed his body in the lily display to attract suspicion towards Ms. Hansen. You felt sure she wouldn't be convicted, so you were safe. She would inherit, you would marry her. A marriage which your uncle opposed. When you saw that Archie had discovered the body. Too early for you to establish an alibi for yourself. Then he sneaked the body out of the window into his car and then dumped it in the hot house. The time. Go on, Mr. Wolfe. He didn't intend it to be discovered there, which was why he knocked you unconscious. Oh, I'm so glad. He had a good reason for it. He had a body on his hands. He decided to double back, put the body in its original place and carry through his plan. But Zabro caught him at it. Both of them. I thought Zabra was in the other room. Lost you, you fool. You think I too am addicted to carrying corpses about? Zabro is dead and you've given yourself away unnecessarily. Archie. All right, Archie, quick, let go. Evil. I've got his arm, I'll give him mine with a fist attached. Very satisfactory, Archie. Now call the police, inform them you have Two corpses and a murderer for them. You should have heard Mr. Arndt's language, boss, when the police took him away. Oh, I don't think he loves you. I don't think it matters anymore. It used to to me. Growing pain. You'll get over him as Hansen. You trapped him, Mr. Wolf. But what made you so sure he did it? At the hot house when you were unconscious? Archie. Mr. Aunt deplored the fact that Mr. Hansen had been stabbed in the back. No one had mentioned how he was killed. Therefore, the reason Aunt knew was because he himself had killed Mr. Hansen. Murderers seldom get away with it, no matter how tightly they button their lips. Well, mine, however, are not buttoned up. Archie. Oh, the beer is on your desk. Thank you, Ms. Hansen. Stop brooding. Try some of this beer. Mr. Wolf. My. My heart's broken. The man who's lived a good many years. Ms. Hansen, permit me to assure you that the easiest way of mending a broken heart is by filling the stomach. You have been listening to the new adventures of Nero Wolf, starring Sydney Green Street. Tonight's transcribed story was based on the characters created by Rex Stout. This is an Edwin Fadiman program produced and directed by J. Donald Wilson. In the cast were Larry Dobkin as Archie Goodwin and Gigi Pearson, Jay Novello, Herb Butterfield and Byron Kane. Next week at this same time, Nero Wolf and Archie will bring you the case of the deadly sellout. Don Stanley speaking. Three chimes mean good times on NBC. Friday means another visit with that entertaining eating establishment, Duffy's Tavern. William Gargan stars as Barry Craig, confidential investigator. I wonder if murderers, like other people, worry about their income taxes when they make a killing. For example, do they always report it? Or do they just list their victims under buried assets? The National Broadcasting Company presents William Gargan in another transcribed drama of mystery and adventure with America's number one detective, Barry Craig. Confidential investigator Barry Craig speaking. I'd been to a movie. It was about a private eye who pinned a wreath on a murderer. After an hour and a half of swallowing dry martinis, wrestling amorously with youthful blondes and wearing a succession of the best press suits ever seen off a table. Taylor's dummy, I decided to walk home. I wondered if there was a special license that a plain investigator like me could get that would make me like martinis and make blondes like me. It was close to one in the morning. The air was raw and cold with the tang of metal in it you get in New York. The afternoon slush had hardened to ice underneath your feet and I decided you'd probably need more than a license when I saw her halfway up the block. An apartment house lobby spilled some light out into the street. Enough light so I could see that she was young, redheaded, with that pale, almost transparent skin. Redhead? Sometimes have. The guy with her had his back to me. It was an old scene. He was probably making a play for a nightcap up in her apartment. She shook her head and moved into the doorway. He moved after, maybe for a good night kiss. It was none of my business. I started walking. He must have tried for more than a kiss and wound up with a slap in the face. He came stumbling backwards out of the doorway, hit the ice on the pavement and went down. I heard the door slam behind her. Either she hadn't noticed him fall or she didn't care. He wasn't moving when I got to him. A pavement can be pretty hard when you slap it with the back of your head. I tried shaking him, but he wasn't playing. I lifted his head, thinking maybe that might help bring him to. And then I eased it back onto the pavement. I couldn't be sure if the skull was broken, but by that time I was sure of something else. He quit breathing. Not a nice way to wind up a date with a pretty redhead. I thought she might want another about it. There were a dozen names on the bellboard in the small lobby. Any one of them could have belonged to the redhead. I pushed the supers button. I tried the inside door. It was locked. A well run apartment house. Supers probably need their sleep as much as anybody, but they frequently don't get it. Now what do you want? I'm sorry I had to wake you. There's been a small accident. What kind of an accident? Somebody slipped on the ice in front of the building. What are you, a lawyer? No. Nobody could have slipped in front of the building. I put plenty of ashes on the ice. It ain't slippery. Well, come on and look for yourself. Okay, but if you think you got a case. I don't know the man. It's none of my business. Well, if he thinks he's come on and he's not thinking of suing anybody, maybe he ain't. But if you've been a super as long as I have, you know they're always looking for a chance to stick an insurance near. Still think he's looking for anything? Why the. The guy's dead, ain't he? Yeah. Well that's terrible, huh? Better call the police. Tell them to send an ambulance down too. On the Chance, we're not such good diagnosticians. Okay, sure. And while you're doing that, I. I might as well break the news to the redhead, huh? He'd brought her home, said goodnight to her when it happened. You mean some girl in this building? Yeah, maybe 20. Pale skin, red hair, pretty. You. You couldn't mistake her, mister. Maybe you couldn't, but there ain't no girl like that living in this building. The skin on my back crawled a bit when he let me have it. Then I shrugged it off. Maybe she was staying with some people in the building. The super wouldn't have to know about that. Maybe. Yes, Officer. He's laying out in front just like he fell. Yeah, well, there's some guy here who's seen it. Name's Craig. Yeah, we ain't tried moving him. Okay, Officer. Well, I'll be right over. Good. About that redhead. Look, I've been super here for seven years. I know every family in this building. They all been here for years. Well, she might be staying with one of them. There was some burglaries in the neighborhood the last couple of weeks. I checked on all the door keys. Today there was nobody staying with nobody. Well, it might have been a sudden. She wouldn't have had no key. She didn't have to have one. She could have pushed a button and. No. No, huh? I was too close. She'd had to wait for somebody to click the door catch down in the lobby. I'd have seen her. Maybe she ducked out again. So what does that mean? I don't know what it means, except maybe it's going to be quite a while before she finds out what happened to her date. It didn't take long for the police to arrive for the ambulance. They move pretty fast. They always do. They've had experience. And on this trip they also had Lieutenant Rogers of Homicide. Barry. Yeah, Lieutenant? You're not curious enough. The police doctor said the guy was dead, didn't he? He's dead. What should I be curious about? About why I came down on an accident case. I figured maybe it was on account of your college education. What would that have to do with it? I wouldn't know. I never went to college. You're being a big help. What do you want me to be helpful about? I came down because when the report came in, your name was mentioned. So you decided I was involved? Aren't you? No. You've got my story. Yeah. You just happen to be walking. You just happen to notice the redhead and the corpse and so on. That's right. It's hard to believe. Why? Because I'm an investigator. I don't have a right to witness an accident. Not an accident. That happened to Water Ball in Bali. That's the corpse? That's the corpse. I've heard the name before. Sure you have. Waller Bali's a big man, or was. In the Midwest. In New York, he's just dead. It could be a coincidence. He came here to collect the debt. Owed by who? He'd run a string of boogie joints here for years. He sold out maybe six months ago, went to Detroit. But he had trouble getting paid, so he came back. You never get paid now. Who'd he sell out to? We've got a couple of guesses. Any names attached? Mark Wheeler, Joe Carson. Neither of them are redheads. No. Barry, the boys went through the building. No redheads on the premises. It's a pity. I've got a thought, though. Yeah? Let's take a walk through the building. All right. Any particular direction? Yeah, along the hallway here. Should lead to the back door. Oh. Which should be locked. Well, let's see. What is it? The super is going to have to do some explaining. There have been burglaries. The super is okay. Take a look at the lock. The lock? It's been forced. Yeah, that's happy news. For local locksmith, perhaps, but where does it fit in? I don't know. Might tell us how the girl got out of the building. But that's not the problem, is it? It's how she got in that bothers me. How much does it bother you? Not much, I guess. Because it still remains an accident, doesn't it? Walter Bali went to the morgue with Lieutenant Rogers, went back to headquarters and Barry Craig bought a drink. Here's your poison, Craig. Thanks. Say, Mac. Yeah? Suppose a man had an opinion about a horse, where would he go to do something about it? There's a cigar store on 3rd. The owner would be glad to listen to your opinions. Or the clerk over at the Armstrong Hotel. No, no, no. That's for small opinions. I've got a king size opinion. Real big. Tell you, Craig, I wouldn't be surprised if you was to get a phone call first thing tomorrow. Well, better be too late. I get nervous carrying big bills around. Who knows? I might lose them before morning. Say, Craig, there's a new hotspot opened over on the west side. Someplace in the 40s, I think they call it the Three Aces. Got a wonderful floor show. Three Aces. Carson would be one Wheeler. Another could be the third. If I bend to One doctor I bend to a dozen. Never did me any good though. Some days I can't hear a thing. Okay, Mac. Doesn't matter much about that third ace anyway. He's been trumped. The three aces was over on the west side. Someplace in the 40s they weren't letting the knight die without a struggle. Everything is satisfactory, sir. Sure, except for one thing. I'm lonely. I'd like to have a man to man conversation with someone. Someone named Joe Carson, say. Or maybe Mark Wheeler. I'd even talk to Walter Borley. I'm very sorry, sir, but I've never heard of. Ever seen one of these before. Well, pretty shade of green, isn't it? Nice picture of Andrew Jackson on it. Go on, have a good look. Oh, thank you, sir. You're welcome. I. I will see if one of the gentlemen you mentioned happens to be around. You do that. Yes, sir. Mind if I sit down? No. How do you like the floor show? Not bad. One of these nights I'll come back and look at the floor. That's very funny. So. So. The waiter tells me you wanted words with my partner or me. The waiter's right. You wanted those words. Quite a few bucks worth. I figured it was the only way I'd get them. I don't like to see men throw money away. I'm Carson Fine. Speaking of floss shows, one of the regular girls is out tonight, isn't she? Which one? Well, we never got around to throwing names, but she describes easy, around 20, red headed, with a very white skin. Yeah, now you mention it. She's not working the show tonight. Too bad. I was looking forward to seeing her. Well, that can be arranged. Well, arrange it. Okay. Only one thing. Yeah? She might not be in the right mood. See that door next to the bandstand? Yeah, I see it. If she's in the right mood, somebody will open it for you. Thanks. Don't mention. Took him maybe five minutes to find out if the girl was in the right mood. If that's what he was finding out either way. At the end of five minutes, the door next to the bandstand swung open. Somebody outside the door had done the swinging. I didn't have a chance to see who. I wasn't sure that I was playing it the right way, but I couldn't think of anything else. Nobody paid any attention to me. I crossed to the door and looked through it. The little I could see was a stretch of dirty hallway. But if you're confidential intelligence investigator, you're not too fastidious. I walk through the doorway and shut the door behind me. And turn, but not fast enough. Back to Barry Craig in just a moment. And now back to William Gargan, starring as Barry Craig, confidential investigator. I didn't know how far I'd gone and how long I'd been away. But it took a while coming back. And even then I didn't try opening my eyes or moving my head. I had a feeling it was going to hurt. You had him sapped. Why? Luck. Wheeler. He came here asking for us. He fed me a phony routine about a redhead with white skin. Nina? Yeah, Nina being part of the floor show. I don't care. You don't know all of it yet. I've been through his pockets. You know who he is? Look, Carson. A private eye named Craig. Now, what would you have wanted me to do? Invite him in to go over our books? That might have been safer than what you did do, huh? I just got a call from one of the newspaper boys down at headquarters. Morley was brought in a few minutes ago. Barley at headquarters wasn't his idea. The department they took him to was the morgue. I don't believe. You sure of this? I'm sure of it. Well, what's bad with that news? It ain't no secret he'd come to town to collect off us. Him dead. Who do you think the cops are gonna be looking for? Maybe I shouldn't have started nothing with this character here. But wait a minute. When did Bali get it? Round one. It's two now. If what you handed me is true, the cops should have already been visiting. According to what the press was told, Borley died in an accident. So what are we worrying about? Cops have handed out phony releases before. I don't get it. Either you want to make trouble or. Or you know better than the press. Where were you around 1 o'? Clock? That's a funny question coming from you. What do you care? Forget it. Maybe I'm getting jumpy, but how does this guy fit in? And Nina? Nina ain't been around the club all night. Which means she don't fit in him. I dunno. Maybe he heard about Bali too. I've been thinking of that. Maybe we don't take no chances on. Maybe he's out cold. Never know what. Okay, Carson, get a couple of the boys in. Now you're talking. Sure I'm talking. But it could be talking myself into the chair. So far I've been doing fine with the my eyes shut. But that wouldn't last much longer. Carson's boys would Be glad to shut them again for me if I opened them at the wrong time. So I had to open them at the right time. Keep an eye on Sonny boy. Yeah, Sonny boy. Pretty soon, no Sonny boy. Wheeler was the nervous type. Floor pacer. Seven steps to the door, about turn. Seven steps to the desk, about turn. And the same routine repeated. The time he gave me a quick look was when he passed me on the way to the door. On the fourth step, the fifth step would have to be my play. It would have to be fast and reasonably quiet. But how fast I could get off the floor, I didn't know I'd find out. Step to the disc, turn. Now back. The fifth step. Remember. 2, 3, 4, 5. That's my forearm locked around your throat. Things you learn in the army. Increase the pressure, Announce Wheeler, and that's all. Want a broken neck? That's nice. Now turn the gun around in your hand. Hold it by the barrel. Yeah? Poke it backwards toward me. That's the way. Thanks. Gun butts make a funny sound, hitting a man's head. I didn't stop to laugh like mad. Carson and a couple of pals will be dropping in at any minute. There was a window behind the desk. I could have stopped to raise it, but I was in a hurry. And besides, I wasn't anxious to save a penny for the three aces. So I went through it fast and wasteful. The alley wasn't any cleaner than the hallway had been, but it was darker and it didn't lead to a dead well. Lieutenant Rogers. What? Oh, hello, Barry. I hope I'm not intruding. That's a nice hope. I need a little help. In a lot of hurry. Important? I don't know. It could be. Even a giraffe couldn't stick out as much neck for you as I do. All right. We're in a hurry with a police escort to get where? The three aces. One's been trumped. But the game's not over yet. The men have got their instructions. Front and back of the club's covered. We go in, if you don't mind. I don't mind. Three. Three aces. Yeah. Good evening, gent. Yeah, I'm back again. I brought company with me, though. Lieutenant Rogers, homicide. I save it for your lawyer. Take us to the office. I will ring. No, no. We want a personal guide. That way we can be sure it'll be a surprise. Move, huh? Yes, sir. That quiet authority always gets them. Ah, the badge. Don't be modest. Couple of square inches of tin. Isn't that impressive? I. I don't know what Mr. Wheeler will. Nobody passed the law. You have to know anything. Now. Knock, knock. If a man answers, tell him you're checking the wine list or something. Yes, sir. Open the door. No. Yeah. I'll explain the reason why to you. Anybody inside has the idea trouble's coming and is preparing to blow down anyone in the doorway. You'll be the one. I won't. Sure you will. All right, Mr. Wheeler. Pull up a buster. That's Wheeler. Yeah, we met earlier. I had the pleasure of knocking him down with the butt of a gun. He got up? Yeah. Sat down behind his desk and proceeded to blow his brains out. Looks that way. But I'm stupid. What do you mean? I don't know why he killed himself. You'd escaped. He knew you'd come to the police. He was throwing the bookie racket. He still had a skin. His own boys like that are very fond of their skin. It'll be a hard thing to prove anything. Looks like suicide. Sure. Just like Borley's passing on. Looked like accident. It was an accident. No, Trav, not an accident at all. The police guard around the club got us nothing but a handful of small crooks. Carson was conspicuously among those missing. We asked lots of people for his home address and lots of people didn't know it. We got the whole department on it. Barry. They'll turn him up. Maybe. Maybe not. He couldn't have made it out of the city. He didn't have to. Meaning? The setup back at the club goes for suicide. You will never be able to prove otherwise. As for the accident that you call murder, there's only one way you can tie him to it. The girl. We did dig up a name for her. Nina West. Pretty name. Pretty girl. Right now, very possibly a dead girl. You can't be sure. Put yourself in Carson's place. She's the one who can send him to the chair. With her dead, you've got nothing. Not even. And get this trap. Not even a motive that would stand up in court for his killing her. I went out and took a look at what had happened to the night. The sky was getting lighter. Winter sun would be sneaking over the tops of the buildings in an hour or two. Not handing out much warmth, but a promise. Anyway, I started walking. I didn't try to think because the only thoughts I had on tap weren't very pleasant. Nina west wasn't the kind of girl your mother hoped you'd marry. But she was young, pretty. I didn't think she'd known what was going to happen to her date. If she'd lived, maybe someday she'd have walked into my office in the old building on Madison Avenue and asked me to find a lost dog for her. And suddenly walking wasn't fast enough for me. I needed a cab fast. I needed to go someplace fast. Only a hunch, but it was the one chance we had. The one chance Nina west had if she'd gone where I had to get to within minutes. My office. Hang around. I might need you. I didn't bother with the elevator. I use the stairs. They're faster. Sounded good to me. The hunch. Say the girl hadn't known what Carson was letting her in for. She found out late. Volley, already dead, slowed down, heading down the hallway to the office. Might be smarter not to announce an arrival. She'd have realized she was in trouble. Gone home. No Carson knew where that was. But I'd barged into the club. Carson was busy with me. She might have heard him use my name. Maybe. Maybe she'd think of my office, because a girl like that wouldn't go to the police. Lights were on in the office. I hadn't left them on. Someone was inside. Someone or a couple of someone. Carson tried her home, found her out. Tried half a dozen other places she might have gone that he knew of, and then wound up with the same conclusion I had. There was no way to play it fancy, which was just as well. I'm not the fancy type. I hit the door hard and went to the floor. She screamed, but the shots drowned her out. I wound up against the desk, tossing to one side of me. The girl cut between us and got the bullet cost it meant for me. He didn't have another try. No, don't. I'll drop it. See? Thanks. The rest is going to be for the fun of. Didn't last very long. He dropped his hands. You can't hit even a Carson with his hands down unless you're a Carson yourself. I didn't qualify. We got a deposition from her before she went into surgery. Carson's all washed up, Barry. But the kids got a good chance. Fine. He had it laid out beautifully. Nina was told of Bali. Take her home to the building where you saw them for a gag, Carson told him. Carson broke into the building through the back door and was waiting in the lobby with the inside door propped open. He slugged Borley across the back of the head hard enough to break the skull. Pushed him backwards. Then he and the girl scrammed through the back door. The perfect murder. Except for what, Barry? The ashes on the sidewalk. For one thing, Paulie couldn't have slipped on the ice. The other thing, the girl got into the building. Only one way. Somebody had to be waiting there to let her in. That made the word accident smell. Let's go home, huh? Sure. Hey, look, came the door. Foreign you have been listening to William Gargan in another exciting transcribed mystery drama from the Adventures of Barry Craig, Confidential Investigator. Foreign you can find more from Nero Wolf, Barry Craig, Case Closed and all of the Relic Radio podcasts at the website relicradio.com. you can find newer podcasts on Spotify, search for Relic Radio Network or click on the Spotify link in the Show Notes. And if you'd like to help support Case Closed and all of the Relic radio shows, visit donate. Relicradio.com or click on one of the support links. Thanks to those who have helped out. Thanks for joining me this week. Be back again next Wednesday with another hour of Case Closed.