30 Minutes to Curtain 1983-08-31 The Body in Bixby Slough

Summary

Podcast Summary: "30 Minutes to Curtain" Episode – The Body in Bixby Slough

Podcast Information:

• Title: Harold's Old Time Radio
• Host/Author: Harold's Old Time Radio
• Description: Explores radio shows from the Golden Age of Radio, featuring classic series such as The Shadow, Abbott & Costello, Amos & Andy, Dragnet, and more.
• Episode: 30 Minutes to Curtain (1983-08-31) – The Body in Bixby Slough
• Release Date: July 30, 2025

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Introduction to the Story

The Body in Bixby Slough, written and directed by Herbert D. Schmidt, Jr., transports listeners to 1938 Los Angeles, immersing them in a classic detective narrative centered around the gritty private eye, Burt Winslow. This episode combines elements of mystery, adventure, and noir, capturing the essence of the era before television became the dominant medium.

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Main Plot Overview

Burt Winslow’s Investigation Begins

The story opens with Burt Winslow, a hard-bitten private investigator haunted by his past as a police officer who was ousted for challenging corrupt politicians. At the local diner [01:19], Burt interacts with Maisie, the waitress, highlighting his tormented state and determination:

Burt Winslow [01:21]: "My head feels like Hank Greenberg just bounced it off the wall."

Burt learns about the recent murder of his old friend, former police detective Nicholas Jackson [02:25]. The body was discovered in Bixby Slough, raising questions about Jackson's untimely death and potential motives behind it.

Reconnecting with Charlie Brandt

Burt reaches out to Charlie Brandt, the only good cop he knew in Hollywood, seeking assistance [04:00]. Through their conversation, it's revealed that Jackson had left the force to run a charter fishing boat and was romantically involved with Nancy Peterson, a woman working at a shooting gallery [04:25]. The mysterious circumstances surrounding Jackson's death deepen Burt's resolve to uncover the truth.

Encounter with Nancy Peterson

Burt meets Nancy Peterson [05:55], Jackson's girlfriend, who provides fragmented information about Jackson's activities and hints at his conflicts with an oil company, Pathfinder [06:07]. Nancy's evasiveness and the mention of an oil lease [07:10] add layers of complexity to the case, suggesting possible ties to larger, more sinister forces.

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Key Moments and Developments

Nightmare and Betrayal

After an unsettling encounter at the Ellington Hotel [10:02], Burt experiences a vivid nightmare, reflecting his inner turmoil and the dangers he faces [10:02 – 12:10]. This sequence signifies the increasing peril as Burt delves deeper into the investigation, feeling the pressure from both corrupt elements and his own haunted past.

Confrontation at the Ellington Hotel

Determined to gather more clues, Burt revisits the Ellington Hotel with renewed determination [12:59]. Here, he interacts with Brandy, a waitress, and Eddie Leach, a former associate with questionable dealings [15:46]. The tension escalates as Burt’s probing threatens Eddie’s hidden gambling operations, culminating in a violent confrontation where Burt kills Eddie Leach [21:57 – 22:18]. This pivotal moment marks a turning point, revealing the extent of corruption and the personal cost of Burt's quest for justice.

Final Revelation with Nancy Peterson

Burt returns to Nancy Peterson’s residence [24:32], where he confronts her with the truth about Eddie Leach and the real circumstances of Jackson's death [25:30 – 26:23]. A dramatic exchange unveils that Nancy, under duress from Eddie, was forced to kill Jackson, intertwining love, loyalty, and coercion. The climax sees Burt grappling with the moral complexities of his actions and the corrupt world he inhabits.

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Character Insights

• Burt Winslow: The quintessential noir detective, Burt is portrayed as a deeply flawed yet determined investigator. His internal struggle and relentless pursuit of truth drive the narrative forward. His interactions reveal a man haunted by his past yet unyielding in his quest for justice.

  Burt Winslow [06:00]: "Murder isn't logical, it's brutal."

• Charlie Brandt: Representing the honest cop archetype, Charlie is Burt’s ally who offers insights and assistance. Despite the challenges posed by inter-jurisdictional conflicts and corruption, Charlie remains a moral compass for Burt.

• Nancy Peterson: A complex character torn between love and coercion, Nancy embodies the tragic femme fatale archetype. Her relationship with both Jackson and Eddie Leach adds emotional depth and moral ambiguity to the story.

• Eddie Leach: Serving as the antagonist, Eddie is a corrupt gambling boss whose actions drive the central conflict. His demise at Burt's hands underscores the theme of retribution and the blurred lines between right and wrong.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Burt Winslow on Corruption:

  Burt Winslow [01:37]: "I'll always be a sucker for jasmine and a jolted gin. And now that I'm a private investigator, I got time between jobs to get angry about this town, L.A. city of Angels."

• Burt’s Reflection on Murder:

  Burt Winslow [07:34]: "Murder isn't logical, it's brutal. Little Frenchman with pencil thin mustaches musing over logic problems."

• Nancy’s Confession:

  Nancy Peterson [25:15]: "He didn't, Nancy. His money did."

• Burt’s Confrontation with Eddie:

  Burt Winslow [21:19]: "I don't know. I just know that's not the way it happened."

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Themes and Insights

Corruption and Morality: The episode delves into the pervasive corruption within law enforcement and business, illustrating how power and greed can distort justice. Burt's battle against these forces highlights the moral ambiguities inherent in his role as a private investigator.

Isolation and Redemption: Burt’s journey is marked by isolation, both self-imposed and as a result of his ostracization from the police force. His relentless pursuit of Jackson’s killer serves as a path toward personal redemption, even as it leads him deeper into darkness.

Love and Coercion: Nancy Peterson’s dual relationships with Jackson and Eddie reveal the complexities of love under duress. Her eventual confession underscores the destructive impact of manipulative power on personal relationships.

The Grim Reality of Noir: True to the noir genre, the story presents a bleak view of humanity, where good and evil are not clearly defined, and the protagonist must navigate a morally grey landscape.

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Conclusion

The Body in Bixby Slough encapsulates the essence of Golden Age radio dramas, blending suspense, intricate character dynamics, and a richly atmospheric setting. Through Burt Winslow’s quest for truth, listeners are immersed in a tale of betrayal, moral conflict, and the relentless pursuit of justice against insurmountable odds. The episode concludes with unresolved tensions, leaving listeners yearning for the next installment in what promises to be a riveting series.

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Production Credits

• Writer/Director: Herbert D. Schmidt Jr.
• Producer: Steve Jelly
• Technical Staff: C.R. Bryan III, Roy Scott
• Sound Patterns: John Greifendorf, Phil Campbell, Barbara Watkins
• Cast: Ed Hayes, Marianne Strossner, Frank Finn, Jerry Goldstein, Jeanette and Stan Rayburn, Gloria Frank, David Tierney, Dave Smith, Bob Lyons, R.F. Clancy

Join us next week for another captivating episode of 30 Minutes to Curtain on Harold's Old Time Radio.

Transcript

[Narrator]

30 minutes to curtain. Yes, it's 30 minutes to curtain. Bringing you a weekly half hour of radio entertainment. Each week at this time we bring you mystery, comedy, adventure, romance, fantasy and fun. This week in our premiere, stand by for mystery and adventure as we take you to 1938 Los Angeles and a classic detective story with that hard bitten private eye, Burt Winslow, in a story written and directed by Herbert D. Schmidt, Jr. The body in Bixby Slough. And now, here's the play.

[Maisie]

Hi, Burke.

[Waitress]

What'll it be?

[Burt Winslow]

Usual, Maisie, and turn down the noise. My head feels like Hank Greenberg just bounced it off the wall. And Nevin feels.

[Waitress]

One bowl of chili, one cup of coffee coming up.

[Burt Winslow]

Don't forget the Dail.

[Waitress]

You think you can read it?

[Burt Winslow]

Oh, I can look at the pictures.

[Waitress]

You'll never learn, will you, Burt?

[Eddie Leach]

No.

[Burt Winslow]

Maisie was right, you know. I'll always be a sucker for jasmine and a jolted gin. And now that I'm a private investigator, I got time between jobs to get angry about this town, L.A. city of Angels. What a laugh. I'd been driven off the force because I tried to take down a politician with his hand in the pockets of the simple, hard working citizen. They stuck me behind a desk, hoping I'd quit. And I did. But I never forgot. I don't push easy. No, Maisie, I'll never learn. And some people in this town are gonna be sorry. I don't.

[Waitress]

Here's your coffee. I'll have your chili in a minute.

[Burt Winslow]

Thanks, Maisie.

[Waitress]

Say, did you see the story in the paper about the ex cop that was killed down in Wilmington?

[Burt Winslow]

No. Where?

[Waitress]

Page three.

[Burt Winslow]

I know Wilmington pretty well. I never heard of the Page three.

[Waitress]

You're really suffering, friend. I'm talking about the paper.

[Burt Winslow]

Oh, yeah, here it is. The body of a former Los Angeles police detective was found in Bixby Slough near Wilmington, Friday morning. Lt. Charles Brand at the San Pedro station said Nicholas Jackson, 38, had been shot in the head with a small caliber weapon. Investigating officers suspected the victim had been murdered elsewhere and the body dumped where it was found near the corner of Normandy and Vermont avenues.

[Waitress]

Didn't you know him?

[Burt Winslow]

Yeah. Yeah, I knew Nick Jackson. Here's a buck, hun. Keep the change. I gotta go.

[Waitress]

Hey, what'll I do with the chili?

[Burt Winslow]

Call the fire department. I'll see you later. I drove west on 10th street, past Earl C. Anthony's Packet Agency and then turned south on Figaro and headed for Wilmington and San Pedro. Last night's drunk slowly vanished into memory. I hadn't Seen Nick Jackson in 10 years? He stayed on bikes when I was sent downtown. Then he, too, became a civilian. I never found out why. Maybe he couldn't stand working with crooked cops. We had worked well together. In fact, he was the best partner I ever had. I'd known Charlie Brandt, too. He was the only good cop in Hollywood. That's why they sent him to Pedro. By the time I drove past Exposition Park, I'd already decided there wouldn't be any expense account on this case. Nick and I had let 10 years pass, and I was sorry we had. It was time for me to pay a long overdue debt to Nick Jackson. Come on in. Hello, Charlie. Hello, Bert. Long time no see. How have you been? No complaints other than occasional morning headaches.

[Charlie Brandt]

What do you need?

[Burt Winslow]

I'm going after Nick Jackson's killer, Charlie, and I need your help.

[Charlie Brandt]

Well, a nursery man called us yesterday morning. His kid had been playing down at Bixby Slough. The kid and his friends found the body when we got there. We found Jackson and a recent set of tire tracks. Nothing else. He'd been shot and then dumped.

[Burt Winslow]

How was he dressed?

[Charlie Brandt]

Better than most. Had a suit on, no rips. Didn't look like he'd been in a fight.

[Burt Winslow]

What's he been doing since he left the force?

[Charlie Brandt]

At a small charter fishing boat. He ran out of Long Beach. He was seeing a little girl who works the shooting gallery at the Pike. A blonde, name of Nancy Peterson.

[Burt Winslow]

Anything else?

[Charlie Brandt]

Well, he had a little place on Ops street in Wilmington. Lived alone, drank a little, played the ponies. Nothing out of the ordinary.

[Burt Winslow]

What about the weapon?

[Charlie Brandt]

The examiner dug a.25 caliber slug out.

[Burt Winslow]

Of the back of his skull.25 caliber. That's the kind of toy a woman carries. Nor a guy who doesn't want a.

[Charlie Brandt]

Bulge showing under his coat.

[Burt Winslow]

Yeah. Listen, Charlie, I'm going to check on the girl. You can reach me in Long beach at the Wilton if anything else turns up. Sure.

[Charlie Brandt]

But do me a favor, Bert. As much as I like you, I know you come on pretty strong sometimes. Stay out of trouble and keep in touch.

[Burt Winslow]

I hear you, but I owe Nick. Don't get in my way, Charlie.

[Charlie Brandt]

I'll call you.

[Burt Winslow]

Thanks. As I rode the ferry to Terminal Island, I thought that Charlie looked awfully weary. Maybe I'd been lucky quitting the force when I did. Nick had been lucky, too, until a couple of days ago. And I knew that out there, somebody else thought he was lucky. But his luck was going to run out. And I was going to be there when it did. Nancy Peterson?

[Nancy Peterson]

Yes.

[Burt Winslow]

My name's Winslow. I was a friend of Nick's.

[Nancy Peterson]

You're a little late, Mr. Winslow.

[Burt Winslow]

I know you're upset, but I'm a private op, Ms. Peterson, and I want to find Nick's killer.

[Nancy Peterson]

You think you're the only one?

[Burt Winslow]

Are you going to help me or trying to win a debate now? I don't have time to score points. My rhetoric's a shade on a disagreeable side.

[Nancy Peterson]

I'm sorry, Mr. Winslow. I've answered too many questions today. I didn't mean to snap at you.

[Burt Winslow]

Tell me what you know about Nick.

[Nancy Peterson]

Not a lot. I only met him a few months ago. He's taking me to Santa Anita, to the Coconut Grove.

[Waitress]

We've been out on his fishing boat.

[Nancy Peterson]

When he wasn't running a charter. And I've been to his place in Wilmington. He treated me nice. I liked him.

[Burt Winslow]

How'd you meet?

[Nancy Peterson]

He came by the gallery here.

[Burt Winslow]

He was a good shot.

[Nancy Peterson]

Took me out after work that night.

[Burt Winslow]

When was the last time you saw him?

[Nancy Peterson]

About three days ago. We went to Colorado Lagoon for the day at a picnic on the sand. Later he took me home, said he'd call me. He never did.

[Burt Winslow]

Did you ever meet any of his friends?

[Nancy Peterson]

Couple of guys he knew at the track. That's about it.

[Burt Winslow]

Nobody else?

[Nancy Peterson]

He liked being alone with me. Mr. Winslow? No, nobody else.

[Burt Winslow]

Well, that doesn't tell me very much. And call me Bert.

[Nancy Peterson]

Nick mentioned that he'd been having some trouble with an oil company, a Pathfinder, I think, over at Community Oil Lease. If they got his property, they had the 75% they needed to drill the block. Could that mean anything?

[Burt Winslow]

I don't know. I've never enjoyed the luxury of being a property owner, but I'll check on it.

[Nancy Peterson]

Call me if you hear anything. Please, spirit, My number is 62385.

[Burt Winslow]

Got it. And if you remember anything else, you can get in touch with me at the Wilton.

[Nancy Peterson]

Don't worry, I will. And be careful. Berth.

[Waitress]

Thanks, Nancy.

[Burt Winslow]

Thanks, Nancy.

[Nancy Peterson]

You're a nice man. I can see why Nick liked you.

[Burt Winslow]

Sure. A nice man. Was that some kind of a gag? Nice men don't hunt killers. Nasty men hunt killers because killing's a nasty business. It's not Sherlock Holmes. Little Frenchman with pencil thin mustaches musing over logic problems. Murder isn't logical, it's brutal. Little old ladies and gentlemen sipping sherry in drawing rooms may serve as murders in English detective novels, but they don't serve in LA or any other place. In the real world. They don't fit. And something about Nancy Peterson smelled. And it wasn't her. Evening in Paris, she told me no more about Nick than a casual acquaintance. She bothered me, but I couldn't think of the reason why. I walked around the pipe thinking I wasn't doing a very good job of it. And then by the merry go round, I saw a pair that really convinced me I'd snap. He was dressed in a tuxedo and sheena and evening gown. Oh, they might have been in fashion at the Pacific Coast Club, but at the pike they stood out like long hairs at a jam session.

[Eddie Leach]

Shine, mister?

[Burt Winslow]

Sure, why not? You want to talk too, or is.

[Narrator]

You just want the shine?

[Burt Winslow]

Some people around here don't like to talk. Well, depends on what you have to say, buddy. Now, there's a fin. If you got some information I can use, ask away. I'm a captive audience. You see many people dressed like that couple over there by the merry go round? Sure don't, mister. Tuxedos don't serve no useful purpose on a roller coaster. Yeah, that's what I was thinking. Now, where would you go around here if you were dressed up?

[Narrator]

I'd be over at the Ellington Hotel.

[Burt Winslow]

It's by the shooting gallery down by the arcade. Draws a lot of dressers and I hear there's tables upstairs. Hey, you just earned yourself a fin. Thanks, mister.

[Narrator]

It was no work at all.

[Hotel Clerk]

Good evening, sir. Welcome to the Eloquent.

[Burt Winslow]

Good evening. I know the tie doesn't go with a coat, but I'm looking for some action.

[Hotel Clerk]

Action, sir?

[Burt Winslow]

Yeah. I understand you cater to a very well dressed clientele.

[Hotel Clerk]

I'm afraid I don't understand, sir.

[Burt Winslow]

Well, does the name Nick Jackson ring a bell?

[Hotel Clerk]

Nick Jackson, sir?

[Burt Winslow]

You think a 10 spot might serve as a hearing aid?

[Hotel Clerk]

You're most generous, sir. I'm sure I can be of assistance. If you'll just wait here a moment. You may go in now, sir.

[Burt Winslow]

As I stepped through the door into what looked like an office, I caught a brief glimpse of something moving to the left and behind me. Then the 20th Century Limited crashed into the back of my head and the lights went on and off everywhere. As I fell through the searing pain into the nothingness of a Southern California suckers leap. I was walking down a dark passageway and a do slam metal on metal and the smell of roses. Four of them crawl over my chest and onto my face like spiders in a sewer. I was drunk. I seemed to be. But then I'd been drunk before nearly every night. But my head was still making train Noises. And I knew I'd been sapped. At that point, I didn't care. I didn't care at all about shooting galleries, cheap politicals or bodies in swamps. I wanted to die, it hurt so much. Die for about 48 hours. And afterwards I'd thank somebody for the trouble, trip my way. All right. Wait up, Winslow. You've been frowned. There were some choice words I wanted to say to the voice that interrupted my nightmare. And all of them had four letters. And somebody grabbed me and I was suddenly being slapped like a dame who didn't know when to go home. I got mad. Not angry, mad. And being slightly deranged, I began to come to. Hey, Bert, you all right? Never felt better. You know where you are? Oh, you tell me. For some reason, it hurts to talk.

[Charlie Brandt]

You're the guest of the Long Beach Police Department. They found you passed out in an alley near Lincoln park, smelling like a cheap distillery. The Long beach cops called me when they found my name in your notebook. I never knew you to leave a bottle anything but empty. But passing out an alley just isn't your style.

[Burt Winslow]

I was set up, Charlie.

[Charlie Brandt]

Yeah, I know. You wouldn't spill that much. You got any ideas who your friends were?

[Burt Winslow]

It had to be the desk clerk.

[Charlie Brandt]

What desk clerk?

[Burt Winslow]

Hey, didn't somebody tell me I'd been strung? Hey, I'm going back to the Wilton to get a shower and a change of clothes. I'll talk to you later. I thought I asked you a question. You did. Thanks, Charlie.

[Charlie Brandt]

I'm having trou.

[Burt Winslow]

Why?

[Charlie Brandt]

Well, the locals here in Long beach.

[Burt Winslow]

Aren'T being very helpful.

[Charlie Brandt]

They say they'll investigate Jackson's connections in Long Beach. They've let me know I'm not welcome.

[Burt Winslow]

Well, talk to some of the top brass.

[Charlie Brandt]

I have. LA and Long beach don't get along too well. They don't share jurisdiction with us on big cases. There are, if you can believe it, even more palms greased here than in our place.

[Burt Winslow]

You're gonna need me then. If your hands are tied, you've got the idea.

[Charlie Brandt]

Stay out of alleys.

[Burt Winslow]

You ever hear anyone being bumped over? Community oil lease, Charlie.

[Charlie Brandt]

Not in this country.

[Burt Winslow]

Why? Well, no reason.

[Charlie Brandt]

Get out of here, Bert. I'll call you in the morning.

[Burt Winslow]

The shower felt good, and a Delson of bay rum was a welcome to change from the rotgut cologne I'd been wearing. I decided that since my frontal assault on the Ellington had been a disaster, I'd try a different approach, this time with some artillery under my coat. When I hit the pike I saw the back exit of the hotel cracked open and I entered cautiously this time into the red and glow of a stairway. At the bottom, a brunette in white heels and a strapless dress was struggling to get her escort to his feet. A pasty faced kid in his early 20s. A boy who hadn't found his stomach for liquor or the way to stay awake on a good looking broad. Looks to me like he's gone.

[Waitress]

Sure he is. All that big talk about gambling and free liquor and then the jerk passes out on me. Gee, I wanted to have a good time. Is there anything wrong with that? No, the whole evening's wasted.

[Burt Winslow]

It's gonna be fine. You and I are gonna go up together and see if the buildup was for real.

[Waitress]

What about Freddy?

[Burt Winslow]

He'll more than likely wake up later and take a red car home. His skull will pound for a couple of days. He'll feel some guilt. He'll call you around the middle of next week.

[Waitress]

You sound like you've been there, mister.

[Burt Winslow]

Call me Bert.

[Waitress]

I'm Brandy.

[Burt Winslow]

You look like cognac to me. Let's go.

[Waitress]

At the door you're supposed to say Joe sent me.

[Burt Winslow]

Oh, that's original. I wonder who thought that one up.

[Waitress]

I don't know. That's just what Freddy told me.

[Nancy Peterson]

He was going to say.

[Burt Winslow]

Brandy wasn't exactly a female Einstein, but she was a ticket past the thug who grunted and opened the door at the mention of Joe's. The size on him made my feet sweat. And I was glad I hadn't gotten cute and tried out Beezy or Spike on him. He didn't look like he was paid to have a sense of humor. Brandy giggled like a teenager on her first date when she saw the layout. The room was filled with tables, crafts, roulette, blackjack. The joint was jammed wall to wall people, floor to ceiling smoke. We circulated, the smoke didn't.

[Nancy Peterson]

Isn't this great?

[Burt Winslow]

Sure, kid.

[Maisie]

I mean, look at all these people.

[Waitress]

They're so beautiful. They must be somebody.

[Butler]

Sure, kid.

[Burt Winslow]

Everyone here is a big shot until he wakes up tomorrow. A couple of seas light and wonders where it went.

[Waitress]

Are you always so serious?

[Burt Winslow]

Only in places that serve free drinks.

[Waitress]

Oh, I nearly forgot. Give me a scotch on the rocks, will you, Burt?

[Burt Winslow]

Sure, doll. I'll meet you by the roulette.

[Waitress]

Hey, are you trying to lose me?

[Burt Winslow]

Never. Now be a good girl and wait by the wheel. I think I see an old friend at the bar. Old friend? Eddie Leach. Vice at Hollywood with Nick and me. Only Eddie had been caught running numbers at A time when he should have been raking off the booze. Eddie had an impeccable sense of bad timing. He was years ahead of the rest of LA's finest. So the big boys downtown had asked Eddie to find another job. They didn't give him a pension. By that time he didn't need one and they didn't need the publicity. Hello, Eddie. Bert. How's it going?

[Butler]

Nothing to kick about. Drink?

[Burt Winslow]

Sure.

[Butler]

Gotcha.

[Burt Winslow]

All right, fine.

[Butler]

Now give me a refill on a scotch rocks for my friend.

[Burt Winslow]

Sure, boss. So you're the man here. Man's gotta work, you know. Nick's dead. I heard.

[Butler]

Too bad.

[Burt Winslow]

He come here.

[Butler]

Why would he do that?

[Burt Winslow]

Oh, Nick liked to gamble. Eddie, let's stop the tap dancing.

[Butler]

What if he did?

[Burt Winslow]

You know Nancy Peterson?

[Butler]

Who's she?

[Burt Winslow]

Friend of Nick's. Why would I know her? Well, you'd make a good private operator, Eddie. You ask a lot of questions.

[Butler]

I don't have to answer yours.

[Burt Winslow]

No one said you did, Eddie. Not if you're worried I'm falling asleep.

[Butler]

Winslow, why don't you disappear, huh?

[Burt Winslow]

Sure, Eddie, but don't get nervous. I'm not gonna disappear.

[Butler]

I never liked you, Bert.

[Burt Winslow]

I'm trying, Eddie. I'm deeply hurt. Maybe you had me stiffed early this evening, Eddie. And don't try it again. I'm running out of clothes and patience.

[Butler]

I don't know what you're talking about.

[Burt Winslow]

Yeah? That's the desk clerk downstairs.

[Butler]

Take your drink and flow.

[Burt Winslow]

Not a bad idea. Just don't be in the way when I do, Eddie, or they'll never find the pieces.

[Butler]

Still got the same temperature.

[Burt Winslow]

Think about that, Eddie. It could get you out of a jam sometime. Now, what with Eddie the Muggin in my free visit to the Long beach jail, I was done in for the evening. It was a few minutes before one when I picked up the scotch and found Brandy making her sixth consecutive pass at a guy at the Craft's table. I took the drink to her, but she'd already found the bar by herself. She slobbered her phone number in my ear and I left the Yellington. I needed some sleep. I didn't know any more about Nick's murder than I had earlier and that upset me. After a few hours tack time, I was going to start upsetting some people myself. Yeah?

[Eddie Leach]

Wake up, Prince Charming. It's 10 o'.

[Burt Winslow]

Clock. Leave me alone.

[Eddie Leach]

I've got some news. Jackson had been doing some heavy gambling at the Ellington Hotel there at the Pike. And you'll never guess who the Proprietor is Eddie Leach. I thought you were going to keep in touch.

[Burt Winslow]

After I saw Leach, I came back and went to bed. I was dead.

[Eddie Leach]

And not as dead as you could have been.

[Burt Winslow]

Now, what's the rest of the news?

[Eddie Leach]

In Jackson's log we found that he had taken Eddie and the Peterson dame out on a few Sundays. That he was free.

[Burt Winslow]

I'm almost awake.

[Eddie Leach]

And the Peterson dame has been seen in some of Long Beach's hotspots recently with guess who?

[Burt Winslow]

Eddie Leach. Hey, you do good work, Charlie.

[Eddie Leach]

And kind of you to say so. Do you mind letting me in on what you found out?

[Burt Winslow]

Oh, nothing, pal. The big zero. My talk with Leach was about as fruitful as a pair of mules meeting.

[Eddie Leach]

What are you going to do today?

[Burt Winslow]

Have another talk with Eddie Leach. He gets more interesting all the time.

[Eddie Leach]

Good hunting.

[Burt Winslow]

Thanks, Charlie. You got a very sweet voice for someone with a wake up call. Goodbye, bird. I just finished my shower and got my robe on when. Who is it? Bellboy. I didn't call for anything. Message for Mr. Winslow. Just a minute. I'll take the message. Two tree trunks resembling Hood pushed their way to the door. One I knew. The one with the knife. The comical doorman from the Ellington. Had Joe send you? Wouldn't you like to know. His friend vanished after I broke his nose with a table lamp. Pre depression stuff. Good weight to it. It's you and me, fatso. There's three of us. You forgot the knife. All the neighbors will appreciate you not bringing a cannon. His hands had been as quick as his brain. I levered his elbow with an arm bar and he managed to impale himself with a shiv. I was losing my faith in thugs. I frisked him and found a.38 strapped to his shoulder. I got humble fast. If I hadn't been in a hotel, I'd be as dead as he was. I didn't care much about his friend. There was someone I wanted to see.

[Butler]

Eddie Leach.

[Burt Winslow]

I took my time dressing. Stuck to.38 my belt. I was smiling. Fate had turned the dice my way and I wasn't gonna pass them now. I drove out to Leach's small mansion in the Naples section of East Long beach with the same stupid grin on my face. Things were beginning to make sense. And that spelled trouble for Eddie Leach. May I help you, sir? I want to see your boss. Mr. Leech is not in, sir. Out of my way, baldy. But I told you, Mr. Leech is not in. I left the butler at the door, brushing him off like a fly in a Dung heap. I found Leech in his study reading ledgers at his desk.

[Butler]

You got here quick, Bert.

[Burt Winslow]

But you don't. Look, please. I'm not.

[Butler]

I pay somebody to do a job. I want it done.

[Burt Winslow]

That must mess up your books there. Not much, as long as we're discussing business. Eddie, who'd you pay to kill Jackson?

[Butler]

No one. I did it myself.

[Burt Winslow]

Just a confession.

[Butler]

More of an explanation.

[Burt Winslow]

I'll explain. You and Nancy Peterson.

[Butler]

Easy. The broad's got taste.

[Burt Winslow]

So do people with head colds, but not much.

[Butler]

When Jackson found out about Nancy and me, saw red, he came up to the Yellington and caused a scene. I took him back to my office and tried to reason with him. Nancy's got a choice, I told him. He laughed and drew a gun. I'm making Nancy's choice for he said. Ernie the doorman walked in. Jackson turned to see who it was. I got my piece out and shot him.

[Burt Winslow]

Wrong, Eddie.

[Butler]

What do you mean?

[Burt Winslow]

I don't know. I just know that's not the way it happened. You wouldn't want me out of the way if it was.

[Butler]

I'm telling you the truth, Bert. I don't have to tell you anything. I could have denied having any part in bumpin Jackson. I'm clean, Bert. It was self defense.

[Burt Winslow]

Well, if it was self defense, why'd you haul the body all the way over to Bixby Slough?

[Butler]

My operation at the Ellington doesn't need that kind of publicity. It just seemed more convenient to have it appear that Jackson died in the LA territory to keep the locals off my back. But that doesn't change the fact that it was self defense.

[Burt Winslow]

Ah, you've been working too hard to convince me otherwise, Leech. A man who kills in self defense doesn't prove it by murdering again.

[Butler]

I couldn't let you interfere with me. Vertical. I'm riding high now and you aren't gonna mess that up. You're always a tough guy, Winslow. Well, you don't look so tough to me.

[Burt Winslow]

I'm not tough. I'm just tired of being leaned on by guys like you.

[Butler]

You won't have to worry about that anymore.

[Burt Winslow]

This time you're gone.25 caliber automatic. Oh, very smart, Eddie. Go ahead, shoot me with it. Dump the body in Bixby Slough. You think Charlie Brandt won't know what went down? You think the Long beach cops are going to cover up for you forever? You know better, Leech.

[Butler]

I'm not gonna dump you, Winslow. You're gonna disappear, feed the fishes. No one's Gonna miss a drunk. Drunks disappear all the time.

[Burt Winslow]

Oh, you already tried that one, Eddie. You should have had me killed then. Because your boy's dead in my hotel room, Leech stuck with his own shiv. And it won't wash this time. The finger's on you if anything happens to me. You're through, Leech. Not yet, Winslow. Goodbye, Eddie. I'd gotten to him finally. I'd wiped a smug look off his face permanently. Eddie Leach was a poor shot when angered, but he made a great target. He slumped over the desk, bleeding on the books, his operation drowned in a flood of red ink. The butler entered the room, gave it a fast white eyed once over and left without even saying goodbye. I walked over to the desk, wiped the prints off the.38 I shot Eddie with, the one from my belt that his boy had given me, fitting it should be used on his Boss. I laid the.38 down on the Mahogany desktop and picked up the.25 that lay next to Leech and stuck it in my pocket. I felt like something of a collector making a trade.

[Eddie Leach]

Lieutenant.

[Burt Winslow]

Brad. Charlie, this is Bert. I think I got our murder weapon.

[Eddie Leach]

That's strange. I thought I had a lot on it myself.

[Burt Winslow]

What do you mean?

[Eddie Leach]

Two months ago, Nick Jackson bought and registered a Smith and Wesson.25 caliber automatic.

[Burt Winslow]

Well, so far it fits the description of the one I got in my pocket.

[Eddie Leach]

Where did you find it?

[Burt Winslow]

Eddie Leach tried to use it on me.

[Eddie Leach]

What have you been doing, Bert? What happened?

[Burt Winslow]

He's dead. And so is one of his boys. Leeches at home and his thugs in my hotel room.

[Eddie Leach]

Where are you?

[Burt Winslow]

Head leeches?

[Eddie Leach]

Great, Bert. You've got some explaining to do and I want to hear it now if I'm going to save you from the Long beach bulls.

[Burt Winslow]

No, Charlie. Some things are just beginning to make sense and I can't drop it now. I'll get in touch. Listen, Bert, I had one more stop to make. I left Eddie's and pulled over the phone booth on Second street to grab Nancy Peterson's address. 433-½ Coronado Avenue. Not a bad section of town. Nice little California Spanish tile roof neighborhood. Palm trees lining the sidewalk. The kind of street you'd find on a postcard in a bus station. When I reached 433 and a half Coronado, I was laughing at myself.

[Maisie]

Who is it?

[Burt Winslow]

Burt Winslow.

[Maisie]

Just a minute.

[Burt Winslow]

Take your time.

[Nancy Peterson]

What are you doing here, Bert?

[Burt Winslow]

May I come in?

[Nancy Peterson]

Certainly. Sit down. You haven't told me why you're here.

[Burt Winslow]

I want to tell you A story, Nancy.

[Nancy Peterson]

I'm due at work at 4. Bird, I don't have time for stories.

[Burt Winslow]

Oh, it's a wonderful story, Nancy. A love story. It'll break your heart. It's about Nick Jackson. He fell in love with a little girl in a penny arcade. She worked a shooting gallery. Now, remember that. It's important. He wanted her safe from fresh little punks at night, so he bought her a gun. But she wasn't safe from the punk. Sure, but not from Eddie Leach. She fell in love with Leech or his money or his power. How am I doing? Stop it.

[Waitress]

Burn.

[Burt Winslow]

Not a chance, baby. So she told Jackson about Leech and that made Jackson furious. He was a man in love, remember? He took her up to Leeches to have it out. He took her to Leeches and he got shot and wound up in Bixby Slough. And who shot him? Easy? I asked. Eddie Leach. He said he did it.

[Maisie]

He did? When?

[Burt Winslow]

Certainly he did, because he was shielding somebody. Somebody with a.25 caliber automatic. The killer? A crack shot. Somebody who works in a shooting gallery. Leach knew that she could ruin him by tying him to the killing. He'd been paying through the nose to run his gambling operation. Gambling, not murder. He couldn't have taken the heat. He protected her. She protected him. But she blew the whistle on me when I showed up asking questions about Jackson. I wound up in an alley. When I kept up the pressure, two guys showed up at my place to ice me. Stop it, Bert. You killed Nick, didn't you, Nancy?

[Maisie]

I didn't mean to. He threatened Eddie. He pulled a gun on him. I had to do it. I loved Eddie. He took me places. He made me feel special.

[Burt Winslow]

He didn't, Nancy. His money did.

[Maisie]

It wasn't the money. It was Eddie.

[Burt Winslow]

You recognize this?

[Maisie]

My gun. Where did you get it?

[Burt Winslow]

From Eddie. He's dead.

[Maisie]

No. No, he's not. Give me that.

[Burt Winslow]

Give me back that gun, Nancy. Eddie's dead. I killed him.

[Maisie]

No, you can't have it. Not until you tell me the truth. Tell me you're lying.

[Waitress]

Eddie's alive.

[Burt Winslow]

He's dead, Nancy.

[Maisie]

I loved him. He didn't shoot Nick. Why didn't you kill me?

[Burt Winslow]

Put the gun down, Nancy. We have to go.

[Maisie]

I'm not going anywhere. Not without any.

[Burt Winslow]

Sometimes my job gets to be more than I can handle. I spent some time with Charlie and the Long beach cops and headed back up Figaro to la. I couldn't get to sleep. The picture of Nancy pointing a.25 at her breast and pulling the trigger didn't want to go away. Nick Jackson and I were even, but it took a quarter of the bad stuff before I could pass out and forget how rotten love can be in this golden California paradise. Maybe the neon night fires fry their brains so that lovers are blinded by the flash and the glitter and go crazy in the harsh light of the sun. Or maybe it's just the way love is. Ask Nick Jackson.

[Narrator]

The Body in Bixby Slough was written and directed by Herbert T. Schmidt Jr. Produced by Steve Jelly. Technical staff C.R. bryan III and Roy Scott. Sound patterns by John Greifendorf, Phil Campbell and Barbara Watkins. Featured in the cast were Ed Hayes, Marianne Strossner, Frank Finn and Jerry Goldstein. Also heard were Jeanette and Stan Rayburn, Gloria Frank and David Tierney, Dave Smith, Bob Lyons and R.F. clancy. This is Bob Lyons inviting you to join us again next week at the same time for the premiere of that fast paced quiz, the man says yes, starring Bob Shannon right here on 30 minutes to curtain.