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Narrator
From New York Times best selling author, James Rollins comes a gripping standalone thriller framed for murder and on the run. A group of students must decode an ancient diary that promises immortality. Trust no one. Available now.
Jim Brandon / The Avenger
The Avenger.
Jim Brandon
The road to crime ends in a trap that justice sets. Crime does not pay.
Jim Brandon / The Avenger
The Avenger, sworn enemy of evil is actually Jim Brandon, a famous biochemist. Through his numerous scientific experiments, Brandon has perfected several inventions to aid him in his crusade against crime as the Avenger. Most remarkable of these inventions is the highly secret diffusion capsule which cloaks him in the black light of invisibility. Brandon's assistant, the beautiful Fern Collier, is the only one who shares his secrets and knows that he is the man the underworld fears as the Avenger.
Inspector White
And now,
Jim Brandon / The Avenger
the Avenger and the keys to the city.
Lloyd
Mayor Grinshaw.
Mayor Grenshaw
Yes, what is it, Lloyd?
Lloyd
There are a few details I'd like to clear up with you before I leave. Can you spare me a minute now?
Mayor Grenshaw
Of course, Loyne.
Lloyd
Well, here. This is a daily schedule I made for you covering all your appointments while I'm on vacation.
Mayor Grenshaw
Fine, Lloyd, fine. Frankly, I don't know how I'm going to get along without you for two weeks.
Lloyd
Well, if you'd rather I didn't go, Mayor. Grand show.
Mayor Grenshaw
Oh, no, you burned the rest, Lloyd. I want you to take it.
Lloyd
That's too bad that you can't come along, Mayor. After that bitter political campaign you've just been through, you probably need a vacation
Jim Brandon / The Avenger
more than I do.
Mayor Grenshaw
If I went away for arrest, my enemies would probably maneuver me out of office before I got back.
Lloyd
They certainly don't let up on you for a minute, do they?
Mayor Grenshaw
No. That young district attorney Michael Zane is a fighter. He'll never forgive me for being elected.
Lloyd
Well, Zane and the ex mayor were great pals. They worked hand in glove and everything. So naturally Zane wanted to see him re elected.
Mayor Grenshaw
How long have you been weathering the political storms here at City hall, Lloyd?
Lloyd
Oh, 15 years, Mayor Grenshaw.
Mayor Grenshaw
15 years. Remind me to give you a medal when you get back. Now let me see what's on today's schedule?
Lloyd
Oh, plenty. Your new cultural movement gets underway today.
Mayor Grenshaw
Oh, that.
Lloyd
At noon you give the keys to the city to Roscoe Marbury, the explorer and lecturer.
Mayor Grenshaw
Oh, yes, well, the voters can't say that I'm not living up to my campaign promises. I promised them culturing and I'm delivering it promptly.
Lloyd
Keys are on the top drawer of your desk and here's the speech echoes with them.
Mayor Grenshaw
Thank you, Lord. Now you better run along or you'll miss your train. Good fishing. And bring me back one of those famous Oak View trout. And so, Mr. Marbury, it is with great pleasure that I present to you the keys to our city. Even though they are but token keys, they will unlock the hearts and minds of our good citizens. I feel confident that you will find our city a most fertile field for the great cultural growth to which your whole life has been dedicated.
Jim Brandon / The Avenger
Thank you, your honor. I accept these keys with great pride because I know they represent the great esteem with which your citizens regard a humble spokesman of the arts. I will begin my series of lectures this afternoon. I hope I may look forward to seeing all of you then. Thank you very much.
Fern Collier
Gosh, Jim, that Roscoe Marbury is certainly a fascinating person.
Jim Brandon
Yes, he is. His first lecture was a great success, Fernando. He held that audience spellbound from 2 o' clock to 4.
Fern Collier
He made me want to visit all those glamorous places he told about. It must be wonderful to travel all the time.
Jim Brandon
Well, it's not as wonderful as it sounds. Now, young lady, how about getting back to those reports we were working on before we went to the lecture?
Fern Collier
Right, Jim. I'll get my book.
Jim Brandon
Oh, I'll take it, Vernon.
Mayor Grenshaw
Hello, Jim.
Inspector White
Where the blazes have you been? I've been trying to get you since 3:00'.
Mayor Grenshaw
Clock.
Jim Brandon
Well, I was at a lecture. What's the trouble, Inspector?
Inspector White
There's been an explosion down here at the public library.
Jim Brandon
An explosion in the library?
Inspector White
Yes. Some valuable book have been stolen. Get down here as fast as you can, Jim. Well, there you are, Jim. This is the first edition room where the explosion occurred. Here.
Jim Brandon
Couldn't have been much of an explosion, Inspector. Everything seems to be intact.
Inspector White
Well, the door was blown open, Jim, that's all.
Jim Brandon
Now, let me get this straight, Inspector. Your theory is that someone blew the lock on that door, entered this room, selected the five most valuable books from the shelves, and made his getaway down that back stairway at the end of the hall.
Inspector White
That's it, Jim.
Jim Brandon
Who had access to this room?
Inspector White
Only the custodian. No one else is ever permitted inside this room. He's personally responsible for all these books.
Jim Brandon
I see. Well, let's have a look at the door.
Inspector White
All right.
Fern Collier
Hmm.
Jim Brandon
Looks as if a small bomb or grenade was placed either on the doorknob or inside that lock.
Inspector White
That's the way I figured it, Jim.
Jim Brandon
Since the library was open at the time the explosion occurred, some of the librarians from downstairs must have come up here immediately upon hearing the sound.
Inspector White
Yes, three of them came on the run. But the thief was gone by that time.
Jim Brandon
All of which would seem to add up to one conclusion.
Inspector White
Well, I'm glad you agree with me on that, Jim. I think the custodian is guilty.
Jim Brandon
It would seem so. Because if access to this room was gained by blowing open that door, only the man who knew where those books were placed on the shelves could find them and make his escape within the single minute that elapsed before the three librarians arrived on the scene.
Inspector White
That's how I reason it out. I think the custodian blasted this lock merely as a cover up to make it look like a common robbery.
Jim Brandon
The time element completely rules out the possibility of an outside job. Only a person who had access to this room could have stolen those books.
Inspector White
Right now, even though this evidence is all negative, Jim, it's enough to make an arrest. Come on, let's find that custodian.
Fern Collier
Gosh, Jim, I'd almost given you up. Marbury's already begun his lecture in the adjoining gallery.
Jim Brandon
Why didn't you go in, Vern? I got held up at headquarters.
Fern Collier
Oh, hasn't that custodian confessed yet?
Jim Brandon
No, and strangely enough, I'm beginning to doubt his guilt. However, since he can't furnish an alibi, we'll have to hold him for the time being. Well, shall we go in?
Fern Collier
We'd better, if you want to maintain our social position. Everybody with anybody is in there. The mayor, district attorney.
Jim Brandon
Come on, Fern.
Jim Brandon / The Avenger
Of course, with this great artist.
Jim Brandon
Technically, there are two seats near the back.
Jim Brandon / The Avenger
Burn only a means to an end. Now, he is a great artist, not because of his ingenuity and disrespect for conventions, but rather because of the magnificent spiritual fire that makes his expression candid. Note the richness and depth of color in those portraits and figure compositions hanging there to your left. These could never be called mere technical achievements of high order. They are neither stylized nor dated. And they never can be. The relentless hand of time can never touch me.
Jim Brandon
Keep your seats. Keep your seats, please. Everybody, please keep your seats. Mr. Marbury, please continue with your lecture. I'm sure there is no need for alarm. I will inform the police immediately and this matter will be investigated.
Narrator
From number one New York Times best selling author, James Rollins comes a shocking new standalone thriller framed for murder. A group of university students are forced into a treacherous chase across Europe. Hunted by a powerful cabal and the police their only hope, a centuries old encrypted diary with a deadly secret worth killing for. Trust no one. The new blockbuster novel from James Rollins, available Now, wherever books are sold, get
Jim Brandon
that MX gold card ready. I'm way too tired to cook tonight.
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Jim Brandon
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Jim Brandon
Come on.
Inspector White
Was anyone injured in this explosion, Jim?
Jim Brandon
No, Inspector. It parallels that library explosion exactly.
Inspector White
Yeah, the lock on this vault was blown just like the other.
Jim Brandon
That's right.
Inspector White
What's missing, Jim?
Jim Brandon
Now, you'd better hold on to your hat, inspector. Dr. Harbaugh, the curator, reports that three priceless paintings are gone. He's preparing a full description of them now.
Inspector White
Well, Jim, this second robbery proves we're up against professional thief. Yeah, we made a big mistake about that library custodian.
Jim Brandon
One thing is certain anyway, he didn't pull this job.
Inspector White
Any ideas, Jim?
Jim Brandon
Yes. This vault door was blown from the inside out. That definitely establishes the fact that the explosion is a cover up and doesn't occur until after the criminal gets away. Now, this steel door tells a much straighter story than that wooden one in the library. Now, I'll take that lockdown to my laboratory and give it a good going over it.
Inspector White
Looks like we're in for some trouble, Jim. Here comes the mayor.
Mayor Grenshaw
Look here, Inspector. These bombings in public buildings are beginning to look mighty suspicious.
Inspector White
I agree with you, Mayor Grenshaw. If you got any ideas it might help solve them.
Mayor Grenshaw
That's your department. But offhand, I'd say these thefts are being committed deliberately to embarrass my administration and everything it stands for.
Inspector White
Well, that's carrying politics pretty far, you, Honor.
Mayor Grenshaw
I don't think there's any limit to what the opposition will do to get me out of office. District Attorney Zane threatened he'd do it.
Inspector White
Ah, take it easy, Mayor Grandshaw.
Mayor Grenshaw
I won't take it easy. And you'd better not either if you want to keep your job. I'm giving you 48 hours to crack this case and deliver the criminal. And the bigger he is, the better I like it.
Inspector White
Inspector White speaking.
Jim Brandon
Inspector, this is District Attorney zane.
Inspector White
Oh, yes, Mr. Zane.
Jim Brandon
I hear Mayor Grenshaw is riding you pretty hard on these robberies.
Inspector White
Yes, that's right. I don't mind admitting I'm up to a blind alley on both of them.
Jim Brandon / The Avenger
I understand.
Jim Brandon
I want to help. If you like. I'll send several men from my office over to work with you.
Inspector White
Well, that's very kind of you, Mr. Zane, but right now I'm afraid I have nothing for them to do. If any leads develop, I'll certainly let you know.
Jim Brandon
Do that, Inspector. This is a nasty business. It's up to us to clean it up. The Mayor's proved he's utterly incompetent. Goodbye.
Fern Collier
According to the directions they gave us at the hotel in Opium, Jim, we turn left at the next walk in the road and the boathouses a little beyond that.
Jim Brandon
Well, I certainly hope we find Cyrus Lloyd fishing out here. As they said, Fernando. Otherwise we've wasted some very precious time.
Fern Collier
Jim, I simply can't understand why you're so eager to have a talk with Lloyd.
Jim Brandon
Neither could the Mayor. He flatly refused to tell me where Lloyd was. I finally got the information through one of his clerks.
Fern Collier
But Lloyd couldn't have had anything to do with those robberies in the city. Jim, according to the hotel manager up here, he's never been away from the hotel for more than three hours at a time since he arrived in Oakview.
Jim Brandon
Lloyd is on the inside of things at City hall, friend. If these robberies are in any way connected with a political feud, I believe he's the man who can tip us off.
Fern Collier
You think that's the motive behind these robberies, then?
Jim Brandon
Oh, I'm not quite sure yet. But I'm on the track of something that Lloyd may be able to explain. If he can, then this trip is really a shortcut to the solution of this case. You see, Fern, I picked up a minute but interesting piece of evidence when I examined that lock from the museum vault.
Mayor Grenshaw
Oh.
Jim Brandon
Oh, there's the boathouse just ahead.
Fern Collier
Oh, and that lone fisherman at the end of the dock must be Lloyd.
Jim Brandon / The Avenger
It is.
Jim Brandon
Come on, Pern.
Mayor Grenshaw
Hello there.
Jim Brandon
Catching anything? Oh, look at you, Mr. Brandon.
Inspector White
What are you doing up here?
Jim Brandon
Well, I'm after some information about those bombings and thefts, Lloyd.
Lloyd
Information?
Jim Brandon
For me?
Lloyd
Why, I've been up here in Oakview for two days.
Jim Brandon
I know that, but I thought you might be able to tell me who's trying to frame whom in City Hall.
Lloyd
Hi. What do you mean by that? Brandon, if you're trying to insinuate that the mayor had anything to do.
Jim Brandon / The Avenger
My back.
Fern Collier
Help Jim catch him. He's falling off the dog.
Jim Brandon / The Avenger
Now back to the Avenger and the keys to the city.
Jim Brandon
Help.
Jim Brandon / The Avenger
My back.
Fern Collier
Help Jim catch him. He's falling off the dock.
Jim Brandon
I'll go in after him.
Fern Collier
He's over there. Jim.
Jim Brandon
I see him.
Fern Collier
Hurry, he's going down. Oh, Jim. Here comes the car. I'll get help. Stop. Stop, please.
Jim Brandon
What's the matter, miss?
Fern Collier
Oh, come over here quickly. Someone's in the water. We need help, gentlemen.
Inspector White
I've got some rope here in the car.
Fern Collier
Hurry, Ranger.
Jim Brandon
Come on. Where'd he fall out?
Fern Collier
Here, at the end of the dock. Jim. Jim, are you all right?
Jim Brandon
Yes, I've got him all right.
Mayor Grenshaw
Here's a rope.
Inspector White
Grab onto it and I'll pull you in.
Jim Brandon
Okay.
Fern Collier
Let me help you with the rope, Ranger.
Inspector White
We'll pull them in alongside of the dock here. Water's shallow there.
Fern Collier
Yeah.
Inspector White
Pull hard now.
Fern Collier
I am.
Jim Brandon
There.
Inspector White
Oh, that does it. Now they're safe. Let's go down and help. Men. Hey, one of those. Oh, they're in bad shape, Jim.
Fern Collier
Is Lloyd all right?
Jim Brandon / The Avenger
I'm.
Jim Brandon
I'm afraid not, Fern.
Inspector White
I hear. Let me give you a hand with him. We'll put him here down the bank. Give him artificial respiration.
Jim Brandon
I think he's dead, Ranger. He was shot in the back before he fell into the water.
Fern Collier
What? That's right. We were standing here talking to him when somebody shot him.
Inspector White
He's dead, all right. Bullet wound in the left shoulder.
Jim Brandon
Well, come along, stranger.
Inspector White
I have to deliver you to the sheriff in Oakview.
Jim Brandon
Oh, just a minute. We have nothing to do with this man's death. I'm Jim Brandon. I'm connected with the police department here. Here are my credentials.
Inspector White
I don't care who you are. You're coming with me.
Jim Brandon
Listen, Ranger, let's not waste time arguing. There's a murderer on the loose around here someplace. That's right.
Inspector White
Come on, before I get tough about it, friend.
Jim Brandon
Drive back to the hotel and call Inspector White.
Inspector White
Oh, no, you don't. This young lady's coming along, too.
Jim Brandon
They're both under arrest on suspicion of murder.
Fern Collier
Jim, I'm getting worried. Do you suppose the inspector will come up to get us out of here? I'd hate to have to spend the night in this jail.
Jim Brandon
Don't worry, Fern. The inspector ought to be here any minute now. It's nearly four hours since we called him.
Fern Collier
Do you think there's a possibility that he's cracked this case himself and is letting us sweat it out up here in the Oakville jail?
Jim Brandon
Now, Fern, don't start imagining things. The inspector's too smart to play a joke that would backfire on him in the future.
Fern Collier
Only that stubborn sheriff would listen to reason.
Jim Brandon
Ah, here's the inspector now.
Fern Collier
Oh, thank heaven.
Inspector White
Well, Jim, A fine mess you got yourself into up here.
Jim Brandon
Never mind that now. Did you straighten things out so we can go?
Inspector White
The sheriff gave me the key to let you out.
Fern Collier
I thought you'd never get here, Inspector.
Inspector White
Well, first I tried to get District Attorney Zane to call the sheriff up here and iron things out, but he refused to get involved. Acted like he was glad to get rid of you, Jim.
Jim Brandon
No doubt. Come on, Inspector. That murder trail is getting colder by the minute. That's right, Inspector. Lloyd was standing there where you are when he got that shot in the back.
Inspector White
Well, then the shot must have come from across the leg, Jim.
Jim Brandon
Yes, and that means the range was a thousand yards. Only a cracked shot with a telescopic lens on his gun could make an accurate shot at that distance.
Inspector White
Well, that ought to narrow down our list of suspects. Tell me, Jim, who knew that you were coming up here to question Lloyd?
Jim Brandon
Well, Inspector, it was no secret. The mayor and practically his whole office
Fern Collier
staff knew it, which includes a few of the DA Stooges, if you want to put any stock in rumor.
Jim Brandon
That's right. Oh, by the way, Fern, when you called Mr. Marbury to cancel our luncheon engagement, did you mention where we were going?
Fern Collier
I'm not sure, Jim. I think I did, though.
Inspector White
In other words, Jim, anyone even slightly interested in your activities could have found out that you were coming up here.
Jim Brandon
I'm afraid so. But that's not what's worrying me. Now, Inspector, do you realize that We've only about 20 hours left to track down our criminal? Otherwise, this case will wind up your career as a police inspector.
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Mayor Grenshaw
Come in, Brandon. Ms. Collier. Sit down, please.
Fern Collier
Thank you, your Honor.
Mayor Grenshaw
That was a terrible thing that happened to Lloyd. I'll miss him badly.
Jim Brandon
Mayor Grenshaw, may I come straight to the point? I want to ask you a few questions.
Mayor Grenshaw
Of course. Fire away. Brandon.
Jim Brandon
How long have you known Cyrus Lloyd?
Mayor Grenshaw
Just since I took office. He was a party secretary here at City hall, but I'd never met him until I was elected mayor.
Jim Brandon
Did Lloyd have access to the city keys?
Mayor Grenshaw
Yes, I suppose so. The keys are kept in a small safe right over there. I suppose he knew the combination.
Jim Brandon
May I see the keys, Mayor Grenshaw?
Mayor Grenshaw
Well, that's an unusual request, Brandon.
Jim Brandon
I understand your reticence, Mayor, but I'd like to have a look at them. You can call it a request from the police department.
Mayor Grenshaw
Well, all right, I'll get them.
Fern Collier
The mayor doesn't seem to trust you, Jim.
Jim Brandon
He makes that rather evident, doesn't he?
Fern Collier
Well, frankly, I don't trust him either.
Jim Brandon
Quiet, here he comes.
Mayor Grenshaw
Here are the keys, Brandon.
Jim Brandon
Oh, thank you. I see they're all labeled.
Mayor Grenshaw
Oh, yes.
Jim Brandon
This one is for the library, this the museum, one for the Municipal center, the Citizens Swimming Pool, and this last one for the City hall vault.
Mayor Grenshaw
Excuse me. Yes, Ms. Kirby? Who? Oh, all right, send him in. It's Marbury.
Jim Brandon
Marbury.
Mayor Grenshaw
Have you finished with the keys, Brandon?
Jim Brandon
Oh, yes, thank you.
Mayor Grenshaw
Put them right back in the safe. If anything should happen to these keys, I really would be in trouble.
Fern Collier
What's all this about the keys, Jim?
Jim Brandon
I'll tell you later, Fearne.
Mayor Grenshaw
Glad to see you, Marbury.
Jim Brandon / The Avenger
Good evening, Your Honor. Collier, Mr. Brandon. Good evening. I can only stay a moment, Mayor Grenshaw. I'm on my way to the lecture.
Mayor Grenshaw
The last run of the series, isn't it?
Jim Brandon / The Avenger
Yes. I'll be leaving tomorrow. I'm really sorry. You've made me most welcome here, but the purpose of this visit is to ask you a favor.
Mayor Grenshaw
Of course.
Jim Brandon / The Avenger
Well, I seem to have misplaced the keys to the city you gave me when I arrived. Either that or they've been stolen.
Mayor Grenshaw
Don't worry about that, Marbury.
Jim Brandon
They'll.
Mayor Grenshaw
Those keys were only cardboard covered with gilded tin. Nobody would steal them.
Jim Brandon / The Avenger
Well, that's what District Attorney Zane told me. Zane? Yes, he was visiting me at my hotel when I discovered they were missing.
Mayor Grenshaw
Think nothing of it.
Jim Brandon / The Avenger
Well, in that case, I wonder if you'd give me another set, just to
Jim Brandon
keep as a souvenir.
Mayor Grenshaw
Certainly. We've dozens of them. I'll have another set brought in right away.
Fern Collier
Jim, I can't Understand why you wouldn't attend Marbury's lecture tonight. His subject was no tigers in Africa.
Jim Brandon
And I thought, well, friend, we had more important work to do.
Fern Collier
What? Just standing here on the street corner waiting for the District attorney to go into his house?
Jim Brandon
That's right. I think we've given him time to retire. Now you wait for me here, Fernando. This shouldn't take more than 10 minutes.
Fern Collier
What are you going to do, Jim?
Jim Brandon
Turn the tables on the da? I'm going to fire some questions at him as the avenger. Zane. Zane, wake up.
Jim Brandon / The Avenger
What?
Fern Collier
Who?
Jim Brandon
Who called me? Wake up, Zane.
Lloyd
Who's there?
Jim Brandon
Who woke me? Truth is on the march.
Jim Brandon / The Avenger
Zane.
Jim Brandon
Where did you get the keys to the city? I found there in your pocket.
Lloyd
The keys to the city?
Jim Brandon
Yes, Zane. The keys that open the door at the library and the vault at the museum. What sort of frame? Where's the fifth key, Zane? The key to the vault at City Hall. Where is that? I don't know what you're talking about. I have no city keys. Who dares accuse me of those crimes?
Lloyd
I'll turn on this light and you
Jim Brandon
can accuse me to my face.
Inspector White
There.
Jim Brandon
Now what?
Lloyd
Where are you?
Jim Brandon
Who spoke to me?
Fern Collier
Why,
Lloyd
there's no one here.
Jim Brandon
I. I must. I must have been having a nightmare. I guess I need a rest. My nerves are shot.
Lloyd
The keys to the city. Some dre.
Inspector White
Well, Jim, I think you had a sour hunch this time. It's almost 2am Nobody showing up here at City hall to rob that vault.
Jim Brandon
Yeah, Be patient a little longer, Inspector. Fern, why don't you go home? It's past your bedtime.
Fern Collier
Oh, not me. I won't be able to sleep a wink until I find out who the criminal.
Inspector White
Well, who are you expecting, Jim, after all?
Jim Brandon
Listen, someone's coming. Now remember, Inspector, wait until after he comes out of the vault and nap him. We want to find out what he's after in there.
Inspector White
Right.
Jim Brandon
He's inside the vault.
Fern Collier
Now, who is it?
Jim Brandon
You'll find out in a minute. Have you got your gun ready, Inspector? He's dangerous.
Inspector White
I'm all set for whatever comes. Jim, he comes out, you turn on the lights and I'll cover him.
Fern Collier
He's coming now.
Jim Brandon
Ready?
Inspector White
Okay. Reach you and reach high or I'll shoot.
Fern Collier
Why, it's Mr. Marbury.
Jim Brandon
And for once he's absolutely speechless.
Inspector White
Okay, Marbury, your next lecture is scheduled for the jury. Come on.
Jim Brandon
That shot fell far short of the target, Fern.
Fern Collier
Gosh, Jim, A thousand yards at some distance, even with a telescopic lens.
Jim Brandon
Well, Marbury was a crack shot, and he'd had lots of experience hunting big game, as he so unwisely admitted in several of his lectures.
Fern Collier
I hope I have better luck with the fishing. I promised the mayor a trout.
Jim Brandon
Want me to bait your line?
Fern Collier
Yes, please, Jim.
Jim Brandon
All right, what do you want to know, Fern?
Fern Collier
Well, I know the first clue that led you to suspect Marbury was that small piece of gilding you discovered under the microscope when you examined that museum vault lock.
Jim Brandon
Yes, I figured that came from the keys to the city Marbury had.
Fern Collier
But what made you think there was a connection between Marbury and Lloyd?
Jim Brandon
I wasn't sure there was a connection, Fern, until Lloyd was shot. That proved he was implicated and knew too much.
Fern Collier
Lloyd was the one who arranged it so that Marbury was given a real set of keys.
Jim Brandon
That's right. However, we didn't find the piece that was missing from the puzzle until last night when we saw the papers Marbury had stolen from the City hall vault. They were the records of a crime he had committed 20 years ago. Lloyd had discovered that secret and bargained with Mary. The books and paintings in exchange for the records.
Fern Collier
Then Marbury shot Lloyd in panic for fear he might talk before he had a chance to get those records.
Jim Brandon
Right, Vern.
Fern Collier
But how did it happen that you found the keys to the city in District Attorney Zane's pocket?
Jim Brandon
Marbury planted the keys that he no longer needed on Zane. The trail was getting hot and Marbury knew it. So he went to the mayor's office to turn suspicion on Zane until he himself had a chance to get out of town. Burns, start playing your line. The mayor's trout is biting.
Jim Brandon / The Avenger
All characters, names, places and plots used in the Avenger program are fictitious. Any similarity to persons living or dead is purely coincidental. This is a thought.
Mayor Grenshaw
A thought, A thought.
Jim Brandon
Remember? Listen for another adventure of the Avenger.
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See, banks and credit unions help small businesses make payroll. This bill would cut the vital resources
Corporate Supporter
they need while increasing megastore profits. They deserve it, don't they?
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Jim Brandon
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Air date: March 16, 2026
Host: Harold’s Old Time Radio
This classic “Avenger” radio drama is a detective thriller centered on a string of suspicious robberies and a politically tinged murder in Metropolis. Jim Brandon, aka The Avenger—a biochemist equipped with inventive gadgets and aided by his sidekick Fern Collier—must solve a series of thefts coinciding with a new mayor’s campaign and a city-wide visiting lecturer, Roscoe Marbury, before the city's administration collapses under scandal.
“If I went away for a rest, my enemies would probably maneuver me out of office before I got back.”
“He was shot in the back before he fell into the water.”
"Well, I know the first clue that led you to suspect Marbury was that small piece of gilding you discovered under the microscope when you examined the museum vault lock."
Mayor Grenshaw fearing for his job and suspecting political sabotage (03:17, 11:57):
“If I went away for a rest, my enemies would probably maneuver me out of office before I got back.”
Brandon’s early doubt about the custodian’s guilt (07:07):
“Since the library was open at the time the explosion occurred...some of the librarians...must have come up here...the thief was gone by that time.”
The Avenger’s gadgetry explained (01:58):
"Through his numerous scientific experiments, Brandon has perfected several inventions to aid him in his crusade...the highly secret diffusion capsule which cloaks him in the black light of invisibility."
Marbury’s dramatic unmasking (28:21–28:24):
Inspector White: “Okay, Marbury, your next lecture is scheduled for the jury. Come on.”
On finding the crucial clue (30:33):
Fern Collier: “Well, I know the first clue that led you to suspect Marbury was that small piece of gilding you discovered under the microscope…”
This “Avenger” episode immerses listeners in a Golden Age detective whodunit, blending political intrigue, high-stakes thefts, and murder. The suspense unfolds methodically, with clever forensic sleuthing and a twist ending as the visiting lecturer, Marbury, is revealed as both a murderer and a cunning criminal. The Avenger’s combination of science, observation, and intuition prevails, restoring order and vindicating the wrongly accused.
Fans of classic radio drama will enjoy the episode’s layered plot, period tone, and archetypal characters, making this a gripping listen for both nostalgia and intrigue.