Broadway's My Beat: The Frank Briscoe Murder Case (EP4727)

Summary

Summary of "Broadway's My Beat: The Frank Briscoe Murder Case (EP4727)"

Introduction

In this gripping episode of The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio, host Adam Graham presents "Broadway's My Beat: The Frank Briscoe Murder Case." Set against the bustling backdrop of Broadway in 1950, Detective Danny Clover, portrayed by Larry Thor, delves into a web of mystery involving murder, deceit, and hidden motives.

Plot Overview

The episode opens with Detective Danny Clover receiving a report of a murdered man, Frank Briscoe, found dead in an apartment hotel near police headquarters. As Clover begins his investigation, he uncovers connections between Briscoe’s death and another mysterious murder of Della Sloan, intertwining their fates in a complex narrative.

Main Characters

• Detective Danny Clover (Larry Thor): The sharp and intuitive detective leading the investigation.
• Frank Briscoe: The initial murder victim, a recently separated husband.
• Sylvia Briscoe: Frank’s estranged wife, running an employment agency, who becomes the prime suspect.
• Eddie Cutler: The apartment manager with a mysterious past and questionable alibis.
• Della Sloan: The second victim, whose death is intricately linked to Frank’s murder.
• Joseph Petty: A local pharmacist who provides crucial information during the investigation.

Investigation Highlights

Detective Clover begins by interviewing Eddie Cutler, the apartment manager, who appears cooperative but evasive. At [04:37], Cutler mentions, “Mr. Frank Briscoe. Pleasant gentleman. Oh, always had a joke for me. I remember.” His demeanor raises suspicions as he attempts to downplay his involvement.

Clover’s next significant lead comes when he visits Sylvia Briscoe at her employment agency. During their tense conversation at [06:39], Sylvia reveals a substantial insurance policy: “Its a large one. $100,000. Oh, Frank was a tricky one. He tried to woo me back by having it made out in my name.” This admission hints at a possible financial motive behind Frank's murder.

Further investigation leads Clover to Joseph Petty, who provides details about Della Sloan’s last known activities. At [20:08], Petty states, “She gave me her name. Said a man had called her from this number. Said he must be here waiting for her to call back.” This connection between Della and another man deepens the mystery.

Climax and Resolution

The tension peaks when Sylvia Briscoe and Eddie Cutler confront Detective Clover. At [27:46], Sylvia cynically remarks, “Sure. Come on in. Oh, you know Mr. Cutler.” The interaction reveals Sylvia's manipulative tactics to divert suspicion. As Clover pieces together the evidence, he confronts Sylvia and Eddie in a dramatic revelation:

Clover: “You brought the policeman here. Stupid, stupid man.”

Sylvia Briscoe: “It was me, Eddie. Understand, Mr. Clover. I couldn’t take a chance with that girl losing a hundred thousand dollars because a girl like that is alive.” [29:32]

The revelation exposes Sylvia and Eddie’s scheme to murder Frank and Della Sloan to secure the insurance money, showcasing Clover’s relentless pursuit of the truth.

Host Commentary and Insights

In the concluding segment, Adam Graham provides insightful commentary on the episode’s intricate plot and character dynamics:

“It's also kind of weird that we have the murder victim named Frank in two consecutive weeks. I wonder if Friedkin or Fine were having difficulties with someone named Frank at this time in their life.” [32:13]

Graham highlights the psychological depth of Detective Clover’s methods:

“I did like the way that Danny trapped the murderer. It's a nice little bit of psychological trickery that will do the job if evidence isn't readily available.” [32:13]

His analysis underscores the classic elements of old-time radio detective stories, emphasizing clever detective work and unexpected twists.

Conclusion

"Broadway's My Beat: The Frank Briscoe Murder Case" masterfully weaves a tale of suspicion, betrayal, and detective prowess. Through engaging storytelling and dynamic character interactions, the episode captivates listeners, delivering a quintessential old-time radio mystery. Host Adam Graham’s thoughtful commentary further enriches the experience, making this episode a standout in the podcast’s extensive lineup.

Transcript

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[Adam Graham]

Welcome to the Great detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, we're going to bring you this week's episode of Broadway's My Beat. But first, I do want to encourage you. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software. And today's program is brought to you in part by the financial support of our listeners. You can support the show on a one time basis using the Zelle app. To buy box [e-mail] or become one of our ongoing Patreon supporters for as little as $2 per month, go to patreon.greatdetectives.net but now, from July 10, 1950, here is the Frank Briscoe murder.

[Larry Thor]

Broadway, My Beat. From Times Square to Columbus Circle, the gaudiest, the most violent, the lonesomest mile in the world, Broadway's My Beat, the thrilling drama of murder and mystery and the people who walk the Great White Way. With Larry Thor as detective Danny Clover. The sea mist covers the sun, hangs a veil over Broadway. And for a time, Broadway is dimly seen, dimly heard. For an instant, Broadway is stunned. But then it recovers. It leaps to embrace the false night. The neon flares, the spectaculars explode. The banners are hung. Welcome night. And for the time of the mist, it's good on Broadway. But then the sun breaks through again and spoils it. And the lights are turned off in sullenness and backs are turned on the day. At police headquarters, you stand at a window and consider it, but you're interrupted. A man is dead in an apartment hotel maybe two minutes from headquarters. Look into it, Danny. And you're not. Because you know that's the way it would come out. It takes two minutes. You know that because when you get out of the elevator, a man is standing there with a watch in his hand.

[Eddie Cutler]

2:20 on the nose. Oh, I'll Put my money on the nose of you boys from headquarters. Every time you're death in a sprint.

[Larry Thor]

They told me a man was killed here.

[Eddie Cutler]

Yes, they told you true. Care for a look? See?

[Larry Thor]

Let's look anyway.

[Eddie Cutler]

It's right down the hall in 4B. Come along, sir.

[Larry Thor]

Here we are, fellas. Locked.

[Eddie Cutler]

Of course it is. I locked it.

[Larry Thor]

You took it on yourself to do that?

[Eddie Cutler]

Naturally. I'm the manager. I do many things by night. By day I perform. I like it when you make it seem I've done something criminal. I only lock the door to keep the snoopers out. You know how they are, messing about, fingering clues, thinking their noses.

[Larry Thor]

Sean, you found him like this?

[Eddie Cutler]

Exactly. He hasn't moved an inch.

[Larry Thor]

Who was he?

[Eddie Cutler]

Mr. Frank Briscoe. Pleasant gentleman. Oh, always had a joke for me. I remember.

[Larry Thor]

Whenever you're through. Oh.

[Eddie Cutler]

Oh, yes, yes. He's been a tenant here for four or five months, I'd say.

[Larry Thor]

Tell me about it. When you heard the shot. What? You didn't?

[Eddie Cutler]

Oh, I didn't?

[Larry Thor]

Didn't what?

[Eddie Cutler]

Well, I didn't hear a shot to what attracted me with a smell of smoke. I rushed in, a waste basket was on fire and. Mr. Br.

[Larry Thor]

Wait a minute.

[Eddie Cutler]

Hello?

[Larry Thor]

What's that?

[Eddie Cutler]

Hello? Old food in there. It's been doing that ever since. Receiver. Just dangly there. I. I wouldn't touch it.

[Larry Thor]

Hello? Hello, Frank.

[Eddie Cutler]

What's the idea keeping me waiting? What happened?

[Larry Thor]

You told me to hang on.

[Eddie Cutler]

It's heavy. You're not Frank. Who are you?

[Larry Thor]

The police.

[Eddie Cutler]

The police? What's happened? What's happened up there?

[Larry Thor]

You're talking to Mr. Briscoe?

[Eddie Cutler]

Yes. My name's Eddie Cutler. I called Frank for a golf date. He said, excuse me, there's someone at the door. Hang on. He said.

[Larry Thor]

Where are you now, Mr. Cutler? In my place of business on Wall Street.

[Eddie Cutler]

What happened?

[Larry Thor]

A murder. Stick around, Mr. Cutler. I want to talk to you.

[Eddie Cutler]

Well, what do you know about that?

[Larry Thor]

All the time there's got things for you to do. Manager go do. After that, it was a matter of getting out of the way while the boys of the dusting powder tried to raise fingerprints and the boys with the cameras tried to get presentable photographs of a dead man. Known as routine. The impersonal proddings as to why time and circumstance conspired to make Frank Briscoe a victim of murder. My part of it was to get back to headquarters and make phone calls and have other people make phone calls and get out such and such file and finally come up with a Starting point. Frank Briscoe was married now separated from his wife, Sylvia. More phone calls and prodding. Sylvia managed an employment agency in the Empire State Building. An agency for executive placements only I went there.

[Sylvia Briscoe]

Please sit down.

[Larry Thor]

Thank you, Ms. Briscoe.

[Sylvia Briscoe]

Look, if you like, relax.

[Larry Thor]

I'm from the police. Mrs. Briscoe.

[Sylvia Briscoe]

Oh. Name?

[Larry Thor]

Danny Clover.

[Sylvia Briscoe]

Well, let me understand you. If you're working now, why do you come to see me?

[Larry Thor]

Because of your husband.

[Sylvia Briscoe]

Why ruin a sunshiny day? Look at it out there. People drowning themselves in it.

[Larry Thor]

Your husband's dead. Don't let me stop you. Have your reaction and we'll talk.

[Sylvia Briscoe]

It's funny, you know. Things you leave behind, you forget about. Something happens. Comes back in a rush. Sunshine, sidewalks down there. The wonderful news you just brought me. I'm a little girl again and I want to play hopscotch on the pavement.

[Larry Thor]

I'm happy for you, Miss Puss.

[Sylvia Briscoe]

Thank you. You see, Frank was such a nothing. Now that you understand. Not quite a nothing, Mr. Clover, is a nothing. Zero in an empty box.

[Larry Thor]

Yet you married him and stayed that.

[Sylvia Briscoe]

Way for three months. One morning I stepped out of the house into the sunshine and liked that better.

[Larry Thor]

Why didn't you get a divorce?

[Sylvia Briscoe]

Frank wouldn't give me1 for five years. Now our conversation runs like this. Me, Frank, I want a divorce. Frank, no.

[Larry Thor]

One thing I didn't tell you. Frank was murdered.

[Sylvia Briscoe]

I'm glad for him. He had a horror of just wasting away. He. I wonder if that changes anything.

[Larry Thor]

Like what?

[Sylvia Briscoe]

His insurance policy. A large one. $100,000. Oh, Frank was a tricky one. He tried to woo me back by having it made out in my name. Tricky Frank.

[Larry Thor]

That's where the happiness comes, you know. Sure.

[Sylvia Briscoe]

Of course, Frank's been dead. Nothing. I blow on my fingernails about that. But a hundred thousand dollars. Oh, Mr. Clover, that's really something. Really something.

[Larry Thor]

Her girlish ecstasy over the sunshine. The hundred thousand dollars. The dead husband made it harder because it made me sick. Because it made me greedy to book her for murder. But the happy, happy widow had answers that held. She had seen Frank only rarely from the day she'd walked out on him. Her lawyers handled it with him. No, she hadn't left her office that morning. Her secretaries, her clients could verify if I didn't care to take her word. Then she began to tell me what she'd do with all that money. About the time she was a white queen in the African jungle. I walked out on her then. The search for a kind word over a dead man. Maybe Eddie Cutler, the man on the phone. The man from war. Wall street had one. Maybe he'd look up from his ticker tape and give me one. Mr. Cutler, another moment, please. I wish I could let you in on this one. Now, if you retain me as your investment broker. Frank. Breath. Just one more minute. I can't let this get away. My clients come first. Pete, will you get me down? Your clients will have to do without you for an hour. Maybe longer, maybe for days. Is only. All right, Pete. I'll call you back as soon as I'm rid of. Yeah. Now, just what is it? You wanted me. I told you. Oh. Oh, yes. But Frank. Poor Frank. Now, who would have dreamed? Dreamed what, Mr. Cutler? Isn't it plain that he be murdered? Die like that? You play golf with a man, you don't expect things like this to happen to him. Not for your golf buddies. How well did you know him? About that. Well, he'd call me, I'd call him. We'd arrange a little match for drinks. As a matter of fact, I was just calling him when. Oh, was it. Was it you I talked to on the phone in Frank's apartment? Yeah. I thought your voice sounded familiar. You. Pardon me for saying so, but you have a very pleasant voice. Mrs. Briscoe, do you know her? I never had the pleasure. Frank told me a lot about her, lots of times. No, I never had the pleasure. Anything else? Yeah. The phone call you made to Briscoe. Tell me about that. Well, I already did. When again? Did you hear a shot after Briscoe asked her to hang on? A shot? No, I did hear a door open and muffled voices, nothing intelligible. And then there was a funny kind of noise. A kind of. A Kind of a pop. After that. Well, you know about after that. Anything else? Yeah, you. Are you glad Frank Briscoe's dead? And my gut.

[Eddie Cutler]

Oh, what a question.

[Larry Thor]

What a thing to say to a man. Just thought I'd ask. Try the ticker type, Mr. Cutler. Maybe that'll console you.

[Eddie Cutler]

Danny.

[Larry Thor]

You may take three giant steps, Tartaglia. Come on in.

[Eddie Cutler]

I'm sorry, Danny, but I am not in the mood for levity today. We've got business to attend to.

[Larry Thor]

I apologize.

[Eddie Cutler]

Accepted.

[Larry Thor]

Thank you. Now, what can I do for you?

[Eddie Cutler]

Just sit there and admire the rapid manner in which New York's finest have come to your assistance.

[Larry Thor]

Why should I do that?

[Eddie Cutler]

Because I have in my hand a complete report of the dwellers who dwelt on the same floor of the apartment house in which Frank Biscoe was found. Deceased.

[Larry Thor]

I'm proud. Tell me about it, Roger.

[Eddie Cutler]

We'll call. There's not much to tell.

[Larry Thor]

But you'll tell me, huh?

[Eddie Cutler]

Only this, Danny, there were three other denizens of that floor, Mr. And Mrs. C.P. meston, who are living there for nigh onto 13 years and who are no trouble at all. In fact, the manager was more than profuse in his plaudits of old CP he likes to play cribbage with them.

[Larry Thor]

Thank you. Who else?

[Eddie Cutler]

Then there's Mr. And Mrs. Milburn Jeffries, who live on a pension and a canasta board. Also no trouble.

[Larry Thor]

Happy Homer.

[Eddie Cutler]

Then there is a Ms. Della Sloan.

[Larry Thor]

Spinster and a double solitaire fan.

[Eddie Cutler]

Oh, no, Danny. No. This Bella Sloan is a young lady of 27 with a now and then kind of police record.

[Larry Thor]

Now and then what?

[Eddie Cutler]

Disturbing the peace, Drunkenness.

[Larry Thor]

What was she doing in an apartment house like that?

[Eddie Cutler]

You know, that's what I can't figure out. She checked in for one day, then checked out. Where's it go, huh?

[Larry Thor]

Where is this Della Sloan now?

[Eddie Cutler]

Oh, wait a minute now. Here it is at the tag end of my report. Central Park West, 2002. I answered all your questions, Danny. I did good, huh?

[Larry Thor]

Did real fine. He even supplied a good question. What made Della slavery whimsical? It was a question that begged an answer. I had to find out what it was. The address on Central park west was a study in red brick respectability overlooking the park, neat, scrubbed and peaceful. A gray haired man at the desk smiled and told me Ms. Sloan lived on the third floor and said that was just to the left of the elevator, sir. Was all so peaceful that I hated to break it up.

[Sylvia Briscoe]

Well, a long way from the bottles. So come on in, I'll show you.

[Larry Thor]

Here, Ms. Sloan.

[Sylvia Briscoe]

Come on. Come on. Come on. Very, very, very drinky. You want a little drinky, don't you?

[Larry Thor]

I'm from the police.

[Sylvia Briscoe]

Drinky. No. Oh, come on, mister. Come on.

[Larry Thor]

Don't listen to me.

[Sylvia Briscoe]

Oh, I like it when you hold me. Come on, dance with me. The radio and everything. Come on.

[Larry Thor]

Now, look.

[Sylvia Briscoe]

Palm shapes turn pies. Come on, move your feet. Come on. That's better.

[Larry Thor]

Ms. Sloan. Della. She went limp in my arms and her head fell downward against my chest like a tired dancer when the night's dancing is through. But the bullet hole in her back gave the setting another texture. There was no tiredness in her face, only the expression that is suddenly and forever caught in an instant of time. Della Sloan was dead. Della Sloan had been murder. Did you know we once had a president who never voted in his life. That's right. He was Zachary Taylor, our 12th president. It seems that Taylor joined the army when he was in his early 20s and stayed in the service until just before he was elected president. While he was a soldier, he was never qualified to vote since he was never stationed long enough in one place. And strange to say, he didn't even vote for himself in the election which made him president. But today, through absentee ballots, most of our military personnel are given the chance to vote because we as a nation have learned that the foundation of authority is in the full consent of the people. We now continue with Broadway's My Beat, written by Morton Fine and David Friedkin and starring Larry Thor as Detective Danny Clover. When the trade winds blow in from the Hudson and summertime comes to Broadway, it's a season of rare enchantment. Then the palm trees sway in the corner lunch stand to the whir of the electric fan and the gourmet nods with satisfaction over the exotic tidbits. The juice from the papaya, the coconut milk, the kish. And Broadway LS in its island paradise to a native tune entitled Hoop de Do and occasionally glances at the newspapers from the mainland. Man murdered in an apartment house. What the beachcombers hadn't found out about yet was about me. Woman shot to death while dancing with policemen. I put Della Sloan on the couch, walked over to the window. There was no one on the fire escape. The shot had come from there, but the murderer had fled. Only the small hole in the window, the fragments of broken glass on the rug. I called headquarters, reported it. Then I turned off the radio. Two minutes after that, the door opened. It was too soon. It couldn't have been the police.

[Sylvia Briscoe]

Oh, I'm sorry it wasn't. I didn't know Della had a call. I'll go.

[Larry Thor]

No, don't go. Come in. Close the door.

[Sylvia Briscoe]

I bust nothing up for Della.

[Larry Thor]

Mister, close the door.

[Sylvia Briscoe]

Sure enough. Hey, what's the matter?

[Larry Thor]

I'm a policeman. Ah.

[Sylvia Briscoe]

Hey, look at Della when you're out again.

[Larry Thor]

Who are you?

[Sylvia Briscoe]

And there was roommate Ben Owens. Look at him.

[Larry Thor]

Della didn't come home last night, did she?

[Sylvia Briscoe]

So did she? No, I'm trying to tell you I'm a hot.

[Larry Thor]

Why wasn't she home? All right, let's go to headquarters. Betty.

[Sylvia Briscoe]

Mister, wait a minute. Wait a minute. Yesterday afternoon, Della had a phone call and she wasn't in, so I took it. I gave her number when she came in a few minutes later. That's all I Know what number? I guess it's still here in the past. Yeah, yeah, here. Here it is.

[Larry Thor]

Thanks.

[Sylvia Briscoe]

Well, you want some help with Dell? I know what to do. Come on, sugar, wake up. Hey, mister, you better give me a hand of the clothes, huh?

[Larry Thor]

She's dead, Betty. Murdered.

[Sylvia Briscoe]

But hey, what is this? Hey, you got the wrong idea.

[Larry Thor]

I didn't do it.

[Eddie Cutler]

Petty's Pharmacy. Petty's Pharmacy. Joseph Petty, Pharmacy speaking. Your order, please.

[Larry Thor]

Where are you located, Mr. Petty?

[Eddie Cutler]

1654 West 12. Right next to the mobile gas station. You can't miss it. And hurry down for the $0.01 sale. This is the last day, you know. We're about to close many.

[Larry Thor]

I'll do that, Mr. Petty.

[Eddie Cutler]

Are you being helped?

[Larry Thor]

Please.

[Eddie Cutler]

We have many wonderful bargains.

[Larry Thor]

These beach balls, for instance.

[Eddie Cutler]

Two for the price of. Well, you see the signs and we blow them up.

[Larry Thor]

That's a Petty. Where is he?

[Eddie Cutler]

I'm Mr. Petty. You have a prescription you want filled? We can even take care of you in that department.

[Larry Thor]

I'm from the police, Mr. Petty.

[Eddie Cutler]

Oh, official. Oh, you want a discount?

[Larry Thor]

I'm afraid official.

[Eddie Cutler]

Oh, but everything's in order. I haven't been robbed to my knowledge. My prescription books are examined regularly, but the State does.

[Larry Thor]

Sloan. You know her. Della Sloan.

[Eddie Cutler]

You see, now it registers. That name registers.

[Larry Thor]

Think about it, Mr. Petty, and fast.

[Eddie Cutler]

Oh, don't do that. I get all flapped in when people rush me. I have it. Della Sloan, of course.

[Larry Thor]

You'll tell me too, huh? Please.

[Eddie Cutler]

I don't know Della's phone from Adam or Eve, but she called here, told me her name. Interesting voice.

[Larry Thor]

Why did she do that yesterday morning? What did she want?

[Eddie Cutler]

She gave me her name. Said a man had called her from this number. Said he must be here waiting for her to call back. Would I page him, please? Page like this was a hotel or something.

[Larry Thor]

But you did that because her voice was interesting.

[Eddie Cutler]

Exactly.

[Larry Thor]

Was the man here?

[Eddie Cutler]

He was, yes. He was eating a cheese nut burger, the special of the day at the Fontiteria. When I called out, was there someone waiting for a call from a Ms. Dallas Sloan. He put down his nut baked further and said he was. Thank you. That's as far as I ever got.

[Larry Thor]

With Ms. Della Sloan. Who was the man?

[Eddie Cutler]

I haven't the Vegas. Except I gathered he was a friend of one of my sometime customers.

[Larry Thor]

Who would that be?

[Eddie Cutler]

Mrs. Sylvia Briscoe. She comes in here, as I said, sometimes for a tonic or a special.

[Larry Thor]

You said you thought they were friends, the man and Mrs. Briscoe. Why?

[Eddie Cutler]

Because yesterday when Mrs. Briscoe walked in, the man got up from the soda fountain, tipped his hat to her and talked quietly. From my observation of the world, friends do that. You know another reason?

[Larry Thor]

No, I don't, Mr. Petty, I really don't. After that there wasn't much of the day to work in. I called on Mrs. Briscoe, but she wasn't home. Then I phoned headquarters and found they'd released very own her alibi that she'd spent the whole day with friends. Checked. Then I went home for some sleep. At 7:30 I had my breakfast. A little after 8 I was at Sylvia Brisco's apartment. Was a sorry hour to disturb a lady. But the lady had attained the status of number one murder suspect.

[Sylvia Briscoe]

You got your nerves.

[Larry Thor]

Didn't want to disturb you at your office.

[Sylvia Briscoe]

Disturb me? You disturbed me once. That's your quota. Now get away from here.

[Larry Thor]

Can't do that. You better invite me in, Mrs. Brisco.

[Sylvia Briscoe]

Invite? You must be out of your mind. You police.

[Larry Thor]

Put on a coat. The squad car is downstairs.

[Sylvia Briscoe]

Why?

[Larry Thor]

May I come in?

[Sylvia Briscoe]

All right. You won't be here long enough to want to sit down, will you?

[Larry Thor]

Have you collected your insurance yet?

[Sylvia Briscoe]

My lawyers told me yesterday. It'll be a matter of a few weeks.

[Larry Thor]

Then you'll play hopscotch all over the world. I doubt it.

[Sylvia Briscoe]

A I apologize, Mr. Clover. I was rude. I. A woman doesn't like to be caught with her hair up. Please sit down. Give me a cigarette.

[Larry Thor]

All right. Light.

[Sylvia Briscoe]

What have I done?

[Larry Thor]

You tell me. Murder?

[Sylvia Briscoe]

Oh, yes. Would you like coffee?

[Larry Thor]

No, thanks. Ms. Briscoe. A man named Joseph Petty, a druggist not far from here, says he knows.

[Sylvia Briscoe]

You and I know him. Does that make your case stronger?

[Larry Thor]

He said you were in his store yesterday morning for a prescription.

[Sylvia Briscoe]

A tonic. Is there a heading in the penal code for that?

[Larry Thor]

You talk to a man.

[Sylvia Briscoe]

Things a woman will do nowadays. Disgraceful. What man?

[Larry Thor]

I'm asking you that. You want to think about it?

[Sylvia Briscoe]

Oh, no, no. I remember a man tipped his hat to me.

[Larry Thor]

That's right.

[Sylvia Briscoe]

That one, he said, and I'll try to quote him exactly. Hi, baby doll. And he went on from there. Mr. Clover, he said, I'll buy you a molded. Who knows what wonderful things can happen from there in. That's what he said.

[Larry Thor]

Look, Mrs. No, you look.

[Sylvia Briscoe]

That's what he said. Hi, baby doll. Well, I've been taught a defense against that. I flounced my bustle, pointed my thumb and said, 23 skidoo. And so help me, I Never saw the cab before. And you know I wouldn't know him if I ever saw him again.

[Larry Thor]

That's how it blew up in my. There was no link between her and the murder of Della Sloan. Still, I knew Della's murder was somehow a part of the earlier killing. An afterthought in the death of Frank Briscoe at headquarters. I went round and round with it, round and round. Yes, Pataglia?

[Eddie Cutler]

Danny, in the matter of Bella Sloan, we have been digging through the records and.

[Larry Thor]

And what?

[Eddie Cutler]

Not much, Danny, but I will give you a rundown. There may be something you can climb on.

[Larry Thor]

Will you come with me for a minute? Hold on, Titaglia. What do you got, Magdalen? Lab boys have got pictures developed from Dulles Loan Apartments, the fire escape, things like that.

[Eddie Cutler]

Want to take a look?

[Larry Thor]

Yeah. Let's go.

[Eddie Cutler]

Hey, Danny, I heard that. Who are you going to take care of first, me or him?

[Larry Thor]

Him. Tartaglia, call me back. Come on. I don't know if there's anything in the picture, Danny, but you'll be in.

[Sylvia Briscoe]

There at the time.

[Larry Thor]

They might have a message for you. Yeah, in here, Danny.

[Eddie Cutler]

Over on my desk.

[Larry Thor]

Nothing I didn't see before. I'll take them back with me, though, okay? Sure, Take them.

[Sylvia Briscoe]

Hello?

[Larry Thor]

Hello?

[Eddie Cutler]

Hello? I know you're there, Danny. I heard you walk back into your office. Come on, answer me, Danny.

[Larry Thor]

I'm sorry, Gino. I thought I hung up. The phone must have slipped off the ho. Wait a minute. Say that again, huh?

[Eddie Cutler]

Hello? Hello? Hello? Is that what you want me to say?

[Larry Thor]

You've been hanging on the phone all this time?

[Eddie Cutler]

Yeah, you told me. Hold on. Remember now, about Della Sloan.

[Larry Thor]

Hey, do something for me. Call this number.

[Eddie Cutler]

What number?

[Larry Thor]

Walker 8671.

[Eddie Cutler]

Walker 8671.

[Larry Thor]

Tell whoever answers. It's no good. The insurance people won't pay off. You got it?

[Eddie Cutler]

Yeah, I got it. But, Danny, what does it mean?

[Larry Thor]

Right now, Tartaglia, you got the whole day to worry about what it means.

[Eddie Cutler]

R26. Car 26.

[Larry Thor]

Over. Go ahead, 26.

[Eddie Cutler]

Suspect just left the building, Danny. Entering the cab.

[Larry Thor]

Tail it. No siren.

[Eddie Cutler]

Okay. Car 26. Still with us, Danny?

[Larry Thor]

Yeah, go ahead.

[Eddie Cutler]

Cab is now entering Grand Central overpass. Maybe you better put someone else on with us.

[Larry Thor]

We might lose it. Okay, keep on it.

[Eddie Cutler]

Over.

[Larry Thor]

Go ahead.

[Eddie Cutler]

Suspect enter department building on Madison. Shall we take them?

[Larry Thor]

No, just relax. I'll be right up.

[Sylvia Briscoe]

Oh, hello, Mr. Clover. Say, we're practically going steady, aren't we?

[Larry Thor]

Then I get invited in, huh?

[Sylvia Briscoe]

Sure. Come on in. Oh, you know Mr. Cutler.

[Larry Thor]

We've talked. Tell me, what kind of a trick is this? What are you trying to do with me?

[Sylvia Briscoe]

Relax, darling. I thought I'd finish with you. Mr. Clover. What do you want?

[Larry Thor]

You. Him. Mr. Clover, I. Well, let me explain it to you. There's some things of Frank. Golf clubs.

[Sylvia Briscoe]

Don't be so stupid, Ed. It's obvious what the gentleman wants you for. Murder.

[Larry Thor]

You didn't hear me, Ms. Briscoe. You too. I'm getting out of here. I'm where you are.

[Sylvia Briscoe]

You followed Eddie here, didn't you? It was you who called him Eddie, huh? You fell for that stupid trick. You brought the policeman here. Stupid, stupid man.

[Larry Thor]

Don't forget, you partnered with me. Pretty cleverly, too. Your idea, Eddie? No, the hers. But it was. You got Della to take a room near Prisca's apartment, Eddie. When you heard him come home, you called him, told him to hold the phone and walked down the hall into his room and shot him.

[Sylvia Briscoe]

My, Eddie. He did that? Well.

[Larry Thor]

Shot him, then set a fire in the wastebasket to attract attention. Walked back to Della's room and waited till someone picked up the phone.

[Sylvia Briscoe]

How.

[Larry Thor]

How could you have known that? How? I was lucky. It happened to me today. The same pattern. But Della, she. She shot Della to keep her quiet. Della would have kept quiet for me.

[Sylvia Briscoe]

Be miserable, Mr. Clover. Eddie shot that girl.

[Larry Thor]

I did not. You did. You didn't. You.

[Sylvia Briscoe]

Worse than worse.

[Larry Thor]

What about it, Ms. Briscoe?

[Sylvia Briscoe]

Look at him. Just look. He went to pot after his first chilling.

[Larry Thor]

It was you. You.

[Sylvia Briscoe]

It was me, Eddie. Understand, Mr. Clover. I couldn't take a chance with that girl losing a hundred thousand dollars because a girl like that is alive.

[Larry Thor]

Come on, Sylvia. They'll kill us. You made me do it, you know you made me. Your hand.

[Sylvia Briscoe]

We.

[Larry Thor]

We didn't have to kill poor Frank. You made me. I. I didn't want to do it. Mr. Clover, listen to me. It was her. It was her all the time. It was her fault.

[Sylvia Briscoe]

Shut up, Eddie. Really. Nothing. Zero in an empty box. Nothing.

[Larry Thor]

In the minutes before the dawn, Broadway lies huddled in a dreamless sleep. The silent street is part of it. A long black night, the time of no stars. The muted wind. And from far away, the whispers Star Running kid, or you'll never get home again. It's Broadway. The giest, the most violent, the lonesomest mile in the world. Broadway. My beat. Sam.

[Advocate for Tobacco Free Kids]

Nearly 90% of kids who vape say flavors are why they do it.

[Concerned Parent]

A lot of the flavors that I've heard are like Peach, mango, watermelon. It makes it seem, like more childlike and innocent. Oh, if I try this once, it won't be that much of a problem. But then eventually it becomes a problem.

[Advocate for Tobacco Free Kids]

It's time to restrict the sale of flavored tobacco products in Oregon and protect our kids from nicotine addiction. Urge lawmakers to Pass Senate Bill 702A. Take action at flavorshookoregonkids.org paid for by the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids Action Fund.

[Adam Graham]

Welcome back. A good episode. Let's give credit to our brazen, murderous. She was right to be annoyed by Danny's second visit. He was way too overconfident and cocky for the hand he had. So I have a witness that saw you talking to a man at the drugstore without a satisfactory explanation. I'm gonna arrest you for murder and press for the death penalty. And then she says, the guy was hitting on me. I've never seen him before in my life. Oh, well, never mind then. It's also kind of weird that we have the murder victim named Frank in two consecutive weeks. I wonder if Friedkin or Fine were having difficulties with someone named Frank at this time in their life. I did like the way that Danny trapped the murderer. It's a nice little bit of psychological trickery that will do the job if evidence isn't readily available. All right, well, now it's time to thank our Patreon supporter of the day. And I want to go ahead and thank Guy. Guy has been one of our patreon supporters since September 2022, currently supporting the podcast at the shamus level of $4 or more per month. Thank you so much for your support, Guy. And that will do it for today. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software, Square, and be sure to rate and review the podcast wherever you download it from. We will be back next Wednesday with another episode of Broadway's My Beat. But join us back here tomorrow for the second part of the Moonstone, where.

[Detective]

You see, I prepared a mixture, a mixture I call a vehicle, and poured it into the paint, which caused the paint to dry in 12 hours. 12 hours, you say? 12 hours, Sergeant. Let us reckon back Mr. Blake. At three on Wednesday afternoon, that bit of painting was completed, right? The vehicle dried it in 12 hours. That is to say, by. By 3 o' clock on Thursday morning. Does anyone here know just what caused that small paint smear beneath the lock? Oh, well, Superintendent Seagrave, the police officer who has retired from the case, he said one of the women servants petticoats had smeared it when they came in this room to be examined by him, sir.

[Larry Thor]

Ah.

[Detective]

The servant's petticoat is not responsible for the paint smear, because when the superintendent conducted his investigation, that paint was already eight hours dry. My thanks to you, Mr. Blake. It's quite in the cards that you have put the clue in our hands.

[Sylvia Briscoe]

Well.

[Detective]

Oh, Sergeant, this is Ms. Rachel Verinder.

[Larry Thor]

Did you say, Sergeant, that this man.

[Sylvia Briscoe]

Here has put the clue into your hand?

[Detective]

I should say, Ms. Verinder, that Mr. Franklin Blake has possibly put the clue into our hands. And now I should like to ask a question. Observe this smear on the painting of your door. Do you know when it was done or who did it?

[Larry Thor]

Will you follow a young lady's advice, Sergeant?

[Detective]

I shall be glad to hear it, Miss.

[Larry Thor]

Then do your duty by yourself. And don't allow this man here, Mr. Franklin Blake, to help you.

[Sylvia Briscoe]

You. That is my advice, Sergeant.

[Adam Graham]

I hope you'll be with us then. In the meantime, send your comments to Box 13, greatdetectives.net Follow us on Twitter at radiodetectives and check us out on Instagram instagram.com greatdetectives from Boise, Idaho, this is your host, Adam Graham, signing off.

[Advocate for Tobacco Free Kids]

Nearly 90% of kids who vape say flavors are why they do it.

[Concerned Parent]

A lot of the flavors that I've heard are like peach, mango, watermelon. It makes it seem like more childlike and innocent. Oh, if I try this once, it won't be that much of a problem. But then eventually it becomes a problem.

[Advocate for Tobacco Free Kids]

It's time to restrict the sale of flavored tobacco products in Oregon and protect our kids from nicotine addiction. Urge lawmakers to Pass Senate Bill 702A. Take action at flavorshookoregonkids.org paid for by the Campaign for Tobacco for Kids Action Fund.