Vintage Sci-Fi Radio

The Falcon - The Case of the Killers Key

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Duration:: 32m
Broadcast on:: 14 Jul 2024
Audio Format:: mp3

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That's renterswearhouse.com or call 303-974-9444 to speak to a rent estate advisor today. This summer, saddle up with the only sports book where you can bet on horse racing, FanDuel. Right now, new customers can get a no sweat first bet up to $500. Just download the app or go to fanduel.com/horses to score your no sweat bet up to $500. 21+ in present in Colorado. Offer valid on first real money wager of $5 or more, verified FD Racing account required, bonus issued and non-withdrawable racing site credit that expires seven days after issuance, max refund $500, restrictions apply. See terms at racing.fanduel.com, gambling problem, call 1-800-gambler. Hello? Yes, this is the fault I'm speaking. Oh, Sherry, I'm glad you called. I'll have to cancel me out tonight, Angela. I'm all jammed up. Some client of mine wants me to locate a missing girl. He doesn't care what it costs, so naturally, I'm going to shoot the works. Once again, the national broadcasting company brings you the transcribe the ventures of the Falcon, dedicated to private investigators everywhere. Those hard-hitting detectives who like Mike Waring risk their lives to aid law enforcement agencies. So join him now when the Falcon solves the case of the killer's key. It is early afternoon in New York and in a shabby rooming house in Midtown Manhattan, a nervous young man named Larry Gordon gives himself a dose of artificial courage. Then deciding further treatment is indicated he starts pouring again. Who is it? Me, Larry, open up. Wait a minute, Claire. Let's get them. Everything. You decide Chicago, and there I made a reservation for you on the California limit. What name did you use? Larry Holcomb. Good. When's the plane wave? 825 tonight. Couldn't you get me out sooner? No. Listen, Mary, I still think you're making a mistake. Running away is no solution. Are you crazy? Maybe this isn't as bad as you think. It's worse. If whatever lays his hands on me, that's it. Think you're wrong. Look, I work for the man for eight years. I know how his mind operates. I never should have opened my after those treasury boys in the first place. You had to, darling. Why? Was someone twisting my arm? They got enough on him to send him up for 10 years. But without you, they've got no case. And don't think that Mr. Hunt doesn't know it. Now if you want to help me pack. Larry. Thank you, could have been followed. No. Well, I was very careful. Who is it? Camper. Internal revenue. Oh, just a minute, Mr. Camper. Look, sweetie. It'd be awful sort if they know I told you where I was. What do you want me to do? Get me a kitchen and for Pete's sake, be quiet. All right, darling. I'm coming, Mr. Camper. Hello, Larry. Mr. Hunt. Yes. But I thought about it. I hope you'll forgive the deception. I did it very well, don't you think? Camper. Internal revenue department. You know, the stage may have lost a great talent. Listen, Mr. Hunt. I'm afraid I haven't timed Larry. I'm pretty busy these days coming internal revenue men out of my hair. I wasn't going to testify against you. No, no, I was beaten. See, I've got the tickets right here. So you were bound for California? My humble opinion, you couldn't have chosen better. Where were you planning to stay? What? Well, someone should cancel the reservation since you're going elsewhere. No, no, don't have a pleasant journey. My boy. Stop! Yeah, I'd like to see Mr. Hunt, please. Oh, you're a sergeant, Corbin. You don't look like a soldier to me? You're right. I'm with the police. Where's Hunt? Well, it's like this, Sergeant. Bruce, did you say... Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize you were entertaining. He ain't so entertaining. You, Charles Hunt? That's right. I'm Sergeant Corbin, homicide. How morbid. Well, somebody's got to do the job. You ever hear of a fellow named Larry Gordon? Yes, of course. He works for me. Or should I say, he wants it. Why? Well, I'm being investigated on an income tax matter, as you may have heard. Yeah, I've heard. And since Larry's going to testify against me, naturally, I don't consider him in my employ. Well, he won't need the job anyhow, pardon? He was knocked off at three this afternoon. I can't believe it. Well, take my word for it. I saw the body. Now, I have an idea you saw it, even before I did. You're not serious. I certainly am. We got enough evidence? Yes. You see, by an odd coincidence, Larry's girlfriend, Claire Marlow, was in the kitchen when you gunned him. Is that what Ms. Marlow fans? Well, well, what? Well, it's the way we figure it. We found her fingerprints. You're evading the question. Has Ms. Marlow accused me? Well, I haven't spoken to her yet. Why not? She disappeared. She must have been scared of that. The fact remains until you discover Ms. Marlow, you have absolutely no case. Don't worry. We'll find her. And when we do... And when you do, give me a call. Okay, hon. I'll be seeing you shortly. And then we'll see how... You're creating a draft, Sergeant. Well, Bruce, you heard. How can I help when I'm not deaf? What do you think? I think when they find Claire Marlow, I wouldn't want to be in your shoes. And the other hand, suppose I find her first. Who was that private detective Logan mentioned the other day? You mean Mike Waring? See the one they call the Falcon? Yeah. Well, uh, here good boy and look up his address. I think I've got a case for him. That's the situation, Mr. Waring. So you see my problem? Well, I'm afraid I don't, Mr. Hunt, isn't it, obvious? I want you to locate this Claire Marlow. You said the police are looking for him. Unfortunately, I haven't much confidence in them. And the jails are loaded with people who thought that. Uh, nevertheless, I'd like to see you take the assignment. I don't like it. Why not? It smells to me of tampering with the witness. Corbett claims this Claire Marlow can prove your guilty of Larry Gordon's murder. There's another sign to the crime. If Ms. Marlow saw someone else, she can establish my innocence. Yeah, I suppose that's true enough. What do the police find at first? Someone's the better. I just want the additional insurance. In my position, I need it. All right, Hunt. I'll do what I can. That's all I ask. You do what you can. And from that point on, it's up to me. [MUSIC PLAYING] Yeah? You the superintendent? At track. My name is Mike Waring. I wonder if you could give me some information about one of your tenants. Oh, Claire Marlow. Mm. You have cop? Why? She told the other fella everything I knew. What other fella? Oh, tall, thin fella. About your size? Oh, you must mean Sergeant Corbett. Yeah, that's his name. Well, now that you've told Corbett, why not tell me? I don't know nothing. Came home yesterday like she was scared or something. Went right to a room. How long does she stay? Oh, maybe 10, 15 minutes. Did she have a grip with her when she left? Nope. Just a pocketbook. And she didn't say where she was going. Nope, and I didn't ask. I believe her fella should mind or something. Yeah, if it's one thing it's another. Excuse me a second. Oh, sure. Yeah. Well, what do you know? Special delivery from Claire Marlow. Yeah, let me see that. Hey, what you doing? Just a minute. You're Herman, please don't tell anyone you've heard from the anyone at all. I wonder if you'd be good enough to do me a favor. I've made arrangements with North American van lines to move my stuff on Wednesday. They know where to deliver it. My bankbook was in the upper right hand draw of my dresser. If you take it with the enclosed withdrawal slip, I'm sure you have no trouble getting the money. Will you please bring it over to me at the Kenton Hotel. I'm using the name Claire O'Brien. Yeah, well, she went to use her name like that for her. Kenton Hotel, isn't it? Hey, where you going? I have to report to my client. You've been a great help, Herman. Thanks a million. (Music) Bruce? Yeah? I believe that's the phone. I believe you're right. Don't you think this should answer? What's the point, Mr. Honn, it's probably for you. You know something, Bruce? I'm beginning to dislike your attitude. You know, answer the phone. We still say it's a waste of time. Yeah? I'd like to talk to Gerald Hunt, please. Who wants him? Mike Waring. All of it. When I tell you, it's for you. Who is it? The Falcon. All right? Oh, well, I don't think I've been eating you anymore today. You mean you want me to leave? That's what I want. How far be it for me to hang around with my boy? Hello? I've got good news for you, Hunt. Really? Really? I've located Claire Marlow. That is wonderful. He's staying at the Canton Hotel. He's registered under the name of Claire O'Brien. I needn't tell you how happy I am with your services, Mr. Waring. I was lucky. Let's say we both were. You may have been fortunate to find Claire, but I was lucky to find you. I would have had a difficult time with it, without you. I'll make nothing of it. When are you planning to seek, Claire? Immediately. You're familiar with the old proverb he who hesitates has lost? Well, in my position, I can't afford to waste a second. Goodbye, Mr. Waring. Thanks ever so much. You and your children can expect to live long thanks largely to better medicine and surgery. But you could expect to live even longer were it not for the danger of automobile accidents. In the 15 to 25 age group alone, traffic accidents wiped out 300,000 years of life last year. Had the 6,500 automobile victims in this youthful group lived out their lives, think how much richer and happier America would have been. If driver education could be taught in all of our high schools instead of only a third of them, it might someday help to save the life of your own son or daughter. If your schools don't have them, demand driver education for your children. And in your own automobile, remember to drive as though your life depends on it. It does. And now back to the adventures of the Falcon. An hour has passed since Mike Waring reported to his client Gerald Hunt, where Claire Marlow could be found, and now in that young lady's hotel room. All right, all right, you guys. Come on, let's hurry it up, get out of here. Oh, David, see if you can find any prints around, no, I doubt it. And I move the body now, son. Now you better wait for Lewis, he may want some more pictures. Right. Hey, Levy, how you doing on that? Oh, you boys carry on, I'll get it. I'd like to, well, Sergeant Corbett, hey, what are you doing here? I came to see Claire Marlow. Okay, look. Oh, no. Oh, yes. Now, is this close enough, or would you like to hold her hand? I don't think she'd get a kick out of it. Neither do I. What do you want with it? That's a long story. Well, I never knew you'd tell any other kinds, so let's get started. Well, a client of mine wanted me to find her. And you did. I was lucky. I wonder. Who's your client? I'd rather not say. Oh, you'd rather not say. Looked like her, and that innocent girl has been murdered. Nobody knew where she was hiding out. And if you found-- All right, all right, you don't have to draw me a diagram. I was responsible. Yes, indeed. Is that her up for a clay pigeon? I've known stupid jerks in my time, but of all-- Look, never mind the name, Sergeant. I can think of a million to call myself. Well, who's your client? Or maybe I can guess. Don't bother. Look, Mike, don't try to hold out on me. I'm not going to. I admit, I was a patsy in this case. You were the patsy. What about her? Well, I know, I know. Someone's going to pay for it. Hey, wait a minute. Where are you going? Gonna have a word with my client. After that, you can have him. Well, frankly, I thought it'd be much left. I'll be seeing you, Sergeant. [MUSIC PLAYING] Yeah, there's hunting. Who are you? Never mind. I'll announce myself. Now, wait a sec. All right, Bruce. Come on in, Mr. Whirring. And try and keep me offs. Bruce, get the gentle on the drink. Sure. What do you have, buster? A little privacy. The boy you leave me alone with your boss. What orders I take, I take from him. You better give him his walking papers, hunts. Really, Mr. Whirring. Aren't you being a bit high-handed? Tell him to blow. All right, Bruce. Give me a go. Well, as long as you put it that way. All right, now, what was the idea, hunts? What was what I did? Don't give me any double talk. I'm in no mood for it. Oh, dare you. Easy, I'll show you. No. That you made a sucker out of me. You got me to find Claire Marlow so you could kill her. You mean Claire's dead? Yes, if you didn't know. But I didn't. I suppose you don't remember me phoning you at 1.30 this afternoon. I told you where you could find her. I could blow my brains after not calling on her first. But you didn't make that mistake, did you? Let me go. Sure, I'll let you go. Now, confessions are in order. You killed her, didn't you? No. Come on, hunt. I'm going to get the truth if I have to break every bone in your body. You murdered her just as your murder Larry God. That's where I didn't. Where's your coat? I'm not going with you. Yes, you are. I promise to deliver you to Sergeant Corbett on the headquarters and that's one promise I intend to keep. Now, will you go quietly? No. Okay, suit yourself. Now, come on. Get up. You got a long, rough trip ahead of you. Hey, Matty. Yes, Sergeant. Carlin reporting yet? Just about two minutes ago. Well, where's Hunt? Hey, couldn't find him. You mean he skipped? Yeah, Carlin said the place was a shambles. Well, get a 47-hour. I want every bus and train depot watching cover the airfields. If Hunt gets away... Don't worry, Sergeant. Hey, never mind, Matty. All right, you come inside. Let me go. What's the idea, Mike? What's the matter with you, Sergeant? Don't you recognize him? Who would he look for? Wait a minute, it's Hunt, that's right. Well, what happened? Well, he had a little accident. Go on, Hunt, sit down. You slug him? Well, Sergeant, you know me. Well, that's why I asked. Listen, Mike. Look, why don't we both listen? All right, Hunt, make like a birdie. I don't know what you're talking about. Look, if I've got to bounce you around again... Hey, what's going on here? He admitted to me that he murdered Clare Marley. I lied. You what? I couldn't help myself, Sergeant. He would have killed me. That's not too late now. Do you deny him? I deny everything. I was forced to make that admission to protect myself. Under the circumstances, I felt I was justified. Hello, Sergeant. Would you leave us alone for a couple of minutes? Don't be a sap. And it's all right for you to talk, but I feel responsible for that girl's death. If I hadn't found her, she would still have been alive. I phoned him at 1.30 and I'd-- Wait a minute. When did you phoned him? At 1.30. Oh, no. Boy, what's the matter? If you realize what you've done, you've just given him an alibi. Are you nuts? Clare Marlow was killed at a quarter to one. Well, 45 minutes before you called him. Well, that means-- That means he couldn't have killed her. Well, look, Hunter. If I've done you an injustice-- Did you have? I ought to do any good. If I said I was sorry-- Not at all. Good day, gentlemen. I trust I'll never see either of you again. (SIREN WAILING) Well, welcome home, Mr. Hunter. I see you've taken over for us. I didn't think you'd mind. You like some champagne? No, thanks. You didn't know what you're missing. This is a bitter end. (SIGHS) Hey, tell me it's the only thing when you're celebrating. Is that what you're doing? Sure. Aren't you back? I'm flattered. I didn't dream you cared. Yeah, I was real worried. I have a feeling I was never going to see again. Hey, you ought to do something about that. Hi, that Mike Waring can really dish it out again. Oh, that proves. Joke is over. What's the meaning of this? I told you, I was celebrating. Truly, it don't be grudge your ex-employee, a bottle of champagne. My ex-employee? Well, the way I see it, I've been working for you for seven years. So I decided it was time I bettered myself. After all, this is the land of opportunity. And you feel opportunity is knocking at your door? Definitely. You sure you won't join me in a drink? Enough of this nonsense. Kicking my robe. You don't seem to understand. I'm through taking orders. With what I got on-- What have you got on me? For one thing, you're not door flarry Gordon and Claire Marlow. This may come as a shock to you. But the police are satisfied. I have no hand in either. You see, I have an unimpeachable alibi. Is that a fact? Yes. It now develops that Miss Marlow has murdered 45 minutes before Mr. Waring reported her whereabouts to me. Well, what do you know? I know you've been taking too much for granted. I don't think so. I happen to know how it was worked. You do? Yeah, I was going through your clothes. What? Well, I thought maybe you wanted me to send them out to the cleaners. Anyway, in your pocket, I found this card. Lawrence Regan, private investigations. So? So I wondered what you would want for two private detectives. And just like that, it came to me. You were going to use Waring as an alibi. And the stinking. Well, there's an easy way to check. Who are you calling? The boy Sherlock, Lawrence Regan? Nothing ridiculous. Am I? Hello? Let me talk to Mr. Regan, please. Regan? This is Bruce Webster. I worked for Mr. Hunt. Well? The boss would like to know whether you have any luck finding Claire Marlow. What's the matter with her, guys? He blown a fuse? I reported back to him at 11 o'clock this morning. She's at the Captain Hotel, registered under the name of Claire O'Brien. I guess it kind of slipped his mind. What's going on here? Nothing you should worry about. Thanks a lot, anyway. Well, you win. I always do. I'm the patient type. I learned that from you. What do you want? Twenty-five thousand dollars. That's a lot of money. Well, it ain't as though I was going to throw it away. I'm going to sock it in the government bond. That three percent pay will come in my hand. And I'm making a mistake. I don't think so. I always say the least a fella can do is be patriotic. You better get it up fast, Mr. Hunt. You don't want to keep Uncle Sam waiting. I don't get it, Sergeant. I don't get it at all. Well, you would if I had my way. You ruined everything. But the usual Claire Marlow died of the quarter to one. Positive. The desk clerk at the hotel heard the shots. Did he have any other enemies? No. This thing's tied up with a Larry Gordon killing for sure. That doesn't make sense. There was no way in the world. Hello. Not you wearing? Yes, who's this? Bruce Webster. Who? I work for Hunt, remember? Oh, yeah. I just thought you might be interested. I'm terminating my employment. That's supposed to mean something to me? It might mean a lot. If you could dig up some cash, I can let you know my reason. What are you talking about? Well, wouldn't you like to know how Hunt made a chop out of you? I certainly would. How much joke can you raise? I'm not in Hunt's class. No, but every little bit helps. Could you lay your hands on 10 grand? Don't be ridiculous. Five? I've got $720 in the bank. Fine, I'll take it. No, wait a minute. Come on, Weary, make up your mind. Where are you? I got a little place at the Fortuna Apartments at West 93rd. Drop around with you in the neighborhood. Okay, don't go away. I'll be in the neighborhood in 20 minutes. ♪ That you, Weary? Well, just a second. Come on in. Mr. Hunt, rise? Yeah, I thought I saw the last of you. You saw it wrong. What's the idea? It's fairly simple. I'm a man who hates loose ends. Naturally, with you dangling about? You wouldn't? Oh, you recognize the gun? Yes, it's the same one I used on Larry Gordon and Clare Mono. You'll never get away with him. The cops will know for sure. You're a concern for me. You needn't why. You see, I'm taking the liberty of preparing a note in which you confess to both murders. You're nuts. When the police break in, they'll find the note in the murder gun. Naturally, it'll be in the traditional position of suicide. Don't ever buy it, eh? No motive to knock off Larry Gordon. You have the way I've explained it in this note. Seems you were madly in love with Clare. When she spurned you for Larry, you decided to rid yourself of the competition. That's the Clare. She was a witness to the act. So, regretfully, you had to dispose of her, too. Isn't that poetic? Listen, I wish I could, my boy. The time is of the essence. No, don't. No. Many of you will remember the big smog. It was a deadly cloud of man-made factory smoke carried in fog that settled over Donner of Pennsylvania in 1948. It killed 20 persons and made 6,000 others ill before it lifted. That tragedy alerted the entire nation to the peril of death-ceiling smog. But did you know that another and far-deadlier man-made fog will settle over this nation's streets and highways tonight? It's the fog that be clouds the brain of the drinking driver and the pedestrian who has had one too many. Let's start to clear this death fog from our roads and begin now. Remember, if you drink, don't drive. If you drive, don't drink. Drive as though your life depends on it. It does. Now, back to the adventures of the Falken. 15 minutes have passed since Mike promised to call on Bruce Webster. Now we find Sergeant Corbett helping him keep that promise. This must be it. Yeah. Suppose he won't talk. Just leave everything to me. I left hunt to you and what happened. Sure, he said he'd meet you here. That's positive. I told him I'd be open 20. Look, get out of the way. What are you doing? Oh, what does it look like? Well, you know what, isn't polite to peek through keyholes. No, but it could be awfully interesting. What do you see? Give me a half a store. Hell, what was it? Come on, come on, put your shoulder to us. One, two. Holy smoke. Yeah. What did he want to do that for? Don't ask me, I'm a stranger here myself. Yeah, wait a minute. What do you make of this? To whom it may concern, this was the only way. I killed Larry Gordon. It was all Claire Marlow's fault. She led me on. I thought with Larry, under the way, we'd have a deal, but I was a chump. Oh, boy, they're looking for any relatives. I haven't... Hey, cut that out, Mike. I was only going through his pocket. What do you know, Bad Area? I just wanted to see what he had on him. Well, someone was here before me. All he's got on him are these two keys. What do you make of it? One's obviously for his grip, the other for his car. Now, this doesn't add up. What do you mean? He didn't commit suicide. But look at the gun. You look at it. I'll tell you, this was engineered. Buy home, buy hard of course. Can you prove that? Not to you. Where's my percentage? Let's find someone who'll give me better odds. [Music] That's one I can't believe this one. When I was up at Bruce's a few hours ago... And you admit you were there. Why should I deny it? He complained of not feeling well this evening. Naturally, the least I could do is show for him home. And when you laugh, he seemed perfectly all right. I never dreamt he contemplated suicide. I still don't understand why. Oh, maybe there's no to clear things up. Oh, that's my concern. Oh, so that explains it? I said it would seem to. And I've realized he's involved with Claire. Well, things will sell them what they seem. For instance, when we broke into Bruce's room, it looked as though he committed suicide. But you don't believe it? No. You told me you found the gun in the sand. Yes. And it was the same weapon that was used on Mary Gordon and Claire Marlow. Mm-hmm. I'm not sure to mention that would take care of everything. No, not quite. It was one thing missing. And Corbett and I got the Bruce's room. The door was locked. Mm-hmm. Well, if he committed suicide, it had to be locked from the inside. Obviously. Well, then what happened to the key? That's right. It wasn't in the lock because you were able to peek through the keyhole. And it wasn't on him or in the room. That means the door must have been locked from the outside. And the killer absent-mindedly walked off with the key. - Look, Mr. Waring. - All right, Sergeant. Go through his pocket. I know you can't! No, no, no, no. Well, what have we got here? It's all a mistake. Now, you said it, friend. And the beautiful part of it is it only takes one to land you in the chair. All right, Sergeant. He's all yours. Well, like my father used to say, another day, another dollar. And believe me, you didn't earn this one. I did all the work. Well, you slump. You should talk. He gave Hunt that alibi. You're out of your mind. If it hadn't been me, it would have been some other private dick. Come again. If it all comes down to one thing, Hunt had two of us trying to locate Claire. He probably waited until the other boy came through for him before he even hired me. Oh, what was the point? Give him so that alibi. After all, when I told you I reported to him after the girl was murdered, it didn't seem possible he could have been responsible. Well, I still saw that women hold everything. Well, what's the matter? I just sawed at something. I never got paid. Huh? By Hunt for finding Claire. Sue him. Sue him is going to the chair. So what? Why were you, kiddo? I'd really make trouble for him. Good night, Mike. The Case of the Grand Gamble. The Case of the Grand Gamble. That's the title of next week's Adventure of the Falcon. When Mike wearing learns that when men play for high odds, there sometimes are grave consequences. The Adventures of the Falcon are based on the famous character created by Drexel Drake, produced and transcribed by Bernard L. Schubert, written today by Eugene Wang and directed by Richard Lewis. Let Damon start as the Falcon. When it comes to renting out your property, the uncertainty of finding reliable tenants can feel like a real guessing game. Responsible renter or perpetual party animal. Enter renters warehouse. The pros who turn the uncertainty of finding great tenants into peace of mind. Renter's warehouse offers top-notch leasing and tenant placement services, ensuring you get trustworthy renters without the hassles and headaches. With no upfront fees, Renter's warehouse works for you, not the other way around. From marketing and showing your property to screening tenants and preparing the lease, their team of experts handles it all so you can sit back and watch the rent roll in. Renter's warehouse even warranties their tenants for up to 18 months at no extra cost. And if you need ongoing management, they've got you covered too, all for a flat monthly fee. Visit renterswearhouse.com to request a free rental price analysis that's renterswearhouse.com or call 303-974-9444 to speak to a rent estate advisor today. What's next? At Moss Adams, that question inspires us to help people and their businesses strategically define and claim their future. As one of America's leading accounting, consulting and wealth management firms, our collaborative approach creates solutions for your unique business needs. We leverage industry-focused insights with the collective technical resources of our firm to elevate your performance, uncover opportunity, and move upward at MossAtoms.com.