Vintage Sci-Fi Radio

The Falcon - The Case of the Flaming Club

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Duration:: 27m
Broadcast on:: 08 Jul 2024
Audio Format:: mp3

Well, it sounds like the tenants hit your rental property sure know how to throw a great party. You just wish they wouldn't throw so many parties on Tuesdays until 4 AM. And if they could pay the rent on time, that would be nice too. Being a landlord can be stressful, but it doesn't have to be. Let renters warehouse handle the hard part of property management for you, like finding quality tenants you can trust. Renters warehouse manages thousands of single-family homes and specializes in locating reliable tenants at the right price for your property, usually in a matter of days. Because if your tenant defaults for any reason, they'll replace them for free up to 18 months under their tenant warranty program. From rent collection to maintenance coordination, their best-in-class property management professionals do it all. All for one flat, monthly fee. Get a free rental price analysis at renterswarehouse.com to find out how much your home can rent for. Renterswarehouse.com or call 303-974-9444 to speak to a rent estate advisor today. COVID-19 and flu viruses disguise themselves to fool your immune system. That's why COVID-19 and flu vaccines are updated to protect you. Stay up to date on COVID-19 and flu vaccinations, sponsored by Champions for Vaccine Education Equity and Progress. Hello? Yes, this is the Falken speaking. Oh, Linda, thanks for calling Angel, but I can't make it tonight. The fellow was caught playing with matches and it made him so mad, I have to get to him before he gets all burned up. This is then-herly, he friends, inviting you to listen to the adventures of the Falken. Transcribed today, starring Les Damon. You met the Falken first in his best-selling novels. Then you saw him in his thrilling motion picture series. Now join him on the air when the Falken solves the case of the flaming club. And now the case of the flaming club. It's late Sunday night in New York when Eric Dean walks slowly to the door of his apartment. He looks through the keys on his key ring to the one which fits the lock. He tries one. And after a couple of tries get it in the lock, the funds won't turn. He's fumbling for another key when he hears someone on the other side of the door. Eric? Yeah? Is that you? Yeah, that's me, Georgia. What are you expecting? Just a minute. Good morning. Yes, ma'am. You've been drinking. Is that a fact? Well, who wouldn't be? Went over to the books at Laraby tonight to keep getting further in the red. In fact, we're broke. Now, isn't there any way to cut expenses? Cut expenses. Cut expenses. What are we gonna do? We fired the band. Gotta keep a bartender and a piano player. Oh, it must be something. We just stopped eating. Put expenses at home, cancel my life insurance, sure. We can cut expenses. Oh, no. He's talking about it now. Oh, I can see that. But tomorrow... I don't want to talk about it tomorrow. Just want to sing and dance. Come on, Georgia. Let's dance. Let's go. All right. What's the matter? Don't you want to dance? Nobody wants to dance. Nobody wants to have fun. I want to have fun. Lots of fun. I want to dance. I want to blow my brains out. 10.30 and we got six couples. Well, dinner was your idea to chuck the band. My idea. They wanted to be paid. There's only one out. I mean, there still isn't out, Laramie. One. What? Come on in the office. Okay. Don't tell me you've found a sucker we can unload on. No, nothing like that. Well, Laramie? We could have a fire. What? You heard me. A fire. We have insurance. Are you crazy? It's been dumb. Yeah, people are going to jail for it, too. They're only a chance to get out from under. Can't you see that, Dean? I don't like it. There's a button. Oh, wait a minute, pal. Nothing to drink until we get this settled. It is settled. No fire. Why not? I can't a gasoline. I'm matching. We collect. I said no, Laramie. You talk too much. You'd be sure to shoot your mouth off. You think I'm crazy? I think if we got away with it, which we probably wouldn't, but if we did, you'd have to start bragging about how sharp we were. Dean, I give you my word. I know you, Laramie. I know you'd start-- What's the matter? Just a minute. Hi, sir. Hey. Hey. Hey. All right, Morgan. What's the idea? Oh, let's go, Mr. D. You were listening at the door. No, I'm not. Then what were you doing here? You're supposed to be at the barge. I just wanted to ask you something. There's a phone at the barge. There's a phone here. That's right, Morgan. What are you doing here? It was a lot of people. Believe me, I-- You've been snoping. No, Mr. D. I've snooped on a liar, too. Well, that's all for you, Mr. You're through, as of now. Not so fast. What about my back pay? You owe me three weeks. So it's-- You can't do this. Don't tell me what I can do. You're fired. Don't be a fool, Dean. Get back to the buyer, Morgan. I'll straighten this out with Dean. I'm not sure I want that. Now be reasonable. Dean's upset, that's all. He doesn't realize what he's saying. Oh, don't I? No. Well, Morgan. All right, Mr. Laraby. If you say so. That's it, Morgan. I'm sorry about Dean, but we've been having a lot of trouble. I'm not surprised with him asking for it. And believe me, if he keeps on like that, you haven't seen anything yet. What'll it be, Mr. Dean? I'd like to see Mr. Dean. No, you wouldn't. Oh, why do you say that? Nobody likes to see him. Okay, then let's say he'd like to see me. He phoned me. Oh, well, try that door back there. I think he's in the office. Oh, is it? Mike Waring. Oh, yes, Waring. Come in. Well, I've got to be to come, Waring. Sit down. Thanks. Oh, what do you want with the detectives? Tell me. How good are you at shadowing? Good enough that I don't waste my time, is that it? That's all you want. Why pay my fee? This is something special. I got a partner in Mark Laraby. I want a record of all his movements. Why? Does it matter? I want him followed. I'm willing to pay. You're willing to pay too much. I want to be sure nothing goes wrong. That's why I want to falcon. The funny thing about me, Dean, when I'm on a case I like to know what I'm doing, you'll be following Laraby. Yeah, that's what I call a lot of intonation. I didn't know you were going to be so curious. Well, I'm going away for a few days, perhaps, and I want to be sure Laraby stays away from my wife. Perhaps you do. There are a lot of other detectives in town that will keep tabs for you, and I'm not interested in that kind of business. Why not? I never cared for gossip. You wouldn't have to gossip. Just report. See what I mean? Well, as a matter of fact, I'm not afraid of Laraby calling on Georgia. Then we'll write back what we started. All right, Waring. If you must know, here it is. Laraby's been drawing a lot of money out of the business. I can't find out what he does with it. I think he's been gambling. I have to know so I can straighten him out if he is. Now will you take the case? I didn't know something, Dean. I still think you're lying. But if you're so anxious to dump cash in my lap, I don't see why I should deprive you of the pleasure. Yeah, all right. It's a deal. Here I am, Mr. in this doorway. You're looking for me? No. How come you've been following me ever since I left the club? As I am. Oh, that's a brilliant conversation. Well, I'm not an old collard, and never would have known. Who are you? Does it matter? It matters that you're following me. What's the idea? Who told you I'd be following you? I got eyes. But I haven't been beating Tom, Tom. How come you spotted me? You just don't as sharp as you think. Or somebody tipped you. Now who? No, just because you're clumsy. Not that clumsy. You won't discuss it. You've been following me and you're going to stop. No, what's stopping me? This, if it has to. That loaded. Hang around. You'll find out. No, I'll take your word. I don't like to set up anyway. Good night, Larody. I missed. I just noticed the time. You're out of luck. Not necessarily, driver. But it's after two. The club will be closed. I'm not going for entertainment. If you want to talk to the bartender, he may still be around. OK. Just thought you might want to know. Oh, thanks. Some guy's race. Only Ned. Uh-oh. What's the matter? Fire inches. [MUSIC] Hey, look, they're stopping in the next block. Mm-hmm. Oh, yeah. I see the smoke coming out of that business. Hey. Well, what? Look up there. Isn't that the club way you wanted me to take you? Is it? Hey, you're right. It is. It's on fire. Yeah. No, I see. [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] Now, back to the adventures of the polka. It's a few minutes since Mike Waring discovered that his client's club could briefly boast of the hottest show in town. Now, the polka must push through the crowd and into the burning building. He makes his way through the smoke and flames through the basement steps, or is down at at least stomped by a fireman at the bottom. Hey. Hey, where do you think you're going? I wanted to see what started this. Well, get out of here. You want to get killed. Take like I'm a fireman, too. I got no time for games. Look, it's just that I put a hunch to something phony about this fire. I want a lot of smoke. I can just see a look. Hey, hey, look over there. Where? You're in that pile of boxes. Now, those are man's legs sticking out from behind there. I don't see any. Oh, yeah. Yeah, you're right. Come on. Yeah, here he is. That's Dean. Oh. One of the owners of this place. Help me get him out of here. We can get him to the restaurant. I'm afraid artificial respiration won't do him anything. You never can tell. In this case, you can't. Look at his chest. He's been stabbed to death. Oh, Corbett. Looks like we got the fire under control. Yeah, wearing. Come on over to the car. I want to get a few things drank. All right. But isn't it a waste of time, Corbett? You know you'll never keep them straight. That's right, wearing. Make with the gags. Us police don't know from nothing. Takes a bright private op like you to bungal a routine tale so bad. A man pulls a gun on you. I didn't bungal. He must have been tipped by old. Well, that's one thing I'm going to find out. Mm-hmm. Really hurts, son of a... And now, Eric, tell me something about this fellow Dean. I told you. He was going out of town. He wanted me to keep an eye on his partner, Mark Larrity. I did, with the results, to please you so much. What did Dean expect you to catch Larrity doing? I said he was afraid Larrity was tossing his bankroll down a roulette rat hole. And he wanted me to check. Is Dean his partner's keeper? He claimed he was working at it. Did you swallow Dean's yarn? Would you? You kidding? But I'm not smart like you, wearing. Well, Dean's story smelled, but I played along to see how things lined up. And the fire coming right at this time seemed too much of a coincidence. You think Larrity started it after he shook you? Well, something to check. Along with... How come Dean winds up in the basement of his club when he claimed he'd be out of town? He planned to leave. He hadn't gotten around to it. No, how do you know? You're not the only one who can make brilliant deductions, wearing. I found an airplane ticket in his pocket to Pittsburgh on the 4 a.m. plane out of LaGuardia. From which I deduced he was planning to fly to Pittsburgh this morning. Call but you're a genius. Now if you're through with me, I'll be running along. And some angles I still want to look into. Why bother wearing your client's dead? Look, I'm going to prove somebody tipped Larrity about me tailing him. You don't have to prove it wearing. Somebody did tip him. Yeah, I'm sure wearing. You did. Wait a minute, will you? I'm coming. Oh, do you worry? Don't you know it's the middle of the night? No, no, I didn't. My watch stopped. I'm laughing. Now I wanted to get to you before anyone else did. Word. If you work for Dean and Larrity, I thought you might be able to tell me something about them. Like what, for instance? Like why you tipped Larrity that I was hired to tail him. What are you talking about? How would I know? You could have listened to my conversation with Dean. Listen, Dean, me? You know my name. You call me by it just now. Well, you told me at the club. Yeah, I think again, Shum. I just went into the club and stopped at the bar to ask for Dean. I never mentioned my name to you. Well, I, I, what's the difference if I do know your name? Because maybe that's not all you know. Maybe you know Dean hired me. And if I do, then maybe it tipped Larrity. And if I did, now that'll break Corbett's heart. Who's Corbett? Sergeant Corbett. Homicide squad. What's he, what's he got to do with this? He likes to rip me. You wake me up in the middle of the night on any kind of a rib? No, not entirely. There's been a fire. Do you know anything about that? Fire. Yes, the club burned down. What? Kind of a coincidence, wouldn't you say? Why? Coming right when one of the owners is suspicious enough of the other to hire a detective to tail him? You think Larraby or Dean? The fire? Yeah, Larraby or Dean, the fire. It didn't start itself. But they couldn't have done it? Why not? Well, you were following Larraby, you say? And Dean was on a train to Chicago. Train to Chicago, where'd you get that idea? Well, he told me. Dean, when? When he left the club last night or six? Dean said he was taking a train to Chicago. I told you. No, so you did. But that's not what the plane ticket says. What plane ticket? The one that's not for a train to Chicago. That don't make sense. No, pal, you're catching on. But why should it make sense? Nothing else in this case does. Oh, no. Now what? All right, all right. Oh, Mr. Larraby. Hello, Morgan. I'm coming in. Sure. After all, why should you be an exception? Has someone been here already this morning? Hey, let's go. Answer me. Wearing, was he? Wearing. Did you talk? No. You didn't say anything about what you heard the other day. Me and Dean talking about a fire? No, I didn't tell you, sure. Yeah, I'm sure. Hey, what's the idea? Answer question. I'll be sure you're telling the truth. I am, I am. You better be. Because that was just a warning, Morgan. If I find out you've been shooting your mouth off, maybe that's not all. That'll get shot. Think it over. Hello, Mr. Wery. You mind if I join you? What a question, Angel. Sit down. Thank you. You wonder how I know your name. Do I? Sergeant Corbett told me about you. He told me you're eating this restaurant quite often. Oh, bless his little heart. I'm Mrs. Dean. Oh. The sergeant tells me you're suspicious about last night's fire. Mm-hmm. Do I understand there's going to be trouble getting the insurance company to pay off? Yes, I wouldn't be surprised. You were following Laura B, so you know he didn't start the fire. How do you know about that? Corbett? No. I talked to Morgan, the bartender. Well, you're a busy little chicken for someone that's just lost a husband. I'm on my own now. I have to look out for myself. Mm-hmm. But didn't your husband have life insurance? Yes. Then you looked after him. The fire won't affect that. I know. But I have a right to collect on the fire insurance too. My husband wouldn't have started the fire. He wanted to prevent it. That's why he hired you. Yes, that's what I figured. But how do you know about it? He told me. He and Laura B had an argument about it. Laura B wanted to burn their place and Eric was against it. You realize you're admitting that Laura B had arson on his mind. But you were following him so you know that he didn't do it. How do you know why I didn't see him start the fire? Because then there wouldn't be speculation. You'd have had him arrested. All right, I didn't see him. But here's something Morgan didn't tell you. Laura B shook me before the fire. So we could have done it after he left me. I don't believe it. Don't believe it. It's the truth. Oh dear. I didn't know that that changes things. Yes, it certainly does. So I'm afraid I can't help you. But maybe you can help me. How? Your husband told me he was going out of town. Do you know where he was going? Well, of course. And do you know how he was going? Train or plane? Well, train. He doesn't like planes. He gets sick. All right, sing. I guess he missed the train. So it was him. He had plenty of time. He left the apartment at 8 and said the train didn't leave until 9. And he didn't tend to take the 9 o'clock train to Chicago. Well, yes, what's the matter? Well, he wasn't going to Chicago. He was going to Palm Beach. Now back to the adventures of the Falcon. Half an hour's past since Mike Waringler in the display. And apparently he had dried a dash off in all directions. Only to wind up where he started with a knife in his chest. Now the Falcon is at headquarters and has tossed the confusion to Sergeant Corcorp. Wait a minute, Waring. Wait a minute. Sure, Cor. But I'm not going anywhere. Let's get this straight. Dean tells the bartender he's taking the train to Chicago. Then he tells the wife he's taking the train to Palm Beach. If they're telling the truth. When we find him in New York, he has a plane ticket to Pittsburgh. Well, I think I finally figured it out, Corcorp. Yeah, I know. He really intended to go to Cannon Bunkport, Maine. No, I'm not kidding, Corp. You see, I checked with the weather bureau. Weather bureau. Where do they fit? They told me there was a bad storm in Virginia. Very interesting. There was also an earthquake in Peru. So what? Oh, I checked with the railroad. Dean did it on the train to Chicago last night. Then I suppose he got on a train to Palm Beach. Well, I wouldn't know. It gets clearer all the time. Well, if we can get that bartender to talk, it will. Yeah. He had a fight with Dean a few days ago, and Dean tried to fire him. Oh, so you think this makes the bartender so sore he murders Dean and burns down the club? No, no, no. You hardly go that far just over the loss of a job, Jack. But he knows something. And he's one up on me. Well, in that case, let's go catch up with him, shall we? Now, what do you fellas want? Have you caught up on your sleep, Morgan? Don't make me laugh. That's going wearing. Hey, you can close the door, Morgan. What do you want? You said Dean left the club at six last night. Yeah, did he go back? No. He was killed in the club. Well, I mean, I didn't see him. Then he wasn't hanging around the club. No. What are you trying to prove wearing? I'm just trying to accomplish Dean's time. He left his home around eight. Turns out to be killed in the club at two thirty. Now, what was he doing in the meantime? You got any ideas? Yes, Corbett, I have. I think he went to Philadelphia. Now, great. Now he goes to Philly. Why? People keep coming here. I'm going to Philly and someplace. Oh, clarity. Hello, Morgan. I wanted to -- oh, company. I'll come back. No, no, don't mind us out. Come in. I can come back later. Why are you so anxious to get away? Because you're afraid we found out about you? What about me? Is you and Dean at a row about the fire? You wanted a fire? He was against it? Morgan, I warned you. Cut it out, cut it out. Now, Robbie, stop it! Dude! You're a smart boy, Laraby. That outburst proves Morgan knows about you. What do you mean? Morgan didn't tell us Mrs. Dean did. But now that you've shown that Morgan knows, too, he's going to have to talk. What else do you want to know if you know about the fire? Just this, Morgan. Why did Dean object to Laraby's idea? Come on, don't look at Laraby. He can't hurt you. Well, wearing, ask your question, Morgan, answer him. Now, look, Morgan, we know Laraby wanted to start a fire. We know Dean objected. Now, why did he object? It would mean money in his pocket, too. He was afraid Laraby might talk. He said Laraby can never keep his mouth shut. I see. Well, that does it. That's why. Why are we trying to prove Dean's motives? Motor for what? For starting the fire. You mean Dean started the fire? Yes. You see, Dean was afraid to let Laraby know that's what he intended to do. Yeah. So he next Laraby's plan. But then he hired me to tail Laraby so that I'd be a witness when the fire started, that Laraby had nothing to do with it. Yeah. And Dean hops a Chicago train, stays on it just long enough to establish his presence. Then slips off the train, probably somewhere around Philly and flies back to New York. I get it. He figures to start the fire, then hop a plane to Pittsburgh and slip back on the train there. That's right. That way both partners have an alibi for the fire. That Laraby catches Dean at the fire and kills him. That's a lie. Why would I kill him if he's doing what I wanted? Well, he's got a point, Corbett. Maybe he wanted all the insurance from south. I don't know. Well, if you really want to know, don't ask Laraby. Ask Morgan. Me? Why me? Because Morgan, you're the one who killed Dean, aren't you? Yeah, you were right, wearing. Well, wipe your eyes, Corbett. Maybe I'll pull a boner next week. Morgan confessed. He caught Dean starting the fire and Dean threatened to frame him. He was going to use that row they had when he tried to fire Morgan and saw the fire. I didn't know that he was going to kill Dean. Yeah. You were right wearing. Well, wipe your eyes, Corbett. Maybe I'll pull a boner next week. Morgan confessed. He caught Dean starting the fire and Dean threatened to frame him. He was going to use that row they had when he tried to fire Morgan and saw the fire. Morgan and saw motive and claimed Morgan started the fire for revenge. Laraby and Dean would have alibos and that would leave Morgan holding the match. Right, panicked Morgan and he killed Dean. Oh, there it is, Waring. I'll just run along. Oh, no, wait, wait, wait a minute, Corbett. I'm kind of a straight man of you. Huh? You haven't asked me how I knew Morgan was the murderer. All right, go ahead. Well, Dean told his wife he was going to Palm Beach. Hey, that's right. I forgot about Palm Beach. Well, so did Dean when you heard about the storm of Virginia. His original plan apparently was to work his alibi on a Palm Beach train. A bad weather made it risky counting on a plane to get him back to the train. So he switches to a Chicago train, that's right. And Morgan said Dean told him he was going to Chicago. Dean left the club at six. And Morgan claimed he hadn't seen him again. Still, when Dean left home at eight, he told his wife he was going to Palm Beach. So he hadn't switched plans by eight, which means Morgan was lying. He must have seen Dean again after eight. All right, Waring. You feel better now if you got that off your chest? Oh, yeah, it's much better, Corbett, thanks. Well, that's good, Waring. You need something to cheer you up. Do I? You will, when I tell you. Morgan is confessed to the murder, but he's still denies tipping off Laraby about you telling him. So, it looks like it was just your own bungling. Good night, Waring. Good night, Waring. Well, it sounds like the tenants hit your rental property sure know how to throw a great party. You just wish they wouldn't throw so many parties on Tuesdays until four a.m. And if they could pay the rent on time, that would be nice too. Being a landlord can be stressful, but it doesn't have to be. 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