Cloak and Dagger Broadcasts

Danger Dr Danfield - Life Insurance Claim

https://www.solgoodmedia.com Listen to hundreds of audiobooks, thousands of short stories, and ambient sounds all ad free! 'Cloak and Dagger Broadcasts' delves into the darker side of the mystery genre with stories of espionage, betrayal, and intrigue. Tune in for thrilling tales that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Duration:: 28m
Broadcast on:: 11 Jul 2024
Audio Format:: mp3

An official message from Medicare. A new law is helping me save more money on prescription drug costs. Maybe you can save too. With Medicare's Extra Help program, my premium is zero, and my out-of-pocket costs are low. Who should apply? Single people making less than $23,000 a year, or married couples who make less than $31,000 a year. Even if you don't think you qualify, it pays to find out. Go to ssa.gov/extrahelp. Paid for by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Hi, I'm D'Aubette Quince. One way to help manage Type 2 diabetes is to regularly exercise. My exercise program can help get you into a routine that works for you. Keep in mind, managing butt sugar also takes the right. Diet. Hi, I'm celebrity chef Franklin Becker. Ever since I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, I've adapted my cooking style without sacrificing flavor. If you want to learn more tips about diet and exercise, visit mytype2transformation.com. ♪♪ Danger, Dr. Van Phee. ♪♪ Our story opens in a small town of Benton, located north of New York City on the Hudson River. Two French-Canadian laborers are digging a ditch on the grounds of prosperous-looking farms. ♪♪ Monty. Monty. Pia. Pia. Pia. - We? What is it, Monty? - Come here. There's something I do not understand. What is the marriage, are you buying some gold, maybe? Ah, our mother of Mary. I think perhaps we have found something we are not supposed to help you or crush yourself, John. It is the body of a man. Suck. What is left of a man? Come, we should not disturb the grave of the dead. The grave, you say? Do not be a fool, Pia. Does one bury one's dead in a field behind a house with need a casket not crossed to mark the spot? That I do not think. No? In what is it you think, Monty? I think that we will find this is the body of Monsieur Howard Holbrook, who has been reported missing these past months. Come, let us go to the police. ♪♪ Well, it sounds interesting, Mr. Fuller. Go on, please, will you? Well, there isn't a great deal more to tell, Doc. You see, as representative of the Great Eastern Insurance Company, it's my job to check every detail before I recommend to the home office that they pay Mrs. Holbrook for $100,000. $100,000 is a lot of money. I don't blame you. Still, I don't see that you have any real reason to suspect that Howard Holbrook was murdered. Well, I'm relying mainly on a hunch, Mr. Fairfax, and the so far unexplained reason why Holbrook's body was found in the trench behind his former home. Your positive that he was out of Holbrook? Yes, yes. The corpse had, of course, disintegrated beyond recognition. But Mrs. Holbrook identified him by the fact that the third toe of his left foot was missing. Also, there was a watch inscribed with Holbrook's name. Were you able to determine the cause of death? No, there were no marks of violence at all. But still, you think he was murdered, possibly by wife, in order to collect the insurance? Well, we have definitely established that Holbrook's wife was spending most of the month of June with her sister in Fairfield. But Fairfield is only 50 miles from Benton. Couldn't she have driven back without her sisters knowing about it? Well, from June 6th to June 13th, Mrs. Holbrook was sick in bed with a cold. Her sisters and some friends have already testified to that fact. Well, our establishes are handled by a rather completely, doesn't it? Wait a minute. June 6th. That was a year ago. I thought how at Holbrook was saving a jail sentence at that time. No, you've seen this fair fact he was given his freedom on June 5th. As you'll remember, Holbrook was sentenced on a charge of embezzlement from the bank of which he was president. Oh, yes, since it was quite a scandal. He'd been appropriating the bank's funds over a period of years. That's right. He had amassed a small fortune, but all of it was spent fighting the charges against him. So, when he was released from jail, he was broke? Yes. On June 5th, he was set free. On June 14th, he appeared at the home of a cousin in Chicago. And he told the cousin he lacked the courage to face his family or society. The next day, he disappeared and hadn't been hurt from since. It looks to me, Mr. Fuller, as though you'd have to pay Mrs. Holbrook for $100,000. It's possibly your right, Miss Fairfax. Well, before I make my offer, there's one other thing you must know. Oh, what's that? Well, between June 6th and June 13th, made his reported seeing a light in the Holbrook home. And some of the reports stated that a mysterious figure was seen moving about the grounds. Mm-hmm. And what's your answer to the stories, Mr. Fuller? Well, just this, Doctor. When Holbrook was in jail, he made an enemy of a man named Guy Emmison. They quarreled frequently over small matters, even resorting to fisticuffs on one of two occasions. Emmison was released two days after Holbrook. And it's your opinion that this Guy Emmison came directly to the Holbrook home, found Howard Holbrook waiting there for his wife to return from her sisters and murdered him. No. No, it couldn't have happened that way. Number Doctor Holbrook was seen in Chicago on June 14th. Oh? As a matter of fact, Dr. Danfield, I don't believe he returned to his home at all. Then what do you believe, Mr. Fuller? I believe that Holbrook was murdered by his wife. I don't know how or when or where, and I've absolutely nothing to go on but a hunch. But my company, Danfield, is willing to gamble $10,000 to have me proven right. [Music] In a moment, we return for the second act of danger, Dr. Danfield, but first... [Music] Now for the second act of... [Music] danger, Dr. Danfield, why? [Music] Dan... Oh, yes, Rusty? What time did the plane get into Chicago? Oh, in about an hour, I think. And you really believe that these cousins of Howard Holbrook can help us any? I don't know, Rusty. I'm not yet convinced that it was actually a Holbrook who called on them a year ago last June 14th. What if it wasn't? Then you know what I think. Hmm? What's that, Rusty? I think that you feel that this case is as hopeless as I do. You're just pretending there's a chance of proving that Elsie Holbrook murdered her husband because... well, because... Because of $10,000, Rusty? No, I don't mean to imply that you take money under false pretenses only. Rusty, you're wonderful. Don't worry. If I have able to prove that Mrs. Holbrook murdered her husband, I'll not take Mr. Fuller's $10,000. [Music] I'm sorry you came way out here to Chicago, Dr. Danfield. There's not the least doubt that the man who taught on me a year ago last June 14th was my cousin Howard Holbrook. Thank you very much, you've still up. [Music] Well, luck to Danfield. Now you convinced that it was Howard Holbrook who called on his cousin Charles in Chicago? Yes, yes I am, Rusty. Charles Holbrook struck me as the type of man who wouldn't lie. I can't see that it would avail him anything if he did. But you're still convinced you can build up a case against Mrs. Holbrook. Don't be so pessimistic, Rusty. As an answer to this problem somewhere and we're going to find it. What problem? I don't see that there's any problem. A man is found dead, his wife identifies him. There's no indication that he was married. There's no indication that he wasn't murdered either, Rusty. And if he wasn't, how did he die? And who buried him in a ditch behind his own house? Guy Emerson is prison-made. Who quite this plane is the nose in your face? Oh? I thought you didn't believe that story about a mysterious figure being seen about the Holbrook place a year ago last June. All right, all right, so I made a mistake. So now I changed my mind. If Howard Holbrook was murdered, the murderer had to be Guy Emerson. I think we do much better if we tried to run down this Emerson person instead of chasing all over the country trying to prove that Howard Holbrook wasn't Howard Holbrook. Oh, do you, Rusty? I disagree. I think we're going to find the answer to our problem at Holbrook's home in Benton. And that's where we're going right now. Really, Dr. Danfield? Your purpose in coming here is too obvious. Well, I'm sorry, you feel that way, Mrs. Holbrook? Just what do you think my purpose is? Oh, come, let's not try to fool each other. Isn't Mr. Fuller, the greatest in insurance company, offer you a sum of money to prove that it was I who murdered my husband? Do you believe your husband was murdered, Mrs. Holbrook? I don't know. There's no indication that he was. You haven't answered my question. Oh, well, Mr. Fuller did offer me some money to work on the case. That's true. Then aren't you being presumptuous to think that I would help you prove myself a murderous? I don't intend to prove you're a murderous, Mrs. Holbrook. In fact, I intend to prove just the opposite. Mr. Fuller, believe-- Yes, I know Mr. Fuller believes you're guilty. I don't. Now, will you, corporate? I don't know what to say. I think what Mrs. Holbrook wants to say is that she doesn't believe you, Dan. No, it isn't that I-- Oh, I don't know. Everything seems as strange and unreal. People have been coming to the house ever since poor Howard's body was found. They all ask the species. They all look at me and go away without offering any explanation. Terrible. Believe me, I know how you feel, Mrs. Holbrook. Suppose you look at it this way. You didn't murder your husband. So therefore, you have nothing to lose by offering me your help. As a matter of fact, you have everything to gain. Oh, I-- I suppose you're right. What do you think you want me to do? Well, I'd like to ask you a few questions, and then I'd like permission to remain here at your home for a few days. Very well. You'll have to shift for yourself, however. I've had no servant for over a year. Everything's run down. I've only been able to survive because there was a lot of valuable machinery and livestock that I could sell. Yes, yes, I understand. Uh, Howard Holbrook's plan was to build himself a muddled farm up here, wasn't it? Yes, we'd only live here one summer, you know. Howard invested most about savings. We had great plans for the future and then-- Yes, yes. Now, Mrs. Holbrook, are you sure in your own mind that the body that was found by the laborers was that of your husband? Oh, yes, I'm positive. Why do people keep asking me that question? Because if you weren't sure, Mrs. Holbrook, the insurance company would save themselves $100,000. Now, about this ditch that the laborers were digging, what was to be its purpose? Well, as an orchard behind the garage, Howard had had it set out. A neighbor told me that if I kept the trees alive, these value of my property would be much increased. I see it. So you decided to plant water into the orchard? Yes. One more question, Mrs. Holbrook, and then with your permission to browse around the place. But simply, what is the question? Do you believe that this man, Guy Amerson, who knew your husband in jail is his murderer? I'm not sure. How can I be? There's no indication that Howard was murdered. However, it seems to me that the least the insurance company could do is to find this Amerson person and question him. The police are endeavoring to do that right now. Well, thank you, Mrs. Holbrook. Come on, Rusty. That's if we can't dig up a crew or two that our employer is overlooked. Dan, when you told Mrs. Holbrook that you didn't believe she murdered her husband, did you mean it? I've already told you I met it, Rusty, and I'll stop asking me. I don't want to change my mind. Yeah, this must be the ditch. Oh, let's get the ditch. It's almost dark. We can't see anything tonight. Besides, I have some questions I want to ask you. See, you know, if I've got the cigarettes over there, I must be the apple orchard. That means, of course, if the pipeline should run, right? Well... Now what? I'm no surveyor, Rusty. But it seems to me that if Mrs. Holbrook wanted to run water from the house to her orchard, they were spending a lot of money on necessarily. Why? Why? Because of those laborers kept going in the same direction that they started, they'd wind up at a point between the house and the garage. Oh, Dan, stop grabbing its drawers. There could be a dozen reasons why the ditch is heading in that direction. Oh, name three. Mm, laborers might have struck a ledge. They might have intended to splice into the pipeline that must run from the house to the garage. Or they might have intended to splice it at the garage instead of the house. Yeah, perhaps you're right. Wearing of your ancestors plumbers, Rusty? Oh, Dan. Say, it's getting dark, isn't it? Now, say it is. I'm tired. Oh, gosh, what's that? I can get alarmed. It's only a screech owl. Oh, let's go back. I say no. They're like that. They're not at all like that, Rusty. All right, come on, let's go. There's so much more we can do in the daylight, anyhow. Oh! I'm beginning to show that much we can do even in daylight. Dan, I wish we weren't going to stay here tonight. Why, if you're afraid Mrs. Holbrook will murder you in the sleep. I'm afraid I won't even sleep. Oh, here's the garage. Yes, I imagine those outside stairs lead up to the servant's quarters. Well, Rusty, come on, let. Hey, what the? What'd you look out? Dan, stop what happened? No! In a moment we return for the third act of danger, Dr. Vanfield, but first... Now back to our star, Michael Dunn, for the third act of... Oh, all right. Things we're back for Danfield, all right. Rusty, Rusty, you all right? Oh, I guess so. What happened? I don't know. Someone attacked us. Here, let me get up my hands if your face is bleeding. Oh, I didn't see anyone, and I didn't hear anyone either. Hello? Did that do Dr. Danfield? Is nothing wrong? Oh, over this way, Mrs. Brook, bring the light. Would you please? How's it now, Rusty? Oh, I am all right. More scared than anything, I guess. Dan, what was it? What was what? Oh, here's Mrs. Brook. Over here, Mrs. Brook. Oh, what happened? I heard the girl scream. Oh, it's nothing serious, Mrs. Brook. Someone attacked us. Uh, hold the lantern up a little bit, will you please? Oh, my, he's bleeding. I'll call the doctor. Uh, it's only a scratch. No, no, I don't need a doctor. Dan, did you see the person who attacked us? No, no. He got away too fast. He got on me, Michael. Are you sure it was a he? Am I sure it was a what do you mean by that? Well, she's upset and frightened. Come back to the house, both of you. If you won't let me call the doctor, I can at least bathe that scratch on your face. Well, that's an excellent idea, Mrs. Brook. Come along, Rusty. But, Dan, you don't seem to understand-- I understand perfectly, Rusty. Come along. Yeah, this is your room here, Rusty. I wish I didn't have to go to bed. I'm scared. Can't we sit up all night? Sit up all night. I wasn't going to help mad at any, Rusty. There's nothing to be frightened of. Well, there is. I don't know what. But there's something terribly wrong in this house. Dan, what do you suppose Mrs. Holdbrook left us alone so long in the kitchen when she went for being accepted? I think she went to telephone. Here's that awful owl. Telephone? To whom? I don't know, but I planned to find out in the morning. Oh, was she telephoning to someone about us? I wouldn't be surprised, Rusty. Dan, hold it. Dan, that was a shop. Yes. Come on, there's the window at the end of the car there. It sounded as though things in the garage. Look there. Someone's running across the field. Oh, he's carrying a rifle. That bright moonlight, it's easy to see. Yes. Dan, what's that in his other hand? I don't know. I think he's going, uh, I wonder-- Dan, what does it mean? Oh, I wish we'd never come here. I'm a contrary, Rusty. I'm very glad we did come here. Let me see now. Yes. Yes, by George, that must be it. Who, what must be what? Rusty, I think I'm beginning to see the answer to all this mystery. Yes, I'm sure I am. Well, what is this? For goodness' sake, tell me. Yes, yes. It all adds up now. As soon as I check a few more facts. Come on, Rusty. We're going to get a good night's sleep, and then I think we can clean this case up. I don't suppose it matters that it's only the crack of dawn. I didn't sleep anyway. At least we could have done as waited for breakfast. No, it's inconsiderate of you, Rusty. Waking Mr. Slowbrook at this hour of the morning to get us breakfast? It sounds like we have more important things to attend to. Yeah, here's the barn. Let's go in. What do you expect to find in the barn? Oh, well, that's really fun, my dear. The more airtight our case will become. Well, it seems to be empty, doesn't it? Except for a few broken down farm implements. No, for even sake, what's that? Hmm, looks like a butterfly mat. Maybe Howard Holbrook indulged in bug chasing as a sideline. And that is big enough to catch a whale. Oh, I guess we've checked everything that's worth checking here. Now what do we do? Now, Rusty, we go out and see how many acres of land Howard Holbrook planned to have under cultivation. That's very important. [Music] Okay, so how big could have had 50 acres under cultivation? Mostly in apple orchids and potatoes. Now where are we? Well, we're a lot closer to the solution of this mystery than we were a half an hour ago, Rusty. Oh, who's this? Looks like the farmer's the next star. Dan, look at the ugly scar running from the corner of the hive. Hello there. Looking for some things? Oh, nothing in particular. We're staying here at the Holbrook farm for a couple of days. Oh, and my name is Dunston. Jason Dunston. I live in its store. Well, I don't know you, Mr. Dunston. I'm Dr. Daniel Danfield, and this is my secretary, Rusty Kripax. Well, the trying psychologist, eh? Still trying to find out if Holbrook was murdered down? Do you think it was murdered, Mr. Dunston? I'm sure he didn't crawl in that ditch himself and pull the dirt over him. Yes, you're quite right. Oh, by the way, did you hear a shot last night? A shot? No. Where'd it come from? From somewhere near Mrs. Holbrook's garage. Oh, well, I wouldn't be able to hear it anyhow. My place is half mile away. Oh, who is shooting at what? Well, we don't know. Tell me, did you know the Holbrook's very well, Mr. Dunston? Oh, I didn't know Holbrook at all. I didn't buy my place until about four months ago. Mrs. Holbrook and I have become pretty well acquainted though since then. I bought some of the stuff she sold off. Did you have much to sell? Oh, plenty. Holbrook really went to town when he stopped the place. Oh, the widow would get along, even though she doesn't collect her insurance though. Dan, look, someone's driving into Mrs. Holbrook's yard. Oh, yes, that's probably a treatment. By the way, Mr. Dunston, is there a public library in the village? Public library? Yes, that's a funny question. Yes, I suppose there is, although I never happen to see one. Ah, there's a set of, in fact, a PDF in Mrs. Holbrook's living room, Dan, if you want to look up in for me. Oh, is there a study? That's fine. That was nice meeting you, Mr. Dunston. Possibly we'll see each other again. Yes. Come on, Rusty. Are you bad, Doc? And if there's anything I can do to help you, just let me know. I hope I didn't embarrass Mr. Dunston by staring at that scar on the stage. Yes, yes. Well, then, all that's up, doesn't it, Rusty? What's that, Doc? Well, say, Dan, that man come in and close the field. Is Mr. Fuller the insurance investigator? Yes, it is. Hello there, Mr. Fuller. Hello, Doc. It's Fairfax. I thought I'd drop by and see how things were going. Well, you made it bright and early, all right. It's only six o'clock. Well, I'm not used to this country air, Miss Fairfax. I stayed at the hotel in the village last night and hardly closed my eyes. Oh, uh, maybe headway, Doc? Oh, yes. We've got your mystery cleared up for you, Mr. Fuller. It wasn't too difficult. What? This is incredible. Do you mean that you actually know who murdered Howard Holbrook? No, but I know that my earlier conviction was right. Holbrook wasn't murdered. Wasn't murdered. That doesn't make sense. Why not? A man can die at least two ways besides being murdered, naturally, or accidentally. I know, but being buried in that country. Come on to the library with us, Mr. Fuller, and I'll show you the final answer in the Encyclopaedia National. I've seen her. I made her any any to pity. Yes, yes, here we are. I wonder when Mrs. Holbrook is here to be getting up by now. Oh, I'm much more interested in what Danfield expects to find of that encyclopedia than I am in. Oh, yes, here we are. Owls. Owls. What does it say, Dan? Just what I expected it to say, Rusty. Listen, a mother owl will become vicious to a point of incentive, if he thinks for offspring or in danger. At such times, they fear nothing that attack any foe regardless of size. Their claws are like steel. Have an advantage because they are entirely someless in flight. Dan, then it wasn't all that attacked us last night. We didn't see anything or hear anything. That's right, Rusty. It was an owl that's responsible for the scar on Jason Dunstan's forehead. On Jason Dunstan's forehead. Yes, it was an unusually deep scar made about a year ago, wouldn't you think? Yes, but wait a minute, Doc. How does this business about the owls and scars on foreheads tie in with the murder of Howard Holbrook? It was rather an elaborate plan for murder, Mr. Fuller, and most cleverly executed, I'll be glad to explain. Oh, oh, come in, Mr. Dunstan. I rather expected you. Where's your partner in crime, Mrs. Holbrook? Right here. Oh. Your clever Danfield, but you're also a fool. Dan, they both got guns. Naturally, they both have guns. Two people who are about to be proven guilty of murder would be expected to carry guns. Well, you're cool, Danfield. What a pity that you went to all this trouble for nothing. No, I didn't do it for nothing. I did it for $10,000. $10,000, eh? Fuller, you must have been pretty sure of yourself to gamble at a month. I was, but I still, of course, you don't. You're not smart like Danfield. You're on top. Give the guy his money's worth. Tell him how you worked it out. How old are they, Clantu? When Howard Holbrook was in jail, his wife got the idea about the owls. She visited her husband and told him her plan. The day before Holbrook's liberation, she left for her sisters to establish a lullaby. When Holbrook got home, the place was deserted. Using a net which we found in the barn, he captured the mother owl. So that's why the net interested you so much? Yes, Rusty. Mr. Holbrook then dipped the steel-like claws of the owl in a powerful poison called Curare. Poison? Then that's why Holbrook's body showed no signs of violence. You're almost right, Mr. Fuller, but not quite. After poisoning the owl's claws, Holbrook released the bird and sat back to wait. Yes? For what? You know for what, Mr. Dunston. For the arrival of his convict friend, Guy Emerson. Then it was Guy Emerson who murdered Holbrook. Oh no, Rusty, it wasn't Guy Emerson who murdered Holbrook. In fact, it wasn't Holbrook who was murdered. It was Emerson. What? It was then the corpse that was found wasn't that of Howard Holbrook at all. That's right. The corpse was that of Guy Emerson. As a matter of fact, this gentleman here who was pointing the gun at me and who calls himself Jason Dunston, is actually Howard Holbrook. Oh, Mr. Fuller, did you tell your men to surround the place? What? Surround? Good, good. Rusty, step right in the windows so the policeman can chew. Now what is it too? Is it? Well, I don't remember the way. All right, Holbrook, you better use now where you're going to change. In a moment, we return for the conclusion of danger, Dr. Danfield. But first, now back to Michael Dun for the conclusion of-- Then you're Dr. Danfield. Oh, come in, Mr. Fuller. Mr. Fairfax, man, we're just about to leave. Is everything taken care of? Yes, the local police department took them both away. Oh, and by the way, Doc, before you leave, I'd like to hear the end of the story. Well, there isn't a great deal more to tell. Holbrook, obviously, inviggled Guy Emerson to the spot near where the owl had its nest. Yeah, tech, gouged Emerson about the face, and the poison took effect, killing him. Then what? Well, then Holbrook transferred his watch to Emerson's pocket and severed the third told his left foot. Afterward, he buried him out behind the garage. And Dan Holbrook went to Chicago, called on his cousins, and announced he couldn't face society, and was going to disappear. Yeah, since that's right, Rusty. He stayed out of sight for a while, and then returned to this town and bought the adjoining farm. No one recognized him because few people had ever seen him in this neighborhood, and because his face was disfigured by this car. Well, I guess that explains everything. Oh, who got you to think in long those lines, Dan? Oh, great many things, Rusty. But chiefly, it was the ditch going in the wrong direction, and netting the barn and the scour on Holbrook's face. The scar? Of course. But not unlike the one on your face, Rusty, only his was deeper. Then I remembered that after we heard the shop last night, we no longer heard the hoot of the owl. Holbrook shot the owl. Yes. When Mrs. Holbrook nearly had been attacked, she called her husband and told him to shoot the owl just in case we got suspicious. Oh, and then when you saw the scour on Holbrook's face, you reasoned that he must have been attacked by the owl when he captured it, to get its clones in poison. Rusty, you're 100% right. You're always right. I don't know what I do without you. As a matter of fact, I don't intend to do without you. Now, come on, Rusty, we've got $10,000 to spend. Let's go. An official message from Medicare. A new law is helping me save more money on prescription drug costs. Maybe you can save too. With Medicare's extra help program, my premium is zero, and my out-of-pocket costs are low. Who should apply? Single people making less than $23,000 a year, or married couples who make less than $31,000 a year. Even if you don't think you qualify, it pays to find out. Go to ssa.gov/extrahelp. Paid for by the US Department of Health and Human Services. 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.