05x22 - To Draw the Lightning

[bunniefuu]

Aw come on, Larry.

You're going to wind up
with a lame arm.

How you doin', Ramon?

Why don't you pack it up?

"Cause it feels good.

Look, it was six months ago.

Why don't you forget it?

"Cause I can't forget it.

It's as simple as that.

It won't get you anywhere
toting around all that hate.

Time to put it to rest.

Like Constantine
put Kevin Grady to rest?

I just don't like it when some clown

g*ns down a police officer in an alley

and gets off on a technicality.

Kevin was more than just
an ordinary cop.

There wasn't a guy on this force--

Lieutenant Mendez. Can I help you?

I want to talk to Lieutenant Gifford.

Who's calling?

Uh, uh, it's a confidential
matter, do you mind?

Larry, it's for you.

Who is it?
Wouldn't say.

Stay on.

Lieutenant Gifford.

I got something for you,
Lieutenant.

How you doin', Archie?

How would you like to know
about a little somethin'

that's going to be cooking
on the front burner

in about minutes?

What's it going to cost?

Oh no, no, no for freebies.

Just a citizen doing his duty,
Lieutenant.

Someone's going to knock over

the Walton warehouse
on rd and Adelaide. Okay?

Yeah, okay.

Let's go!

Still warm.

You stay here. Cover me.

Police officer!
Hold it right there!

Are you all right, Larry?

Yeah.

Danny Constantine...

♪♪

Mrs. Gifford?

Yeah.

I'm Joe Mannix.

I was afraid of that, Mr. Mannix.

I was hoping for a nice,
harmless door-to-door salesman.

I'm sorry. But your husband
asked me to come over.

I know.

Irene, is that Mr. Mannix?

Better come in.
Your patient is calling for you.

Hello, Gifford.

Hello, Mannix.

Well, you didn't waste
any time getting here.

When you ask me for something,

I don't want to miss a minute of it.

Sit down.

I'm in a tough spot, Mannix.

So far it's only a spot.

He'd like you to help him
turn it into something

about the size of a cell.

Come on, Irene.
Now, we've had this all out.

I don't care.

When you start hiring a...

Civilian?

A civilian to interfere in police business,

you're just going to make
matters worse, Larry.

You know, he's been suspended
pending the hearing.

And if it goes wrong there,
he could be tried for m*rder.

These hearings are held
by professionals, Mrs. Gifford.

Men like your husband.

They're only interested in facts.

That's just it.
Larry's given them the facts.

Now, if he hires you, it'll make
it look like he isn't sure.

All right, Irene. You've had your say.

Now, that's enough.

It is not enough, Larry.

If you do this...

it'll look like you don't trust
your own officers.

You might as well go in and tell them

you're afraid you're guilty.

Larry, if you can't think of
yourself, at least think of me.

If anything happens to you...

You can come see me
on visiting days.

Now Irene, please!

You read the papers
about how I happened to g*n down

Danny Constantine?

What do you think, Mannix?

Well, I'm not one of your
biggest rooters, Gifford,

but, uh, I believe you.

Thanks.

Now you didn't call me here
for a vote of confidence.

No.

You know, anybody else
but Danny Constantine

and there wouldn't even
have been a hearing.

But that local loudmouth
on the late TV news

blew it up all out of proportion.

Made it sound like a personal vendetta--

Police brutality, hair-trigger
Lieutenant, the whole bit.

It's a known fact that you
didn't have any love

for Constantine.

I hated his guts.

He k*lled my partner Kevin Grady.

But I didn't know that Constantine
was in that warehouse. I swear it!

And you don't think it was just
a coincidence?

Not quite.

You know Archie Preston?

The stoolie? Sure.

Ever know him to give away
anything free?

Not to me he hasn't.
Strictly cash and carry.

He's the one that tipped me
to the warehouse action. Gratis.

What did Preston say
when you checked him?

I never caught up with him.

I was suspended.

When you're suspended,
you sit tight. No moves.

No muscle. Nothing.

If they catch you looking sideways

when you're on suspension,
you're through.

Why me?

You're good at your job.

You want this one?

Nothing on my license says
I have to be old friends with my clients.

All right, Gifford.

Thank you, Mannix.

I need all the help I can get.

Gifford...familiar name.

As I recall,

you and the Lieutenant aren't
exactly buddies.

So?

Well, you're taking the case,
aren't you?

Well, his money's
as good as anybody else's.

Oh come on, Joe, I know you
better than that!

Now look, Peggy,
no matter what else he is,

Larry Gifford is straight.

So he's been on my back
more than once.

That doesn't alter the fact
that he's a smart, honest cop.

Now, see what you can do about
locating that stoolie.

Where does one begin to look for
a character like Archie Preston?

Start with floating crap games
and work down.

Oh, and check with our back
alley pipeline.

Where will you be?

I want to see if tinhorns live
any better than stool pigeons.

According to our reports
at Great Pacific Insurance,

Mr. Constantine lived
on a much simpler level

before he moved here.

Paid his rent and made
no trouble.

That's all I've got to say.

I see.

Tell me, would you happen
to know if anybody came here

after Mr. Constantine
was k*lled?

Just the police.

How about before?
Any visitors that you know of?

We--we don't spy on our tenants.

Oh well,
I'm not accusing you, sir.

I'm merely appointed
to settle claims.

You see,
Great Pacific is obligated

to pay various expenses
for Mr. Constantine's estate.

Does that mean
you're responsible

for all
of Mr. Constantine's bills?

For the ones we can verify, yes.

I don't see any reason
why I should be stuck for $.

Uh, what $ would that be, sir?

His phone bill.

You see, the building guarantees
payment to the phone company.

So I'll have to pay it
if you don't.

I see.

Well, first my company
will have to have the bill

for the records. You understand?

I suppose |, uh, should turn it
over to the police.

Oh, I'd be more than happy to do
that for you, sir if you'd like.

But in the meantime,

why don't you allow
Great Pacific

to discharge its obligation?

Mm-hmm.

Nothing yet on Archie Preston.
How are you doing?

I think I'm about to find out.
Take a look.

Nearly half of these toll calls,

all to the same number--

-.

Girlfriend, maybe?

I hope not.

For $ I want to talk to more
than a born loser.

Hello.

Hi. Who's this?

Whom were you calling?

Is, uh, Alice there?

There's no Alice here.
You must have the wrong number.

That's funny. This is the number
he gave me for Alice--

-

You have the right number--
but the wrong girl.

Who knows?

Some of my closest friends
started out as wrong numbers.

What's your name?

I'm sorry.
This is a business office.

You're tying up a private line.

Oh, I'm sorry, too.

By the way, what do you do after
business hours, sweetheart?

I'm afraid that's my business.

Goodbye.

Well, Casanova?

Pretty voice. Young.

Good education. She says "whom".

Whom might that be?

I'd like to find out.

See if you can get an address
for that number.

May I help you?

Yes. I never forget a pretty voice.

Now as I was saying
before you hung up on me--

I beg your pardon.

We had a telephone conversation
a little while ago.

It must have made more of an
impression on you than on me.

I don't recall.

But that wasn't the number
I called.

You said something about
"tying up a private line".

You're either very forward
or a little backward.

I can't decide which.

Neither. I'm Joe Mannix.

And I'd like to find the other
end of that private line.

♪ Wonder if I might speak
to Alan Deedrich'? ♪

Yeah?

There's a Mr. Mannix to see you,
Mr. Deedrich.

Well, I'm a little tied up,
Ellen. Ask him what he wants.

What is it about sir?

I'm a private investigator.

I'd like to talk to him about
Danny Constantine.

He's a private investigator.

He wants to talk to you about
a man called...

Danny Constantine.

Danny Constantine.

Uh, have him wait.

Hey, Alan, do you want to go
over these later?

You don't mind, do you, Bob?

No, no, no, I'll go below
and see what's holding up

the Mendolsen job.

Those grease monkeys
are getting behind schedule.

You should know
about grease monkeys, eh?

Yeah, listen, call me
when you're free, wIllya?

Honey, I'll be around
the service hangar

if I get any calls.

Yes, Mr. Greer.

Ellen.

Yes, sir.

Send Mr. Mannix in.

Mr. Mannix.

How do you do?
Mr. Deedrich.

You said something
about Danny Constantine?

Yes. A friend of yours, I believe.

Well, I'm afraid you're a little
misinformed, Mr. Mannix.

I don't know anybody
by that name.

Oh really?

Maybe I was given a bum steer.

Mind if I use your phone?

Be my guest.

If I'm wrong, I certainly apologize,
Mr. Deedrich for--

But I'm not wrong, am |.

Now what is that little
sleight-of-hand

supposed to mean?

That's your private line
I just dialed.

Danny Constantine called it
several times.

And someone answered.

I know
because it shows on his bill.

Well, it's a mystery to me,
Mr. Mannix.

I don't know anybody by the name
of Danny Constantine.

Well, then it's a mystery
to both of us for now.

Mr. Mannix...

I really don't know
what this is all about.

Would you mind telling me
who you're working for?

That's confidential.

I see.

Oh, Mr. Deedrich,
when you close that desk drawer,

I wouldn't slam it.

That g*n's liable to go off.

Well, you forget how long it's been

until you come face-to-face
with one of these.

Ever jockey one of these around?

Some.

I'm Bob Greer.

Alan Deedrich's partner.

Joe Mannix.
Nice meeting you, Mr. Greer.

Same here.

Uh, Mr. Mannix.

I should say I'm more
than just Alan's partner.

I'm also his friend.

We've been together since Korea.

I overheard Miss Frazier
tell Alan

that you're a private
investigator?

Private and empty-handed.

That is, unless you can tell me

something
about Danny Constantine.

Danny Constantine.
Well, I'm afraid not. Who is he?

A cop k*ller who was walking
around free

with a pocketful
of technicalities.

Well, then I don't understand
the connection, Mr. Mannix

between a man like
Danny Constantine and Alan?

If I find out, Mr. Greer,
I'll let you know.

Mr. Mannix' office.

I understand Mannix is looking for me.

Who is this?

Archie Preston.

Hey, keep the mutt quiet
a second, wIllya?

Tell Mannix he's wasting his time.
I ain't even in L. A.

Right now, ya understand?

Well, is there a number where
Mr. Mannix can contact you?

Uh, no.

I'm-- I'm sort of movin' around,
ya understand?

I'm in Arizona...on business.

Tell him I'll call him
when I get back.

Uh, you can tell him yourself,
Mr. Preston.

Mr. Mannix just walked in.

Hello.

Sorry, Joe.
I couldn't keep him talking.

The only thing that keeps
Archie talking is money.

Where was he calling from?

He said he was on business
in Arizona.

Don't count on it.

Did he say anything else?

It was kind of hard to hear.

There was music in the
background, like a juke box.

Probably a bar-another
Archie Preston "branch office".

I don't think so, Joe.

There was a dog barking.

A dog?

Mm-hmm.

What kind of a dog?

Joe, I can't tell a dog's breed
by its bark.

No, no, a big dog
or a little dog?

Well, a little dog, I guess.
It sounded kinda yippy.

How many times did the dog bark?

Joe...!

Think, Peggy.
How many times did the dog bark?

I don't know--
a couple of times, I guess.

Or was it three times?

Yeah. Yes, it was.
It was three times.

Yeah.

Joe, you know the place?

More than that, Peggy. I know the dog.

Very good, Harry.

Now here's another one.

Subtract from .

Now think.

Well, Harry?

That's a good boy.

Now, how about this one?

Multiply by ,

and divide by .

Think, now. Think.. think...

Well, Harry?

He's a regular Professor Einstein.

And then some.

Now, I'm going to give him
a real back-breaker

and then you'll really see him go.

Ok, Harry.

This is going to be a bit harder.

Now, take the cube root of ,

add times ,

and subtract the square root of .

What've you got?

Think now.

Take your time.

No hurry.

Think.

I believe he's got it!

Well, Harry?

I wouldn't've believed it!

Hi, Lou.

What do you know, Joe?

How's Harry?

Still the mathematical genius.

How's his spelling?

Spelling?

Can he spell the name
Archie Preston?

He's a smart dog.
But he ain't that smart.

But you are, Lou.

Where can I find Archie Preston?

I'll tell him you want to see
him when he comes in.

First, I'll take a look
in the back room.

There-there's nobody there.

Well, I'll take a look anyway.

Oh, Lou, you press that button,

and I'll sic Harry on you.

Archie? Just a minute.

Sit down.

Now I'm in a hurry, Archie.

And I want something
from you straight.

Joe, I owe you.

Why did you call Lieutenant Gifford

and give him that tip
on the warehouse heist?

What's it to you?

I'm a very interested party.

You?

Interested in Gifford?

Ehh...

I want answers, Archie,
not questions.

You talk to Gifford about it?

Yeah, I talked to him,
and now I'm talking to you.

Lieutenant Gifford said you phoned him
that tip gratis,

no strings attached.

Yeah.

Look, Joe,

I--I've been laying low
because of this deal.

I'm sorry I even got mixed up
in it.

I'm not interested
in how sorry you are, Archie.

Now keep talking.

I--I figured later it was like
putting my own neck in a noose.

|--I was paid
to make the call, Joe.

I was told what to say.

The whole thing was a set-up.

Who paid you?

The guy who wanted to get away

with putting Danny Constantine
feet under.

The Lieutenant himself.

Larry Gifford!

I'll k*ll him!

So help me,
I'm going to k*ll that guy.

Now don't go off half-cocked!

Now he's lying,
and he's going to eat that lie!

Larry! Larry! Please!
Get out of my vvay, Irene!

Will you listen to me!

No! I'm going to take over
for myself.

Now just calm down
and listen to me.

I'll calm down after I settle
with Archie Preston.

Yeah, like you did
with Danny Constantine?

This time you'll buy yourself
a m*rder trial for sure.

Oh, Mr. Mannix--Larry--
he wouldn't have done anything.

That's just talk!

You don't have to explain me
to him.

You don't want to listen
to anybody, do you?

Right now I just want to get
this thing straightened out.

That's what you hired me for,
Gifford.

And you believed Archie Preston.

I didn't say I believed him.

I just told you
what he said about you.

Well, he's lying.
All right.

You tell me why.

That's what I'm going
to find out.

You put the muscle
on Archie Preston,

and he'll blow any chance
you've got.

Sure, I believe Preston
was paid to make that call,

but who paid him?

And why would anybody bother
to arrange this whole setup

and make you the fish
in the barrel?

Ok, who put me there? Why?

That's what I'm trying
to find out.

Now why don't you stay put!

Okay.

Oh honey, I'm sorry.

I'm some character.

I spend half my life losing my temper

and the other half telling you I'm sorry.

Oh, Larry,
you're a character, all right.

But I love you anyhow.

Lou...

Archie still here?

No buzzer, remember?

No way, Joe.

When the big guys mix in,
I mix out.

Archie?

Archie!

Did anybody leave the bar
just before the sh**ting?

Well, they come and they go.

You don't exactly
need reservations

in a place like this, Lieutenant.

But you keep track of Mannix,
here, don't you.

When he's in the neighborhood.

You said he was in here
to see Archie Preston.

Yeah, twice.

Well, Mannix?

Do you think I did it, Mendez?

You're the only one
who was chasing Archie

when he bought it.

You through with me, Lieutenant?
I got customers, you know.

What'd you want with Archie?

What did anybody ever want
with Archie? Information.

Information about what?

That's private.

Oh yeah,
you're a private investigator.

Who's your client, Mannix?

Sorry, Lieutenant.

I can find out.

This is a m*rder case,
and I can subpoena your records.

Want to save me all that time
and trouble?

Not especially.

No harm in asking.

Any harm in my using
the telephone?

Not unless you're calling
an airline to leave the country.

No chance, Mendez.

I want to be around
when you cr*ck this one.

Hello?

This is Joe Mannix.

I'd like to speak
to your husband, please.

He's not here, Mr. Mannix.

Where is he?

I don't know. He went out.

When?

He left here just a few minutes
after you did.

Thank you.

Mannix.

Oh, Gifford.

Where have you been?

I've been here waiting for you.

Before that?

Around town.

Come in.
No time.

Archie Preston is dead.

I heard.

Well, where were you?

Where I go is my business,
Mannix.

I told you to sit tight.

Well, I guess
that's just not my nature.

Archie Preston was k*lled in an
alley behind Lou Weldman's bar.

I told you, I heard.

Something Lou said
keeps bugging me.

What?

"When the big guys mix in,
I mix out".

So?

How come that doesn't bug you?

Because I just heard it.

It should bug you anyway.

Why?

Because the "big guys"
means the Syndicate.

And?

So where does an airline magnate
like Alan Deedrich fit in?

How much do I owe you, Mannix?

Why?

That's what I was
waiting here for.

To tell you to send the bill.
You're off the case.

Hold it right there.

Okay.
Fine.

Now put it in "park".

Okay.

That's good.

All right, let's go.

Yes?

I hate to sound like a broken record,

but I'd like to see Mr. Deedrich again.

Sorry. Not in.

His car is in its parking slot outside.

Mr. Deedrich flew to Tucson
on business an hour ago.

One of the mechanics in the hangar
said he came in minutes ago.

He's very busy.

He may just have a second.

You can't go--
Just a minute, Mannix.

Miss Frazier said
you can't go in there.

I want to see Alan Deedrich.

It'll just have to wait.

Sorry. This can't wait.

You heard the lady!

I'm going to give you one chance

to take your hands
off of me without help.

Then I'm going to show you
how it's done.

You're trespassing
on my property.

You've got a partner, remember?

I'm speaking for him.
Everybody's speaking for him.

I want to talk
to the man himself.

Deedrich!
What's going on here?

Sorry, Alan.
I couldn't stop him.

I want to talk to you, Deedrich.

It's either here and now or in
the office of Lieutenant Mendez later.

Take your pick.
What's he talking about?

It's all right, Bob.
What-what is it about?

No, it's ok. I want to be alone.
I'll explain it to you later.

Later's no good for me,
Deedrich.

I'll take my explanation now.

About what?
About Danny Constantine.

What do you know about him?

I told you, I don't know
any Danny Constantine.

I think you do.

What are you doing here anyway?
You've been fired!

You didn't know
who my client was.

How did you hear I was fired?

Well, |--I heard it
from somewhere.

Yeah, on that private line?

Let's cut out the double-talk,
Deedrich!

Danny Constantine was k*lled

supposedly trying to pull
a heist at the Walton Warehouse.

Well, that was a--

It so happens
that your company owns Walton.

It was a coincidence.
No more coincidence

than Lieutenant Gifford being tipped

to a heist that wasn't really
a heist at all.

Danny Constantine wasn't there
to pull a job.

He was a lamb being led
to slaughter.

Look, Mannix!

I told you.

I don't know anything about
Danny Constantine's death.

But you do know something
about Constantine!

There is nothing I can tell you.

All right, Deedrich.

Suit yourself.

He's coming out now,
getting into his car.

All right now, that's enough,
Mannix!

Nobody comes into my house
and says the fix is in with me!

I didn't say fix.

I said somebody put the pressure
on, and got you to fire me.

And I say you're wrong.

Then why did you bounce me
off the case?

Because I already told you.
I thought it over

and if word leaked out
that I hired you,

it would go bad for me
at the hearing.

Now who's going to leak it?
Only you and your wife know.

Yeah, what about your secretary?

Come off it.
That's not what got to you.

Al right.

The department told me
to sit tight,

so I've decided that's exactly
what I'm going to do.

Well, now you told me sitting
tight wasn't in your nature.

Well, now it is.

Look Gifford.
I'm on to something.

I need your help.

What do you mean,
you're on to something?

There's a connection
between the Deedrich outfit

and the Walton Warehouse.

There's also a connection

between the k*lling of Archie
Preston and the Syndicate.

How do you know that?

I've been checking, on my own,
no charge.

You know, Mannix, you're really
going to louse things up for me!

Who got to you, Gifford?
Who changed your mind?

Nobody got to me!
♪ like being a cop. ♪

I don't want you ruining it
for me.

Now I don't want to jeopardize
my job or my pension.

I'll take my own chances with
the hearing, without your help.

I've got a good record.

And I've got friends
in the department.

And enemies outside--
big guys pulling strings

and they pulled one on you,
didn't they?

I got to say it
for the last time, Mannix.

Lay off anything
that concerns me!

Hello.

Joe, I've got an emergency call.

Who was it?

Lou Weldman from that bar.

He's got information
but he doesn't want you to go

anywhere near his place.

Where do I go?

A telephone booth--
corner of th and Elm.

You'll get a call at exactly :.

Hello.

Hello?

Good boy, Harry. Isn't he great?

Yes, sir, eh...

Lou.

Help yourself, folks,
drinks on the house!

All right, who put you up to it?

What?

Don't play dumb with me, Lou.
You set me up. Why?

I was told to call you,
get you to the phone booth.

Now that's all. I didn't know
what was happening.

I just did what I was told.
Who told you?

You don't ask questions when the
Big Guys send down instructions.

I'm just a small fish in a pond.

It was the same with Archie.

I want to know
who fingered me, Lou.

Even if I knew,
♪ wouldn't tell you! ♪

You know the worst part
about it, Lou?

What?

I believe you.

Ok.

Now, my advice to you is
just be glad you're alive.

Don't fool around.

Whatever you're mixed up in,
forget it!

Maybe you should forget it, Joe.

I mean,
if the Syndicate's involved,

you can't fight them yourself.

It's too late
to be a nice guy, Peggy.

Those weren't warning sh*ts.

They had that phone booth
measured for a coffin.

Hi, Mannix.

Oh, Lieutenant Mendez.

Don't tell me you're here
with a subpoena?

Nice piece. Pre-Columbian?

Yeah, very old.

Oh, my secretary, Peggy Fair,
Lieutenant Mendez.

Mucho gusto, Señor.

Es un placer.

Muchas gracias.

Have a chair.

You, uh, still trying to find
out who my client is, Mendez?

No, I'm more interested
in who your friends are.

Knowing you seems
to be kind of unlucky.

What's that supposed to mean?

Well, first you show up
around Lou Weldman's bar,

and there's trouble.

Then you show up at the airport,

just making a friendly call,

and there's more trouble.

Well, if you're keeping score,
Mendez,

somebody threw a couple of sh*ts
at me in a phone booth.

And it was no friend.

Is that so?

You said airport,
you mean Condor Aviation?

Yeah.

I understand
you knew Alan Deedrich.

What do you mean knew?

Alan Deedrich is past tense.
He's dead.

Who did it?

Well, from the way things look,
I'd say Deedrich did it himself.

Mr. Mannix, come in.

Thanks for seeing me, Miss Frazier.

I'm sorry to bother you.

There are a few things I still
don't quite understand.

Does it matter now, Mr. Mannix?

Well, it does to me.

Miss Frazier, do you have any idea

why Alan Deedrich would want
to take his own life?

It's very important.

You didn't know Alan.

He was a dedicated family man.

He was so worried.

So conscience-stricken about...

Are you trying to tell me
there was something

between you and Deedrich?

Something?

You make love sound like it's
a package you get in the mail.

It was much more than that,
Mr. Mannix.

And Danny Constantine found out.

And he knew Deedrich
would pay-and pay well--

To keep your affair quiet.

I told Alan it would never end.

Blackmail never does.

The payoffs were made in cash
at the Walton Warehouse?

When the police-- that Lieutenant Gifford--

sh*t Constantine, we...

Thought that fate had played
right into your hands.

Yes.

But then you threatened
to uncover the whole thing

all over again.

Alan was worried sick.

I begged him to call you and explain

so that you would leave him alone.

It's all over now, anyway.

Maybe not.

I'm not so sure that's the real
reason Alan Deedrich is dead.

I tried to call you.

Your answering service said
they didn't know where you were,

so I decided to come by here
and wait.

Seems you take a lot
of convincing, Mannix.

Deedrich is dead.

I heard.

Somehow you hear everything.

It came over the radio.

su1c1de.

Maybe not.
Maybe somebody stopped him.

Maybe they got to Deedrich one
way and got to you another.

Nobody got to me, Mannix!

I told you, you're fired.
And I told you why!

Novv lay off!

Sorry, I've got this funny rule.

When somebody tries to k*ll me,

I want to find out who he is
before he succeeds.

What?

How come you didn't hear
about that?

What are you talking about?

Somebody ambushed me
this afternoon.

How do you feel about it now, Gifford?

The same.

Your concern for my life is touching!

Mannix, I'm Warning you.
Get off the case!

I'm not buying, Gifford.

Now, why don't you just turn
around and go on home?

Something you want to tell me?

Yeah.

It's not just your life now,
Mannix. It's my wife's, too.

I got a phone call--

"Get you off the case
or go to Irene's funeral."

I've been married to that woman
for years.

I love her.

I don't want anything
to happen to her.

Ok, I'm asking you.

Please lay off.

You think that's going to end it?

It might.

Come on, Gifford. You know them.
You know how they operate.

Mannix.

Mr. Mannix,
it looks as if you were right.

I don't think Alan k*lled himself.

I just found a letter
that was to be opened

only in case of his death.

And it's not a su1c1de note.

Where are you?

I couldn't sleep. I'm at the airport.

I came out to the office
to go through Alan's papers,

when I found the letter.

One other thing--

I think somebody's following me.

Any idea who it is?

No. But he's driving a blue coupe.

Where is he now?

I haven't seen him since
I turned in to the airport.

All right, you stay right in
that office and lock your door.

I'm not in the office.

I'm calling from a phone booth
outside the hangar.

I'm on my way.
Now stay out of sight.

Miss Frazier!

Miss Frazier?

Hold it, Mannix!

Throw the g*n behind you!

Uh, if you're looking for Ellen,

well, she's on her way
back to town.

I'll give your regards though, later.

Ok, Greer, so I was a sucker.

So it would seem.

It was really you and Miss Frazier

who were having the love affair
all along, wasn't it?

You mean you didn't buy her
little performance

back at the apartment? Ohh.

And just now, she was playing dead

so that your button man
could get a bead on me.

Yeah, he was a little slow
in the dark.

But of course,
I won't have that trouble.

The only trouble you'll have

is explaining my death
to Lieutenant Gifford.

Oh, talk about suckers.

I mean, the Lieutenant
really gets first prize.

Yeah, and Danny Constantine
ran a close second.

You put him up to the idea
of blackmailing Deedrich,

didn't you?

Alan Deedrich was a weak
and stupid man.

He got frightened.
He wanted to back out.

Ohh. And the whole thing
could have blown wide open.

He had to die.

And, uh, Danny Constantine

found out he was really
being used to set Deedrich up

for a phony su1c1de
and wanted to get cut in.

So you decided to let
Lieutenant Gifford take care

of Constantine for you.

It almost worked, too.

Except that Gifford hired you
to start doing some digging.

The Syndicate must have really
wanted to tie in with your company.

Oh, opportunity of a lifetime.

You see, they get
a transportation system

for shipping their, uh, products.

I just make a fortune.

That is, if you don't get
to tell anybody about it.

Drop the g*n, Greer!

Not bad for a civilian.

You shaved it kind of close, Gifford.

Well, we had to make sure we had
all the evidence, now didn't we?

What about the Frazier girl?

We'll pick her up.

She's probably back in town
waiting for her boyfriend here.

Gifford.

Yeah?

Do me a favor, will you?

What's that?

The next time you need help,
don't call me, I'll call you.