Larry, thanks for coming.
Don't be ridiculous.
I mean, there's no need for
thanks.
Let me take that.
No, that's not heavy.
I rather expected Anne to be
here.
I asked her not to come.
I... not exactly the sort of
image
a father likes to project,
coming out of a prison gate.
We're going to have dinner
together.
I don't know why you wanted to
rent a car.
You know I'd be glad to drive
you wherever you wanted to go.
I know it, Larry.
It's just...
I think I'd like to be by myself
for a while,
get a breath of air, see what
happened in the world, you know?
Yeah.
Be careful, Bill.
That's a hotter car than you
were used to.
And there are more highway
patrolmen on the road
than there were on the road ten
years ago.
They don't worry me.
I have a good lawyer.
Not as good as he should have
been.
Ah, you did your best, Larry.
Okay.
Who is it?
Joe Mannix.
Come in.
Thank you for coming so quickly.
Well, you sounded upset this
evening.
Someone broke in to my
apartment.
Did you call the police?
They left just a few minutes
ago.
Well, I don't really see how |
can help you
any more than they could, Miss
Avery.
Things like this happen about
every seconds in Los Angeles.
Not like this.
Lieutenant Malcolm said
he couldn't spare any men
to help guard the place, and if
I were too frightened
I should think about hiring a
private detective.
He mentioned you.
I am frightened, Mr. Mannix.
I'm scared to death.
I think I must have interrupted
whoever it was
before he was finished.
My bedroom hasn't been touched.
Before he was finished?
You think he was after
something specific?
Yes.
A million dollars.
That seems like an awful lot of
loose change
to keep in an apartment.
My father was William Avery.
He was k*lled yesterday in an
automobile accident.
You may have read about it.
He was released from prison
yesterday morning
after serving ten years.
For stealing a million dollar
payroll.
Which someone now thinks you
have.
I don't have it, of course.
And neither did my father, not
ever.
You believe he was innocent?
Oh, I know he was.
He told me, and I believed him.
Were you very close?
Not until recently.
He and my mother were divorced
when I was just a child,
a long, long time before he went
to prison.
I lived with her until she d*ed
a few years ago.
I sent him Christmas cards, and
every once in a while a letter.
Sometimes he answered.
And then a few months ago when
he knew he was going to get out,
he wrote me and asked me to come
and visit him.
I did quite a few times.
We got to know each other very
quickly,
and made up for a lot of years.
We talked about my life, my
friends.
I know he was innocent.
Obviously someone thinks
otherwise.
Miss Avery, exactly what would
you like me to do?
Find out who it is.
Tell him I don't have the money.
Tell him I have no idea what
happened to it,
and neither did my father.
Well, I'll do what I can.
Tell me, how much do you
remember
about your father's trial, names
of witnesses, things like that?
Not a thing.
My father's lawyer could help
you, though-- Lawrence Corwin.
His offices are in Beverly
Hills.
I'll talk to him.
I don't think you'd better stay
here for the next day or two.
I'll find some friendlier
surroundings.
Now, why don't you pack a few
things in a bag
and I'll be back after you about
Fine.
Ah, Mr. Mannix,
won't you come in?
Mr. Corwin.
Jennifer, get me the Avery
transcript, please.
Yes, sir.
You sure Anne's all right?
She's fine, Mr. Corwin.
Good.
Won't you sit down?
Thank you.
And you're convinced it wasn't
just an ordinary burglary?
Ordinary burglars don't slice up
the furniture.
This one had to be after
something in particular,
something he figured was pretty
well hidden.
Here it is, Mr. Corwin.
Thank you, Jennifer.
Give it to Mr. Mannix, please.
Thank you.
I hope you can find something in
it that I couldn't.
Avery's testimony starts on page
.
Now, would you mind telling
the jury once again
exactly what time it was that
you claim
you were hit on the head and
rendered unconscious
or partially unconscious?
Objection, Your Honor.
The defendant has answered that
question three times.
That's badgering the witness.
Sustained.
Even I remember the time, Mr.
Burns-- : in the afternoon.
Thank you, Your Honor.
It was a point I wanted to make
perfectly clear.
You have.
Please continue.
Well, I had counted the money.
And I put it, along with the
adding machine tapes,
into the safe, which I closed,
but I didn't lock.
It was normal procedure every
payroll day.
The armored truck and the
payroll guards always came
at exactly :, so there was no
point in locking up the safe.
At least I never did, not in
five years.
Well, there's not much more to
tell, Your Honor.
I heard a noise, and I turned
around,
and there were two men in the
office.
They had masks and g*ns.
And they made me turn around,
and one of them
hit me over the head.
I was just barely conscious when
I saw them going out
the Third Street entrance.
Then I passed out.
Next thing I know, two payroll
guards are helping me up.
My head hurt quite a bit, but...
I called the police right away.
Then I called my wife.
Anne didn't tell me her father
had married again.
A few years before all this
happened.
Where is she now?
I'm not sure.
She divorced him while he was in
prison.
Well, it was his idea.
He knew he'd have to serve at
least ten years.
And she wasn't the kind of woman
who could stand living alone.
Apparently the jury didn't
believe Avery's story.
Sergeant Simmons took care of
that.
Page .
And you maintain, Sergeant
Simmons,
that on that particular day it
was impossible for anyone
to leave the building using the
Third Street door?
Absolutely impossible, sir.
Why?
It was double bolted from the
outside.
Are you sure of that, Sergeant?
Yes, sir.
There'd been an attempted
payroll robbery
in the general area the week
before.
So at the police department's
suggestion,
some of the large companies
switched
their security routines.
Even the Morrison factory, where
the defendant is employed?
Yes, sir.
The payroll guards entered
through a door
at the other end of the plant.
When they arrived at the payroll
office, the money was gone.
And the Third Street door was
still double bolted
from the outside?
Yes, sir.
He's lying!
They never would have changed
the routine
without letting me know.
Is there any other way the money
could have been
taken out of the plant?
Not on a payday, according to
their security police.
The payroll could have been
hidden someplace else
on the premises if it was an
inside job.
That's exactly what the
prosecution said it was--
An inside job.
That Avery hid the money earlier
in the day,
then faked a head injury and
waited for the payroll guards
to come in.
And Avery wasn't arrested right
away.
Oh, he was a trusted employee.
He was sent home to rest for a
few days.
The prosecution convinced the
jury that the payroll
went home with him, probably in
the trunk of his car.
This Sergeant Simmons.
Do you think he could have been
lying?
I don't know.
Perhaps.
He didn't have a very good
record.
Could have have been in on the
burglary himself?
I thought it was possible, but |
certainly couldn't prove it.
And the money never turned up.
Everyone was sure Avery had
taken it.
He would have been paroled after
a few months
if he'd told the authorities
where it was.
But he couldn't, naturally.
He didn't know.
Hmm.
Sergeant Carl Simmons,
discharged September of '.
Seems he developed a taste for
liquor.
Wound up sh**ting a guy in a bar
brawl.
Claimed the man was resisting
arrest.
Well, maybe he was.
Anyway, Sergeant Simmons is ho
longer with the department.
Where is he?
I understand he went back to
Georgia, where he came from.
Last I heard, he was still
there.
That Avery girl's apartment was
sure a mess, wasn't it?
Yeah, and I'll bet you didn't
come up with any fingerprints.
That's right, we didn't.
Meaning whoever did it was a
pro.
If you happen to run across a
loose million dollars
lying around, you'll be sure and
let me know, won't you, Joe?
First thing, Art.
Say, you never did thank me for
sending you
such a pretty client.
Answer it.
Hello?
Yes, this is Miss Avery.
Who is this?
Who is this?
...anything happen...
I'm sorry, I can't understand
you.
said I knew your
father.
He told me a couple of things
he wanted me to pass along
to you if anything happened
to him.
What things?
Well, not over the phone,
Miss Avery.
Now, can you meet me this
evening at
Where?
Where?
Lobby of the Walton Hotel
on Wilshire.
How will I know you?
I'll find you.
Am I going to keep this
appointment?
No.
No, and your telephone friend
won't be there either.
He just wants to get you out of
here so that he can
come back and finish the job he
started.
Oh, it's a lovely place.
Are you sure it's all right?
Positive.
It belongs to a director friend
of mine
who's doing a picture over in
Australia.
Oh, I'm just going to soak up
the sun and look at the view.
Ah, step right in.
Thank you.
Well, that ought to hold you for
a while.
Thank you.
Oh, by the way, my director
friend is quite a bachelor.
There may be a few phone calls,
so be careful, huh?
Okay.
If the phone rings
three times and stops,
and then rings again, answer it.
Otherwise, no.
Now, don't make any calls,
except to me,
if you have to.
Maybe I will even if I don't
have to.
I'll drink to that.
The glass is right over your
head.
Freeze!
Put your hands on the door.
Legs apart.
Now turn around and take off
your mask.
Malcolm.
Okay, Benjy, sh**t.
It's the lab.
Yeah?
Oh.
Al right.
Thanks just the same.
Yeah, bye.
Well, you were right about your
man.
He's a pro.
You mean no prints.
Well, I didn't exactly say that.
We found one perfect set of
prints.
Yours.
Ah,
Well, how else do you open a
door?
Joe, you should have known
better than to try and set up
a stakeout by yourself.
Oh, sure.
And how many of your men would
you have let me use on a hunch?
Are you all right?
I'm fine.
In fact, we're all in good
shape, I think.
"Attention LAPD Central
Detective.
Attention Investigating Officer
Malcolm.
Regarding your request of
subject, we find positive record
on file.
Carl Alexander Simmons,
Cl.
Rap sheet on request.”
I guess our ex police sergeant
didn't stay in Georgia.
And he wasn't there last night,
that's for sure.
We'll find him.
Police officers, Simmons.
Open up!
Hit it.
Ah, Mr. Mannix, I'm glad to find
you in.
I'd like to talk to you.
Please, come in.
Now, what can I do for you, Mr.
Corwin?
I've been trying to phone Anne
most of the day,
but she doesn't answer.
I'm very worried about her.
She's not at her apartment,
but she's safe.
Oh.
Good.
I wonder if you'd give her
a message.
Of course.
I've arranged for memorial
services for her father
at Westchester Chapel,
Wednesday at :.
She knows where it is.
She'll be there.
Thank you.
Have the police found out
who broke into her apartment?
Carl Simmons.
Sergeant Simmons?
But why?
He didn't say.
He was dead when we got to him.
I don't suppose he d*ed of
natural causes.
Somebody sh*t him.
Mr. Mannix?
I'm beginning to wonder if Bill
Avery's death was accidental.
Well, that thought has crossed
my mind too, Mr. Corwin.
I can't believe it.
I simply can't believe it.
It makes sense, Anne.
The million dollars must still
be around someplace.
At least someone thinks it is.
You mean someone else besides
Carl Simmons?
At least one-- the man who
k*lled him.
And he may have been responsible
for your father's death.
My father's death was an
accident.
He lost control of the car,
Anne.
That wouldn't have happened
unless he was traveling
too fast.
A man just out of prison isn't
inclined to do that
unless he had a reason.
You mean if someone were chasing
him?
Or following him.
Following him to where he's
supposed
to have hidden the money?
Yes.
But he didn't take it.
And he's dead now.
And so is another man for no
reason at all.
For money that doesn't even
exist.
Anne, people aren't usually
k*lled
for something that doesn't
exist.
Maybe I'm wrong.
Maybe my father did take the
money.
I really didn't think he'd lie
to me.
Now I don't know.
{
Yeah, Peggy?
Joe, Avery's ex wife Muriel
never sold their house.
She's still living there with
her second husband.
The name's Enright.
Come on, Muriel.
Get the door.
Muriel!
Mrs. Enright?
Who's asking?
I'm a private investigator.
I'd like to talk to you about
William Avery.
What about him?
I'm working for his daughter,
Anne.
Before my time.
I never met her.
She's in danger.
Who from?
Someone who thinks she knows
about the money
Avery was convicted of stealing.
I need some kind of
identification.
Okay, come on in.
Thank you.
Stand still, buddy.
Put the hands where I can see
them.
Okay, turn around.
In case you didn't notice,
the safety's off this thing.
I noticed.
Good.
Now, I want to hear all about
Avery and his daughter.
And the money.
And what you're doing around
here.
You mind not pointing that thing
at me?
It has a tendency to tighten up
my throat,
and make conversation a bit
difficult.
Put it away, George.
Just be quiet, will you?
Don't tell me to be quiet in my
own house.
Put the g*n away.
All right, Mannix, talk.
Right after Avery d*ed, somebody
broke into
his daughter's apartment, tore
it apart.
She thinks somebody was after
the payroll money
her father was supposed to have
stolen.
So?
She may have been right.
He came back last night while |
was there, but he got away.
Double crossing...
Shut up, Muriel.
Just who double crossed you,
Mrs. Enright?
Never mind who.
Simmons.
Carl Simmons.
If you don't shut up, so help
me, Muriel, I'll...
Oh, go ahead.
Use it on me.
You've been wanting to for
years.
You and Carl Simmons had some
kind of a deal, didn't you?
Well, I can tell you this.
He didn't find one red cent of
that money.
Then it's still around.
And you're looking for it, too.
My job is to protect my client,
and to prove
that her father was innocent.
Sure he was.
That's why Simmons tore her
place apart.
And he won't do that again.
Somebody k*lled him.
How'd it happen?
A g*n.
Any idea who that somebody might
be?
No idea at all.
Well, if you get any notions,
I'd appreciate a call.
Thanks for the hospitality.
I told you not to have anything
to do with Carl Simmons.
He was an ex cop.
He's supposed to be able to
follow anybody.
Maybe that's what happened.
Maybe he followed Avery too
close.
Well, the important question is,
who k*lled him?
Well, quit looking at me.
I didn't do it.
Why should ?
He didn't have the money.
Well, whoever it was might not
be finished k*lling.
George, I'm scared.
Don't worry.
That private detective was able
to find us
without any trouble.
So?
So somebody else could, and do
the same thing to us
that they did to Carl Simmons.
Eight years I've been here.
That's almost as much time as
Avery spent in the pen.
The money is somewhere.
I'm sticking around until it
turns up and we get our share.
The money.
That's the only reason you
married me, isn't it?
There's no point in us getting
into another fight.
You were sure he took that
money.
Maybe I made a mistake.
No way.
You knew.
Maybe I lied.
Maybe I told you that just so
you'd marry me.
Because you're so handsome, such
a gentleman.
Uh-huh.
Yes, Art.
I'll tell him the minute
he comes in.
First thing.
Right.
Bye-bye.
The minute who comes in?
Oh, I thought you needed a
minute to think.
About what?
That was Art Malcolm.
He wants to see you right away
about the people
you visited last night.
The Enrights?
What about them?
Mrs. Enright's dead, and the
husband's missing.
Even you've got to admit that
things are beginning
to look a little weird, Joe.
An ex-cop from the Avery case
gets away from you
and turns up dead.
Last night you visit Avery's ex
wife.
Today she turns up dead, and her
husband missing.
And the only clue we get is a
business card
in the name of a certain Joe
Mannix.
I'm just following a trail, Art.
And leaving a lot of corpses in
your wake.
You think the girl hired me as a
bird dog
to turn up everybody who might
know about the payroll?
Who stands to gain the most?
She knew her father took the
money.
She must have.
Come on, Art.
I know you need an answer, but
she's not it.
Malcolm.
Yeah?
Yeah.
All right, thanks.
The slug that k*lled the Enright
woman came from the same g*n
that k*lled Carl Simmons.
No, a ..
What makes you think it was a
.?
Enright's got a ..
I was looking down the barrel
last night.
Did you find it at the house?
Where's your client right now?
Safe.
Hmm, I'll bet she is.
Where was she last night, say
about
What are you getting at?
And the night before that, when
Carl Simmons was k*lled?
Come on, Art.
She's a gentle, frightened girl,
believe me.
It has been my experience that a
gentle, frightened girl
can undergo an amazing change
when a million tax free dollars
are involved.
I don't blame you, Joe.
It can happen to anybody.
She's pretty,
she's got great legs,
and probably a . a*t*matic.
Art, you don't know her.
Don't you think it's time I did?
Anne?
Anne?
You still as sure as you were,
Joe?
Where's the telephone?
This is Lieutenant Malcolm.
I want to put out an APB.
The name is Anne Avery.
Nothing.
At least Art Malcolm didn't give
the story
to the press yet.
Won't be able to keep it a
secret too long.
She's a m*rder suspect.
Who else suspects her besides
the police?
Well, that's enough, isn't it?
What about you, Joe?
No chance.
She's not capable of k*lling.
I'd like to quote a part time
philosopher
who more than once has said to
me, "In this business,
the first thing to learn is that
anybody is capable of anything.”
Well, that's why I'm only a part
time philosopher.
You usually aren't this sure
about people, Joe.
Yeah, I know.
She's a pretty girl, and got a
great pair of legs.
But she didn't k*ll anybody.
I'd better find her before
somebody else gets to her,
if they haven't already.
Mr. Mannix, Anne didn't show up
for the memorial services.
What happened?
Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Corwin.
I should have called you.
She's missing.
Missing?
The police are looking for her.
What on earth for?
m*rder.
That's ridiculous.
I agree.
m*rder.
But who?
An ex policeman, Carl Simmons.
Last night, Mrs. Enright,
formerly Mrs. William Avery.
Is there anything I can do?
I'll call you as soon as I find
out anything at all.
Thank you.
Good night.
It's getting pretty late, Peggy.
What about Toby?
Toby is years old now, and
cooks just as well as I do.
I'll stay if you need me, Joe.
No, I can worry just as well by
myself.
Maybe better.
Good night.
Good night.
Mr. Mannix?
That's right.
I've got to talk to you.
I need help.
My daughter has been kidnapped.
Did you call the police?
I can't call the police.
I'm William Avery.
Well, you look as if you could
use a drink, Mr. Avery.
Oh, no thanks.
What makes you think Anne has
been kidnapped?
That second column, Mr. Mannix,
under Missing Persons.
"Father, must see you, urgent.
Phone you at Joe's.
Annie Girl."”
You're sure this is Anne, and
she's going to phone you here?
Somebody's going to phone, and |
know you're the Joe
she's referring to.
What makes you think that?
Because when she visited me in
prison she told me
about all of her friends.
She never mentioned anybody
named Joe.
How did you find about about me?
The day after I got out of
prison
I got to her apartment house
just as you
were leaving with her.
You came back alone.
And you checked the registration
on my car.
Right.
Nobody else ever called her
Annie Girl either.
That was my special name for her
when she was a little girl.
We talked about that, too.
Let's suppose this is her ad.
There's nothing in it that
indicates she's been kidnapped.
Yes, there is, there is.
You see, she couldn't possibly
know I was alive.
Who could?
Well, nobody could know.
Somebody's guessing, that's all.
Somebody who knew me from
before.
And whoever it is has got Annie
Girl, I know it.
Sit down, Mr. Avery.
To begin with, you've got some
explaining to do.
Well, I spent ten years in
prison.
The day I got out, it looked to
me like somebody in a car
was following me.
When I was sure of it, I got a
couple of turns ahead of him.
I slowed down and jumped out of
the car.
When it went over the cliff
there was nobody in it.
Did you get a look at the man in
the other car?
Not a very good one, but enough
to know that I had
never seen him before.
So far you've told me what you
did.
Now tell me why.
Well, I realized that somebody,
maybe several people,
were expecting me to lead them
to the payroll money.
So I decided I wouldn't
disappoint them.
I drove fast and ended up dead.
I figured that would be the end
of it.
And now you think somebody's
figured you're not dead.
Yes.
Same person who k*lled Carl
Simmons?
I guess so.
Al right.
If I get a phone call asking for
William Avery,
I'll tell him that all I know is
what I read in the papers,
and the papers say Avery's dead.
No, no, no, no.
You can't do that.
Why not?
If they've got Anne, there's no
reason why they shouldn't
let her go if they really
believe you're dead.
They'd still think I told her
where the money was.
You didn't tell her?
No.
But you know.
Yeah, I know.
I took it, and I hid it.
And I spent ten years in jail
for it.
But I can't let anything happen
to Annie.
You're willing to make a trade?
A million dollars for Anne?
Yeah.
You know, if somebody was smart
enough to figure
you'd come here, they'd be
waiting outside to follow you
when you leave.
Now, there have been some people
k*lled for that money
since you left prison.
I read about Sergeant Simmons.
Who else?
Your ex wife.
Who did it, her husband?
What's his name, Enright?
It's possible, he's missing.
But he's not the number one
suspect.
Your daughter is.
Mannix.
We found another one, Joe.
Enright.
In one of the canals down in the
Venice section.
And the . was in his pocket.
Is that what did it?
No, a ., same as the others.
Have you got anything at all,
Joe?
Not yet.
You sound hopeful.
Well, if anything turns up, I'll
get in touch with you, Art.
I'm counting on that.
Mr. Mannix, I know you have to
work sometimes very closely
with the police, but I...
Mr. Avery, I'm not planning to
do anything that will
put Anne in danger.
Mannix.
Yes, he is.
Hello?
Avery?
Yeah, who's this?
Want to make a deal for your
daughter?
Is she all right?
Let me talk to her.
She's all right.
The money first,
then you see her.
Listen...
No, you listen.
Where is it?
Never going to find it without
me.
Okay.
Leave Mannix there.
I'll be behind you, and no
tricks.
Get moving.
You heard.
I have to go alone.
Could be more than one of them
out there.
Do you have a car?
Yeah.
All right, now, drive slowly.
Take a roundabout route.
Make a wrong turn or two.
Remember, the city has changed
in the last ten years.
That'll give me a chance to get
there before you.
Now, where?
My old house, where I used to
live with Muriel.
You could be followed, too.
It's a chance we'll have to
take.
Avery.
Back up to the door.
Far enough.
Where's the money?
First I see my daughter.
The money first.
Basement.
How do I know you won't just
k*ll me and take the money,
and then k*ll my daughter?
You're just going to have to
trust me.
Don't move.
Well, well, well.
Fred Eby.
Who are you working for?
Nobody-- I'm on my own.
You couldn't last a night on
your own.
Where's the girl?
The money first.
Downstairs.
Better get it.
Move.
You've got to give him the
money, Mr. Mannix.
Otherwise...
Don't worry.
I'll make the exchange, because
he's going to tell me
how and where to make it.
Right, Freddie?
Anne!
Far enough, Bill.
I know you don't want any harm
to come to Anne, gentlemen.
My friend will take your g*n,
Mr. Mannix.
Are you all right, Annie Girl?
Why shouldn't she be, Bill?
After all, she came to me for
help.
So that's where you put the
money.
And Muriel and her moronic
husband sat on it for ten years
and didn't know it.
Mannix, finish what he started.
You know, the police are looking
for you, Anne.
You're a m*rder suspect.
What?
That's right.
Carl Simmons, the ex policeman.
Then Muriel Avery Enright.
And tonight they found George
Enright dead.
All sh*t with your ..
Mannix, keep working.
All right put it on the table.
Put it on the table.
Open it.
Hold it, Corwin!
Art, he'll need an ambulance,
and there's the money.
So this is what it was all
about.
He k*lled all those people for
that.
And you thought he was your
friend.
They didn't.
Father, you're sh*t!
I did it.
I k*lled them.
No!
I'm sorry.
All my life money was all |
cared about.
I stole, I m*rder*d for it.
And then I found it didn't mean
anything compared to you,
Annie Girl.