October 15, 2025 • 27 mins
Pat Novak, for Hire was a detective drama series which aired from 1946 to 1947 on the West Coast and in 1949 as a nationwide program for ABC. The episodes were set on the San Francisco waterfront and depicts the city as a dark, rough place where the main goal is survival. Novak is not a detective by trade, but he owns a boat shop on Pier 19 where he rents out boats and does odd jobs to make money. The series' fast-paced, hard-boiled dialogue and action and witty one-liners made popularized it among fans.
Find more classic radio series at theaterofthemind-otr.com - Audio Credit: The Old Time Radio Researchers Group. - All Podcasts @ Spreaker | Apple | YouTube | Spotify | iHeart | Amazon
Find more classic radio series at theaterofthemind-otr.com - Audio Credit: The Old Time Radio Researchers Group. - All Podcasts @ Spreaker | Apple | YouTube | Spotify | iHeart | Amazon
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Ladies and gentlemen.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
The American Broadcasting Company brings to its entire network one
of radio's most unusual programs.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
Pat no Back.
Speaker 3 (00:12):
Oh hih sure, I'm Pat Novak for hire.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
There's a sign on in front of my office reads
that way, Pat Novack for hire. Oh, there's no way
to dress it up. If you're in business down in
the San Francisco waterfront, everything but murder is.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
A parlor trick.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
If you rob a few graves, you can pay the
rent and nobody cares. If you got sore eyelids. You
get that way from winking at too many things. Oh
it's a good living if you don't run short of
bail bonds and bends A dream I discovered that Friday
night after the fight broadcast, I wound up in a
little whiskey barrel on Powell Street. I had a Glasgow
(01:30):
farmer out of the red when they closed the bar
and I drifted across the street for a cup of coffee.
When I came out, it was raining and the street
was deserted. I stood in the doorway and watched the
dull neons through the rain. They looked splotched and dim
like watercolors. Rubbed with a damp rag. It was beginning
(01:50):
to rain harder. I started out of the doorway when
she ducked in and bumped up against me. Oh, I'm sorry, yeah,
just wait for your blockers on the net.
Speaker 5 (02:00):
I guess I bumped into you.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
Don't go out on a limb.
Speaker 6 (02:03):
I'm very sorry. I guess I didn't know where I
was going.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
It seemed to be headed in the right direction. How
do you mean forget?
Speaker 5 (02:11):
I noticed it's raining awfully hard?
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Mm hmm.
Speaker 5 (02:16):
I wonder if you ever noticed out.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
When it rains you feel lonely and lost.
Speaker 7 (02:20):
Yes, yes, that's it.
Speaker 6 (02:23):
How when it range you feel lonely lost?
Speaker 1 (02:26):
Yeah? Well, we're both great readers. So if you'll let
me get by, I want to get a cab.
Speaker 5 (02:30):
I wonder if I could ask you something funny.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
The bars are closed.
Speaker 6 (02:35):
No, I meant coffee. What me for it?
Speaker 1 (02:39):
All right in here? Sure? Come on Connor will dude?
Speaker 4 (02:46):
What's it gonna be?
Speaker 8 (02:47):
Hey, you're back again?
Speaker 1 (02:49):
Yeah, to coffee. I'm nervous too. Coffees.
Speaker 8 (02:52):
You're like a bedclall.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
Maybe you know what we want? Two coffees? Yeah, he's right, wordy,
thank you.
Speaker 5 (03:01):
I know it's funny asking you in here, But.
Speaker 6 (03:04):
I have to talk to someone.
Speaker 5 (03:07):
I don't know what I'm doing.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
I don't won't argue.
Speaker 5 (03:10):
I've been away a long time, guess a long time.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
Yeah, the kids will be glad to see your back.
Stop it with your says, get to the point, put
the show on the road.
Speaker 5 (03:19):
Yes, I think I've lost my memory. At least it
seems that way at first.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
I don't know.
Speaker 5 (03:30):
I suppose you don't believe it.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
No, but I convince hardy old coffee.
Speaker 4 (03:36):
Everything all right?
Speaker 1 (03:37):
Yeah? Yeah, everything's fine down head? Yeah? Else he thought
up a name?
Speaker 5 (03:43):
Yet buster, you'd be crazy to believe me, I guess
should be crazy. But I can't remember anything.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
Well, look, lady, if you got amnesia, see the police.
You don't believe me, I don't know. Maybe our eleveling,
But if you're off your rocker, go to the police.
Speaker 5 (04:01):
Suppose there's something that happened before and the police would
be looking for me. Please, would you try to help me?
Speaker 1 (04:10):
How bad are you? Do you know what town you're in? Yes?
Have you been here before? Do you live here?
Speaker 5 (04:15):
I think maybe seems like a police I've been all right.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
I'll put you in a cab you go see the police.
Speaker 5 (04:24):
I feel funny.
Speaker 6 (04:27):
I think I'll go outside for a minute.
Speaker 7 (04:29):
I want Hilda to note.
Speaker 5 (04:32):
Please, I'm gonna fall, please me.
Speaker 8 (04:40):
Mister, your girlfriend's on the floor.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
Yeah, any suggestions, No, she's your day, all right? Here,
give me a hand it the way. You're gonna take
her the hospital. It's an amnesia case.
Speaker 8 (04:52):
I hope your memory is good. Huh, you'll need it
for answers. Your girlfriend's passed out for good.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
Don't tell me.
Speaker 9 (04:59):
I feel how was mister.
Speaker 8 (05:01):
You're gonna have to start over because she's all used up.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
That's good. He got a whaling wall.
Speaker 8 (05:07):
Sure used the collar. I like call homicide.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
It didn't take twenty twenty vision to see I was
in trouble. Maybe it was an accident, maybe it wasn't.
I didn't have any idea why she keeled over there,
but with a figure like hers, I know it wasn't
old age, and I called a homicide. Matt Hellman was
going to be in the picture soon, and then I'd
stand about as much chance as a cornfield and the
stone quarry. Well. I went through the girl's stuff. She
(05:44):
had no identification. There were a couple of snapshots of
her but no name. I told the waiter my name
and where Hellman could find me, and then I got
out of there. I looked up Jock o' madigan, an
ex doctor who liked his booze pretty well. Smart guy,
but he used a mace jar for a jigger. I
finally found him hold up and some after hours joined
on Geary Street. He was talkative.
Speaker 9 (06:07):
Hello, Patsy a small jug for mister Novak wator.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
I want to talk to you, Jacko PEPSI.
Speaker 9 (06:13):
You shouldn't be here, it's after hours.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
Yeah, look, Jocko, I need some help.
Speaker 9 (06:18):
What do you know about amnesia a temporary blessing? I
thought I had it myself. One stop it with you,
but it just turned out to be a case of
bad bourbon a peasants drink. I've decided get.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
Up the street level long enough for me to talk.
I'm in trouble.
Speaker 9 (06:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
I met some blister to night who took a dive
after one cup of coffee. I see she had amnesia.
Ors she thinks she did.
Speaker 9 (06:39):
Oh she's dead. Why worry about amnesia to minor railment.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
Because Hellman's gonna think I had something to do with it.
She picked out my lap don't you see how it's
gonna add up?
Speaker 9 (06:47):
I have high hopes.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
I gotta do something in a hurry.
Speaker 9 (06:51):
Why was she a nice girl? Yes, I guess so
how come you met her?
Speaker 1 (06:55):
What difference does it make? Tell me about amnesia? Could
she phony it?
Speaker 9 (06:58):
Maybe not for a lot? What makes you think she did?
Speaker 1 (07:02):
I don't know. She acted like a butterfly with a
jag on and she headed straight from me. It just
doesn't add No, what cell block? Can I find you?
And you can get off your spine and go to
work for me? You know the hospital circuit? Hit them
all and find out everything you can about recent amnesia cases?
Speaker 9 (07:16):
How far back do I go.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
Until you find one? The jobs with this girl? Watch impossible?
Speaker 9 (07:21):
Where do I start? If she like Noah when they
told him to beat the flood?
Speaker 1 (07:25):
She's blonde, blue eyes, expensive clothes. How big is just
the right size for a good dream? Start checking down
and give me a ring at my place?
Speaker 9 (07:32):
No identification?
Speaker 1 (07:34):
And then she only said one thing when she fell
something crude. No, she mentioned a galve the name a Hilda.
Speaker 9 (07:40):
That should be easy to trace. Sure, just look it
up in the phone book. You will find it somewhere
between Hellman and the homicide right lover.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
Well, there wasn't anything I could do for the next
few hours except sublet from an Ostrich. I had to
keep undercover because all I had to work on was
a couple of snapshots and the girl named Hilda. Neither
figured to get me out of this mess. Helman was
bound to ask a lot of questions because I had
as much business being with a dead girl as Lucky
Luciana when a finishing school. After I left Jocko, I
(08:22):
took a sea car downtown and I went home to
grab some sleep. When I walked in the apartment, the
lights were out, and that didn't make any difference. Hellman's
badge was shining like a lake in Ireland. It was
making himself at home with my ice cubes.
Speaker 10 (08:34):
Hell No vac put the light on so I can
watch it turned pale?
Speaker 1 (08:40):
All right, Helman, get to the point.
Speaker 4 (08:42):
Sure, who was your girlfriend?
Speaker 1 (08:43):
I don't know. She was the KOI type.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
So are you Novak? You're gonna look good sucking your
thumb in the gas chamber.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
I suppose your corner is full of good news.
Speaker 10 (08:50):
She died of an overdose of sleeping pills. The corner's
reporter's murder.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
How about the space mark suicide? No, guys, you.
Speaker 10 (08:56):
Don't take sleeping pills. Then tour the town for a
spot to take a nap.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
So she died in the coffee joint? What am I
supposed to carry a stomach pump?
Speaker 4 (09:02):
You're supposed to tell me who she is. We'll go
from there.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
I don't know, neither did she.
Speaker 4 (09:07):
I've got that down as a lie.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
You file out any way you want helm When she
was amnesia, how are you, Novak? All right? Hire a medium? Then?
I told you she came into the rest of a
total stranger. We got social, but she died a total stranger.
Speaker 4 (09:16):
How are you going to prove it?
Speaker 1 (09:17):
I don't know. I know who she was. I wouldn't
play foot see with you. I have to draw a map.
She came in trying to sort out our marbles and
never got there. I see, But did you find out?
How about clothes markings?
Speaker 4 (09:28):
That's your department?
Speaker 1 (09:30):
How about laundry marks?
Speaker 4 (09:31):
I don't know.
Speaker 10 (09:31):
I guess she watched her own. Look, Novak, you're a
big boy. Now you're in a spot. If you want
to help, now's the time to do it.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
You got everything I know from here on. You work
the ball downfield, all right.
Speaker 10 (09:40):
You just answer the doorbell from time to time. When
you see a guy grinnin out there, that'll be me
coming to pinch you for murder.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
Well, I'll take lots of doing, mister, and lots of proof.
You remember that.
Speaker 9 (09:48):
I'll try Novak, but I may get amnesia. Good night,
big shot.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
When Helman left, I backed into my head ache and
went to bed. Sure I was in a spot now.
The scorecard said murder, and I was the medallist on
the first round. If the police didn't know who she was,
that meant she had no record we could work on.
I still had the funny hunts about that, you know,
pulling a phony, But if it was phony, I was
(10:26):
worse off. I had all the best arrows in town
pointing to me, and once Helman began to build a case,
I could throw away those vacation folders. I slept until
about nine. The phone began to ring, and I rolled over,
expecting to hear Gabriel on the other end of the line.
It was just Jocko. Hello, no back talking.
Speaker 9 (10:45):
She's Jocko. I've been working all night.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
We'll build a monument later. What'd you find out the
morning papers the girl was murder Yeah, Helman gave me
a preview. What'd you find out at the hospitals.
Speaker 9 (10:56):
I've got a complete list of amnesia victims, more lost
souls than a Hong Kong bartender.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
Yeah, most of.
Speaker 9 (11:04):
The men trying to get away.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
From the little woman. Well you're a big help, Jacko.
Speaker 9 (11:09):
Don't hang up to you. Hear about the girl?
Speaker 1 (11:11):
Go ahead, nothing on file.
Speaker 9 (11:13):
For the last eight years. In nineteen forty one, a
seventeen year old girl walked out of California General Hospital.
She hasn't been heard of since.
Speaker 1 (11:23):
How's the description fits like last year's bathing shuit.
Speaker 9 (11:27):
She was Marcia Halper, the daughter of Emery Helper.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
Yeah, who's he?
Speaker 9 (11:32):
A pocket heavy guy down on Montgomery Street.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
I'll get right down there. Thanks, Jocko, you saved my life.
Speaker 9 (11:38):
I hadn't intended to go that far. See you later.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
Well, it was my one chance, even if the odds
looked bad. I called up Halpern's office and said he
wasn't there the trium at home. It was listed for
a place up on Pacific Heights, so I took a
cab over there. When I walked in the lobby. I
could tell old man Halpern was making as much money
as you can without your own printing press. The apartment
made Buckingham Palace look like something Georgie had picked up
(12:13):
in a fire sale. The doorman was a sober looking specimen,
the kind of guy that breathes every other Tuesday. He
gave me the fish eye as I went up the
elevator to the third floor. Halpern's apartment was at the
east end. The butler showed me in and I waited
in the living room. It was a real cozy place,
about the size of a small rugby field. A door
(12:34):
opened on the side and two hundred pounds of regency
oozed into the room like a wet ghost. Good morning,
I'm mister Taylor. I'm Novak. Where's Halpern.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
Mister helper is a way on a business trip. I'm
Mark Taylor, the family lawyer. I believe that's the phrase.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
Well, i'll drop by it later. Huh.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Perhaps I can help you. I take care of most
of mister Halpin's business. Now, did you know his daughter? Yes, yes,
it was quite tragic, that's what I hear. She was
a victim of amnesia.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
She forgot all the details of her home must have
been a temptation. Did the police ever do anything on her?
Speaker 2 (13:09):
The police were not advised. Mister Halpin had private detectives,
but she was never found. Yes, it was quite tragic.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
You wear your morning a long way, Taylor. She'd be
about twenty five, now, wouldn't she. Taffy hair, blue eyes,
nice figure.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
I believe she had leanings in that direction. Why, mister Novak,
I think I may know where she is. You don't
know what that would mean to this family, mister Novak.
Speaker 1 (13:33):
You don't know what it would mean to me. Mister Taylor,
here's a snapshot, and let me see it. Well, Taylor,
this is not a B movie.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
This is a picture of Marsha Halpin. You sure I
don't make many mistakes, mister Novak.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
All right, if you've used up your quarter, she's downtown.
I've got in touch with mister Helpin right when it
will take your time. She's dead. See when last night
she got sleepy? But yeah, that's right, somebody gave her
enough sleeping pills to stock a drug store.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
I see, after all these years to come back and
then this, It was almost tragic. Yes, yes, I was
about to say that it will be a great blow
to mister Helping. It will be a very great blow
to mister Helping. Have they police any ideas?
Speaker 1 (14:23):
A few? Do you know anybody named Hilda? No? Why
I'm just sweeping out the corners. When's Helpering due this afternoon?
I have a range in a excuse me? Please? Hello?
This is Mark Taylor. Oh that can't be right. Well,
when did it happen? Yes, yes, please keep me advised.
(14:52):
You want to wear a purple suit? Taylor. I have
bad news, mister novak ratio, So I'm lightheaded. Go ahead.
Mister Halpin was killed in the motor accident last night.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
His car plunged down a ravine a Sacramento.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
That's very strange. Yeah, that must have been a great
blow to mister Halpert. Well, I left there and went downstairs.
All the way down I had the funny feeling that
(15:28):
something was wrong, the way a person feels when he
goes into a doctor's office with an incurable disease. It
may have been Taylor, I don't know. He seemed all right,
and I still had that feeling that something was out
of place, like a broken line and a perfect picture.
I crossed the street and called Helman. It was too
early in the day because he was as sad as
(15:48):
a tap dancer in moccasins his novak. How's the case minute,
how's the identification? We're moving slow so far.
Speaker 4 (15:56):
We know she's a woman.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
That's right. My name's Marcia Halpern. She disappeared in teen
forty one with amnesia. Yeah, she's the daughter of Emery Helpering.
Speaker 4 (16:04):
I'll check with old Man Helping.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
Better send your best man because he rolled a car
and killed himself last night. Well, Sacramento, I got news
for you too. Yeah, we got a statement from that
waiter who wrote it.
Speaker 4 (16:14):
He says you brought that girl in for coffee. Also,
you were nice and chumming.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
I know her for five minutes, so you know that's
a lifetime.
Speaker 4 (16:19):
The guy said you were good friends. That's the way
our story's gonna read.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
You suit yourself. I'm busy. Yeah, where you're gone, same
place you are, Helman, Sacramento. If I didn't move fast,
I was deader than a Philadelphia nightclub. When they start
taking statements, you can wear it for flowers. I called
(16:42):
Jocko and told him to check up on old Man
Helper's estate. I borrowed a car and drove up to Sacramento.
The accident was just outside of there. When I got
to the spot, Helman was already in charge. He's going
to make a fight for the job. In last judgment,
they were down in the ravine and Helman was beating
around the bushes, making more noise than a Venetian blind
and in a typhoon. Hello, Helman, did you find anything?
Speaker 4 (17:04):
Get your own handstack, I'm busy.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
Where's the body? You get the blues?
Speaker 10 (17:07):
If you don't see one corpse? Today's up in town.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
Do you notice those tracks up there in the road?
Speaker 4 (17:11):
Yeah, double tracks. Don't mean this thing was sure.
Speaker 1 (17:13):
Maybe two cars fell down and one got lost. Wake
up Helmu. If he drove over the side, he su
had a tough time making up his mind.
Speaker 4 (17:18):
When you're through on that pipe, I'll send over another.
I'm going over the car.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
Helman went over the car and I started looking through
the bushes. I don't know what I expected to find,
maybe an old boy scout. After about ten minutes, I
shifted over to the other side and it showed up
right near the ground under a bush. Helman must have
seen me, because he came right over What is it?
Speaker 4 (17:40):
What'd you find my handkerchief?
Speaker 1 (17:41):
Oh h that's funny.
Speaker 4 (17:44):
That's funny about it. So it's a handkerchief. The old
man had a nose, didn't he, But he must.
Speaker 1 (17:48):
Have loved it to him. His hanky's loaded with perfume.
Take away up here, Yeah, recognize it. Sure, I don't
know about you, but I smell a rat. Things began
(18:08):
to move. This was the first break in Helm and
knew it. I went back to town and I tried
to get in touch with Jocko, but he was running
up a tab somewhere. So I drove over to see
Mark Taylor again. When I got to the apartment, I
found out he wasn't in, But the pinch hitter was
all right. When she opened the door, I got a nice,
warm feeling, like a melded cheese sandwich. She was standing
(18:29):
there in a dark silk evening gown. It was strapless,
and she had no worries. When she spoke, it was
like saying, put another log on the fire.
Speaker 6 (18:39):
Good evening Taylor in here, won't you come in?
Speaker 1 (18:43):
Sure?
Speaker 6 (18:45):
Mister Taylor won't be in for a while. I'm waiting
for him myself.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
I see, I'm pat Novak, Is it urgent?
Speaker 6 (18:53):
Anything I can do?
Speaker 1 (18:54):
If it were, you'd get my vote? Who are you?
Speaker 6 (18:57):
I'm Hilda Travis. I'm a friend of the family.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
Which your family?
Speaker 7 (19:01):
Would a drink? Take off the rough edges, mister Novak?
Speaker 1 (19:03):
Good might good?
Speaker 6 (19:04):
I'll make one.
Speaker 1 (19:07):
I brought Taylor a present.
Speaker 7 (19:08):
How nice a girdle?
Speaker 6 (19:10):
Maybe? Or am I being caddy?
Speaker 1 (19:12):
No? I hank at you this one. If you like it?
Should I I thought you might want it for a keepsake.
I found it in a ditch up in Sacramento, about
ten feet from Emory Helper.
Speaker 6 (19:21):
Poor Emory, use a drink?
Speaker 1 (19:23):
Thanks, poor Emory. Full of perfume? You want to smell?
Speaker 6 (19:27):
That wouldn't do any good. You want to know if
it matches my perfume.
Speaker 1 (19:31):
It's your idea?
Speaker 6 (19:32):
Go ahead, all right, no closer, that's it. See yeah,
dearly in the evening, mister Nellback, don't love Hughes.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
I won't until I find out who killed Marcia halpern
good luck.
Speaker 6 (19:48):
For everybody's sake. By the way, the police think you
killed her, don't they?
Speaker 1 (19:52):
Did Taylor brief you a little? I asked him this
morning if he knew a girl named Hilda.
Speaker 6 (19:56):
He must have forgotten.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
Yeah, everybody's got amnesia to make things easy.
Speaker 6 (20:00):
Did you kill her just to make them hard? Did you?
Speaker 1 (20:02):
I see? Well, just tell Taylor I called.
Speaker 6 (20:05):
Don't be a savage, mister Nolvak. You haven't finished your
drink and it's raining outside.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
I'll finished this one.
Speaker 6 (20:12):
That's good. Sit down beside me here, we'll finish our
drinks and pray for a club burst.
Speaker 1 (20:36):
She turned out to be an old fashioned girl. She
had about eight of them before I got out of there.
I tried to pump her, but she wouldn't talk about
Marcia Halfer. I just became a family friend. After I left,
I ducked into a drugstore and started phoning Jackal. I
finally caught him at the Hunt room. He'd worked his
way below the label already.
Speaker 9 (20:54):
Hello, Patchy, I'm having a wonderful time.
Speaker 1 (20:57):
Yeah, what'd you find out?
Speaker 9 (20:59):
I just heard of funny story?
Speaker 1 (21:00):
It's old. What about helping?
Speaker 9 (21:02):
He barely changed his will after the girl died. The
whole estate goes to her.
Speaker 1 (21:07):
Who's next in line, A fellow named Mark Taylor.
Speaker 9 (21:11):
That's the new part of the will, drawn up three
weeks ago.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
Good boy Jack, So I looked up.
Speaker 9 (21:16):
The dope on Mark Taylor. He's a family friend.
Speaker 1 (21:19):
It's a new club going.
Speaker 9 (21:21):
Looks all right. Some funny bank book stuff though.
Speaker 1 (21:25):
For instance, Oh, he drew three.
Speaker 9 (21:27):
Thousand bucks out last month for a Lisbon passage. A
girl named Helen Dupray. Maybe she's a foreign cinema discovery.
Speaker 1 (21:36):
He's no talent. Scott beat me down on homicide in
ten minutes, Jacko. If we're lucky, we'll show him in
something how to draw to one inside straight. Hurry up
and don't stop for a bracer.
Speaker 9 (21:45):
Just don't smell my breath. See you soon over.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
I'd explained everything I could to help. When Jocko got there,
I went over it for him and sent him out
on an errand he was to meet Helman and come
up to Taylor's apartment. I went on ahead. It was
about eleven o'clock when I knocked on the door.
Speaker 6 (22:11):
Mister Novak, so soon.
Speaker 1 (22:13):
Yeah, I'm coming in, Hello Taylor.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
I won't say you're wearing out your welcome, mister Novak,
but it's getting very thin.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
You better take time out and pack your bags.
Speaker 6 (22:22):
Is that nice, Patsy?
Speaker 1 (22:23):
Because a guy named Helman wants you for murder. We've
been over that once, mister Novak. Yeah, we got a
whole new infield this time. Helman thinks you killed a
girl named Helen du Pray. I don't know a girl
named Helen du Pray. The bank botchers say yes, they
say you brought her over here six weeks Agoats. Oh,
you made the team too, Angel. They got you all
fixed up. Roll Man Helpern's kicks up in Sacramento. Get
out of here, Novak. I left a drink here, find
a bar, Get out of here. I wouldn't want to
(22:44):
jam this gun to your face. Come on in, Helmand,
you bring him with you, Yeah, come in here.
Speaker 4 (22:50):
Fellow, is that the girl?
Speaker 9 (22:54):
Yeah, that's a what'd you see here before Sacramento last night?
Speaker 7 (22:57):
He's crazy? It's a plat Mark.
Speaker 1 (22:59):
Lamore, Junior. You sure she's the one.
Speaker 9 (23:01):
Yeah, she was on the road and I've seen her
at the car with his old fellow.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
Hang on, lady, the road gets bumpy from here on.
Speaker 4 (23:07):
My lights were out, so cause you didn't see me.
Speaker 7 (23:09):
Take this little guy out of here.
Speaker 9 (23:10):
I got a story, Senior. Hit the old fellow, then
start the car down the bank.
Speaker 7 (23:14):
I didn't hit him on the head. I told you
that Mark. Yeah, she indeed tell him Mark, tell him
I was here.
Speaker 1 (23:18):
How can I when you tip down? Mit, that's right, Taylor,
get out. Well you can tell him I was here, Mark,
You little fool. Don't you know you've told him already.
Speaker 7 (23:24):
You're a bum guy, Mark, You've been a bum guy
all along.
Speaker 1 (23:27):
I keep my mouth shut.
Speaker 7 (23:28):
I'll give you a chance to talk. I'll tell you
about him.
Speaker 1 (23:30):
No, back, shut up your little halfway.
Speaker 7 (23:32):
You're all right on the straight away, but you're a
bad guy in the curves market. Keep stilling, tin horn
punt like you. I'll talk lost.
Speaker 1 (23:37):
You'd better say it fast. Yeah, you get any prize
in the house, tailor take your choice. Are you working
for a living helmet?
Speaker 4 (23:51):
Yep?
Speaker 1 (23:52):
All right, then let's go.
Speaker 4 (23:53):
Yeah, see you downtown ovay.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
She all right? Chuckle, might of practice?
Speaker 6 (24:02):
Will Betsy?
Speaker 1 (24:05):
You like it this way, baby, no complaints.
Speaker 6 (24:09):
I've always gone for his class.
Speaker 1 (24:11):
I wouldn't like it the other way. Yeah, I could
have used a.
Speaker 6 (24:16):
Little more time, but I'm not greedy. Still raining out, No,
let's stopped raining.
Speaker 1 (24:26):
It's beginning to clear up and over come on, JOCKO,
I'm talking to myself. Oh well, it seems that Marcia
(24:59):
Halburn was dead for years. Somewhere on the other side,
a girl named Helen Duprey got the story out of her.
She looked a lot like Marcia Halpern, so she waited
until after the war and contacted this Mark Taylor. They
cooked up a hoax and the pot boiled over. She
was a post of fake amnesia and stumble into the hospital.
(25:21):
The pictures in the wallet would be printed. Mark would
identify her as Marcia Halpern. The same night, they planned
to kill the old man the way they did that way,
Helen du Pray and Mark could split the dough, but
they figured it wrong. Another girl named Hilda Travers had
the story too. She put the squeeze on Mark and
(25:42):
he blundered. He found out he didn't need a phony
Marcia Halpern. After all. The new claws in the will
gave Mark the dough, so he loaded Helen du Pray
with sleeping pills, while Hilda gave the old man his
last ride. All they had to do was wait for
the dough and then split with Hilda. A few things
(26:03):
went wrong. Sometimes it only takes one. Helen did her part,
but she was no burn Hard and then at the
last minute, she knew something was wrong and mentioned Hilda.
I kind of began to wonder when Mark identified that
picture so fast after more than eight years. He identified
it immediately, and then there was that a handkerchief from there,
(26:28):
and it was free wheeling. All we had to have
was a witness. Well, that guy from Sacramento, you he
was some actor that Jocko picked up in the hunt room.
Hellman finally cleaned up the mess. Taylor's in the clinking.
Of course, the girl already picked up her into the check.
(26:51):
She was nice too, if you don't mind claw marks. Well,
it all worked out and Hellman's happy, except that actor
keeps calling him up for parts.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
The American Broadcasting Company has just brought you the third
of a new series, Pat Novak.
Speaker 4 (27:22):
For Hire, starring Jack Webb.
Speaker 1 (27:25):
Jack Omadagan is played by Jack Lewis. Inspector Hellman is
played by Raymond Byrd.
Speaker 2 (27:30):
Music was composed and conducted by Basim Ablom.
Speaker 4 (27:38):
This is ABC, the American Broadcasting Company
Ladies and gentlemen.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
The American Broadcasting Company brings to its entire network one
of radio's most unusual programs.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
Pat no Back.
Speaker 3 (00:12):
Oh hih sure, I'm Pat Novak for hire.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
There's a sign on in front of my office reads
that way, Pat Novack for hire. Oh, there's no way
to dress it up. If you're in business down in
the San Francisco waterfront, everything but murder is.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
A parlor trick.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
If you rob a few graves, you can pay the
rent and nobody cares. If you got sore eyelids. You
get that way from winking at too many things. Oh
it's a good living if you don't run short of
bail bonds and bends A dream I discovered that Friday
night after the fight broadcast, I wound up in a
little whiskey barrel on Powell Street. I had a Glasgow
(01:30):
farmer out of the red when they closed the bar
and I drifted across the street for a cup of coffee.
When I came out, it was raining and the street
was deserted. I stood in the doorway and watched the
dull neons through the rain. They looked splotched and dim
like watercolors. Rubbed with a damp rag. It was beginning
(01:50):
to rain harder. I started out of the doorway when
she ducked in and bumped up against me. Oh, I'm sorry, yeah,
just wait for your blockers on the net.
Speaker 5 (02:00):
I guess I bumped into you.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
Don't go out on a limb.
Speaker 6 (02:03):
I'm very sorry. I guess I didn't know where I
was going.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
It seemed to be headed in the right direction. How
do you mean forget?
Speaker 5 (02:11):
I noticed it's raining awfully hard?
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Mm hmm.
Speaker 5 (02:16):
I wonder if you ever noticed out.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
When it rains you feel lonely and lost.
Speaker 7 (02:20):
Yes, yes, that's it.
Speaker 6 (02:23):
How when it range you feel lonely lost?
Speaker 1 (02:26):
Yeah? Well, we're both great readers. So if you'll let
me get by, I want to get a cab.
Speaker 5 (02:30):
I wonder if I could ask you something funny.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
The bars are closed.
Speaker 6 (02:35):
No, I meant coffee. What me for it?
Speaker 1 (02:39):
All right in here? Sure? Come on Connor will dude?
Speaker 4 (02:46):
What's it gonna be?
Speaker 8 (02:47):
Hey, you're back again?
Speaker 1 (02:49):
Yeah, to coffee. I'm nervous too. Coffees.
Speaker 8 (02:52):
You're like a bedclall.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
Maybe you know what we want? Two coffees? Yeah, he's right, wordy,
thank you.
Speaker 5 (03:01):
I know it's funny asking you in here, But.
Speaker 6 (03:04):
I have to talk to someone.
Speaker 5 (03:07):
I don't know what I'm doing.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
I don't won't argue.
Speaker 5 (03:10):
I've been away a long time, guess a long time.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
Yeah, the kids will be glad to see your back.
Stop it with your says, get to the point, put
the show on the road.
Speaker 5 (03:19):
Yes, I think I've lost my memory. At least it
seems that way at first.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
I don't know.
Speaker 5 (03:30):
I suppose you don't believe it.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
No, but I convince hardy old coffee.
Speaker 4 (03:36):
Everything all right?
Speaker 1 (03:37):
Yeah? Yeah, everything's fine down head? Yeah? Else he thought
up a name?
Speaker 5 (03:43):
Yet buster, you'd be crazy to believe me, I guess
should be crazy. But I can't remember anything.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
Well, look, lady, if you got amnesia, see the police.
You don't believe me, I don't know. Maybe our eleveling,
But if you're off your rocker, go to the police.
Speaker 5 (04:01):
Suppose there's something that happened before and the police would
be looking for me. Please, would you try to help me?
Speaker 1 (04:10):
How bad are you? Do you know what town you're in? Yes?
Have you been here before? Do you live here?
Speaker 5 (04:15):
I think maybe seems like a police I've been all right.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
I'll put you in a cab you go see the police.
Speaker 5 (04:24):
I feel funny.
Speaker 6 (04:27):
I think I'll go outside for a minute.
Speaker 7 (04:29):
I want Hilda to note.
Speaker 5 (04:32):
Please, I'm gonna fall, please me.
Speaker 8 (04:40):
Mister, your girlfriend's on the floor.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
Yeah, any suggestions, No, she's your day, all right? Here,
give me a hand it the way. You're gonna take
her the hospital. It's an amnesia case.
Speaker 8 (04:52):
I hope your memory is good. Huh, you'll need it
for answers. Your girlfriend's passed out for good.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
Don't tell me.
Speaker 9 (04:59):
I feel how was mister.
Speaker 8 (05:01):
You're gonna have to start over because she's all used up.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
That's good. He got a whaling wall.
Speaker 8 (05:07):
Sure used the collar. I like call homicide.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
It didn't take twenty twenty vision to see I was
in trouble. Maybe it was an accident, maybe it wasn't.
I didn't have any idea why she keeled over there,
but with a figure like hers, I know it wasn't
old age, and I called a homicide. Matt Hellman was
going to be in the picture soon, and then I'd
stand about as much chance as a cornfield and the
stone quarry. Well. I went through the girl's stuff. She
(05:44):
had no identification. There were a couple of snapshots of
her but no name. I told the waiter my name
and where Hellman could find me, and then I got
out of there. I looked up Jock o' madigan, an
ex doctor who liked his booze pretty well. Smart guy,
but he used a mace jar for a jigger. I
finally found him hold up and some after hours joined
on Geary Street. He was talkative.
Speaker 9 (06:07):
Hello, Patsy a small jug for mister Novak wator.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
I want to talk to you, Jacko PEPSI.
Speaker 9 (06:13):
You shouldn't be here, it's after hours.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
Yeah, look, Jocko, I need some help.
Speaker 9 (06:18):
What do you know about amnesia a temporary blessing? I
thought I had it myself. One stop it with you,
but it just turned out to be a case of
bad bourbon a peasants drink. I've decided get.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
Up the street level long enough for me to talk.
I'm in trouble.
Speaker 9 (06:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
I met some blister to night who took a dive
after one cup of coffee. I see she had amnesia.
Ors she thinks she did.
Speaker 9 (06:39):
Oh she's dead. Why worry about amnesia to minor railment.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
Because Hellman's gonna think I had something to do with it.
She picked out my lap don't you see how it's
gonna add up?
Speaker 9 (06:47):
I have high hopes.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
I gotta do something in a hurry.
Speaker 9 (06:51):
Why was she a nice girl? Yes, I guess so
how come you met her?
Speaker 1 (06:55):
What difference does it make? Tell me about amnesia? Could
she phony it?
Speaker 9 (06:58):
Maybe not for a lot? What makes you think she did?
Speaker 1 (07:02):
I don't know. She acted like a butterfly with a
jag on and she headed straight from me. It just
doesn't add No, what cell block? Can I find you?
And you can get off your spine and go to
work for me? You know the hospital circuit? Hit them
all and find out everything you can about recent amnesia cases?
Speaker 9 (07:16):
How far back do I go.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
Until you find one? The jobs with this girl? Watch impossible?
Speaker 9 (07:21):
Where do I start? If she like Noah when they
told him to beat the flood?
Speaker 1 (07:25):
She's blonde, blue eyes, expensive clothes. How big is just
the right size for a good dream? Start checking down
and give me a ring at my place?
Speaker 9 (07:32):
No identification?
Speaker 1 (07:34):
And then she only said one thing when she fell
something crude. No, she mentioned a galve the name a Hilda.
Speaker 9 (07:40):
That should be easy to trace. Sure, just look it
up in the phone book. You will find it somewhere
between Hellman and the homicide right lover.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
Well, there wasn't anything I could do for the next
few hours except sublet from an Ostrich. I had to
keep undercover because all I had to work on was
a couple of snapshots and the girl named Hilda. Neither
figured to get me out of this mess. Helman was
bound to ask a lot of questions because I had
as much business being with a dead girl as Lucky
Luciana when a finishing school. After I left Jocko, I
(08:22):
took a sea car downtown and I went home to
grab some sleep. When I walked in the apartment, the
lights were out, and that didn't make any difference. Hellman's
badge was shining like a lake in Ireland. It was
making himself at home with my ice cubes.
Speaker 10 (08:34):
Hell No vac put the light on so I can
watch it turned pale?
Speaker 1 (08:40):
All right, Helman, get to the point.
Speaker 4 (08:42):
Sure, who was your girlfriend?
Speaker 1 (08:43):
I don't know. She was the KOI type.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
So are you Novak? You're gonna look good sucking your
thumb in the gas chamber.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
I suppose your corner is full of good news.
Speaker 10 (08:50):
She died of an overdose of sleeping pills. The corner's
reporter's murder.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
How about the space mark suicide? No, guys, you.
Speaker 10 (08:56):
Don't take sleeping pills. Then tour the town for a
spot to take a nap.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
So she died in the coffee joint? What am I
supposed to carry a stomach pump?
Speaker 4 (09:02):
You're supposed to tell me who she is. We'll go
from there.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
I don't know, neither did she.
Speaker 4 (09:07):
I've got that down as a lie.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
You file out any way you want helm When she
was amnesia, how are you, Novak? All right? Hire a medium? Then?
I told you she came into the rest of a
total stranger. We got social, but she died a total stranger.
Speaker 4 (09:16):
How are you going to prove it?
Speaker 1 (09:17):
I don't know. I know who she was. I wouldn't
play foot see with you. I have to draw a map.
She came in trying to sort out our marbles and
never got there. I see, But did you find out?
How about clothes markings?
Speaker 4 (09:28):
That's your department?
Speaker 1 (09:30):
How about laundry marks?
Speaker 4 (09:31):
I don't know.
Speaker 10 (09:31):
I guess she watched her own. Look, Novak, you're a
big boy. Now you're in a spot. If you want
to help, now's the time to do it.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
You got everything I know from here on. You work
the ball downfield, all right.
Speaker 10 (09:40):
You just answer the doorbell from time to time. When
you see a guy grinnin out there, that'll be me
coming to pinch you for murder.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
Well, I'll take lots of doing, mister, and lots of proof.
You remember that.
Speaker 9 (09:48):
I'll try Novak, but I may get amnesia. Good night,
big shot.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
When Helman left, I backed into my head ache and
went to bed. Sure I was in a spot now.
The scorecard said murder, and I was the medallist on
the first round. If the police didn't know who she was,
that meant she had no record we could work on.
I still had the funny hunts about that, you know,
pulling a phony, But if it was phony, I was
(10:26):
worse off. I had all the best arrows in town
pointing to me, and once Helman began to build a case,
I could throw away those vacation folders. I slept until
about nine. The phone began to ring, and I rolled over,
expecting to hear Gabriel on the other end of the line.
It was just Jocko. Hello, no back talking.
Speaker 9 (10:45):
She's Jocko. I've been working all night.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
We'll build a monument later. What'd you find out the
morning papers the girl was murder Yeah, Helman gave me
a preview. What'd you find out at the hospitals.
Speaker 9 (10:56):
I've got a complete list of amnesia victims, more lost
souls than a Hong Kong bartender.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
Yeah, most of.
Speaker 9 (11:04):
The men trying to get away.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
From the little woman. Well you're a big help, Jacko.
Speaker 9 (11:09):
Don't hang up to you. Hear about the girl?
Speaker 1 (11:11):
Go ahead, nothing on file.
Speaker 9 (11:13):
For the last eight years. In nineteen forty one, a
seventeen year old girl walked out of California General Hospital.
She hasn't been heard of since.
Speaker 1 (11:23):
How's the description fits like last year's bathing shuit.
Speaker 9 (11:27):
She was Marcia Halper, the daughter of Emery Helper.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
Yeah, who's he?
Speaker 9 (11:32):
A pocket heavy guy down on Montgomery Street.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
I'll get right down there. Thanks, Jocko, you saved my life.
Speaker 9 (11:38):
I hadn't intended to go that far. See you later.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
Well, it was my one chance, even if the odds
looked bad. I called up Halpern's office and said he
wasn't there the trium at home. It was listed for
a place up on Pacific Heights, so I took a
cab over there. When I walked in the lobby. I
could tell old man Halpern was making as much money
as you can without your own printing press. The apartment
made Buckingham Palace look like something Georgie had picked up
(12:13):
in a fire sale. The doorman was a sober looking specimen,
the kind of guy that breathes every other Tuesday. He
gave me the fish eye as I went up the
elevator to the third floor. Halpern's apartment was at the
east end. The butler showed me in and I waited
in the living room. It was a real cozy place,
about the size of a small rugby field. A door
(12:34):
opened on the side and two hundred pounds of regency
oozed into the room like a wet ghost. Good morning,
I'm mister Taylor. I'm Novak. Where's Halpern.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
Mister helper is a way on a business trip. I'm
Mark Taylor, the family lawyer. I believe that's the phrase.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
Well, i'll drop by it later. Huh.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Perhaps I can help you. I take care of most
of mister Halpin's business. Now, did you know his daughter? Yes, yes,
it was quite tragic, that's what I hear. She was
a victim of amnesia.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
She forgot all the details of her home must have
been a temptation. Did the police ever do anything on her?
Speaker 2 (13:09):
The police were not advised. Mister Halpin had private detectives,
but she was never found. Yes, it was quite tragic.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
You wear your morning a long way, Taylor. She'd be
about twenty five, now, wouldn't she. Taffy hair, blue eyes,
nice figure.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
I believe she had leanings in that direction. Why, mister Novak,
I think I may know where she is. You don't
know what that would mean to this family, mister Novak.
Speaker 1 (13:33):
You don't know what it would mean to me. Mister Taylor,
here's a snapshot, and let me see it. Well, Taylor,
this is not a B movie.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
This is a picture of Marsha Halpin. You sure I
don't make many mistakes, mister Novak.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
All right, if you've used up your quarter, she's downtown.
I've got in touch with mister Helpin right when it
will take your time. She's dead. See when last night
she got sleepy? But yeah, that's right, somebody gave her
enough sleeping pills to stock a drug store.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
I see, after all these years to come back and
then this, It was almost tragic. Yes, yes, I was
about to say that it will be a great blow
to mister Helping. It will be a very great blow
to mister Helping. Have they police any ideas?
Speaker 1 (14:23):
A few? Do you know anybody named Hilda? No? Why
I'm just sweeping out the corners. When's Helpering due this afternoon?
I have a range in a excuse me? Please? Hello?
This is Mark Taylor. Oh that can't be right. Well,
when did it happen? Yes, yes, please keep me advised.
(14:52):
You want to wear a purple suit? Taylor. I have
bad news, mister novak ratio, So I'm lightheaded. Go ahead.
Mister Halpin was killed in the motor accident last night.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
His car plunged down a ravine a Sacramento.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
That's very strange. Yeah, that must have been a great
blow to mister Halpert. Well, I left there and went downstairs.
All the way down I had the funny feeling that
(15:28):
something was wrong, the way a person feels when he
goes into a doctor's office with an incurable disease. It
may have been Taylor, I don't know. He seemed all right,
and I still had that feeling that something was out
of place, like a broken line and a perfect picture.
I crossed the street and called Helman. It was too
early in the day because he was as sad as
(15:48):
a tap dancer in moccasins his novak. How's the case minute,
how's the identification? We're moving slow so far.
Speaker 4 (15:56):
We know she's a woman.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
That's right. My name's Marcia Halpern. She disappeared in teen
forty one with amnesia. Yeah, she's the daughter of Emery Helpering.
Speaker 4 (16:04):
I'll check with old Man Helping.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
Better send your best man because he rolled a car
and killed himself last night. Well, Sacramento, I got news
for you too. Yeah, we got a statement from that
waiter who wrote it.
Speaker 4 (16:14):
He says you brought that girl in for coffee. Also,
you were nice and chumming.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
I know her for five minutes, so you know that's
a lifetime.
Speaker 4 (16:19):
The guy said you were good friends. That's the way
our story's gonna read.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
You suit yourself. I'm busy. Yeah, where you're gone, same
place you are, Helman, Sacramento. If I didn't move fast,
I was deader than a Philadelphia nightclub. When they start
taking statements, you can wear it for flowers. I called
(16:42):
Jocko and told him to check up on old Man
Helper's estate. I borrowed a car and drove up to Sacramento.
The accident was just outside of there. When I got
to the spot, Helman was already in charge. He's going
to make a fight for the job. In last judgment,
they were down in the ravine and Helman was beating
around the bushes, making more noise than a Venetian blind
and in a typhoon. Hello, Helman, did you find anything?
Speaker 4 (17:04):
Get your own handstack, I'm busy.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
Where's the body? You get the blues?
Speaker 10 (17:07):
If you don't see one corpse? Today's up in town.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
Do you notice those tracks up there in the road?
Speaker 4 (17:11):
Yeah, double tracks. Don't mean this thing was sure.
Speaker 1 (17:13):
Maybe two cars fell down and one got lost. Wake
up Helmu. If he drove over the side, he su
had a tough time making up his mind.
Speaker 4 (17:18):
When you're through on that pipe, I'll send over another.
I'm going over the car.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
Helman went over the car and I started looking through
the bushes. I don't know what I expected to find,
maybe an old boy scout. After about ten minutes, I
shifted over to the other side and it showed up
right near the ground under a bush. Helman must have
seen me, because he came right over What is it?
Speaker 4 (17:40):
What'd you find my handkerchief?
Speaker 1 (17:41):
Oh h that's funny.
Speaker 4 (17:44):
That's funny about it. So it's a handkerchief. The old
man had a nose, didn't he, But he must.
Speaker 1 (17:48):
Have loved it to him. His hanky's loaded with perfume.
Take away up here, Yeah, recognize it. Sure, I don't
know about you, but I smell a rat. Things began
(18:08):
to move. This was the first break in Helm and
knew it. I went back to town and I tried
to get in touch with Jocko, but he was running
up a tab somewhere. So I drove over to see
Mark Taylor again. When I got to the apartment, I
found out he wasn't in, But the pinch hitter was
all right. When she opened the door, I got a nice,
warm feeling, like a melded cheese sandwich. She was standing
(18:29):
there in a dark silk evening gown. It was strapless,
and she had no worries. When she spoke, it was
like saying, put another log on the fire.
Speaker 6 (18:39):
Good evening Taylor in here, won't you come in?
Speaker 1 (18:43):
Sure?
Speaker 6 (18:45):
Mister Taylor won't be in for a while. I'm waiting
for him myself.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
I see, I'm pat Novak, Is it urgent?
Speaker 6 (18:53):
Anything I can do?
Speaker 1 (18:54):
If it were, you'd get my vote? Who are you?
Speaker 6 (18:57):
I'm Hilda Travis. I'm a friend of the family.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
Which your family?
Speaker 7 (19:01):
Would a drink? Take off the rough edges, mister Novak?
Speaker 1 (19:03):
Good might good?
Speaker 6 (19:04):
I'll make one.
Speaker 1 (19:07):
I brought Taylor a present.
Speaker 7 (19:08):
How nice a girdle?
Speaker 6 (19:10):
Maybe? Or am I being caddy?
Speaker 1 (19:12):
No? I hank at you this one. If you like it?
Should I I thought you might want it for a keepsake.
I found it in a ditch up in Sacramento, about
ten feet from Emory Helper.
Speaker 6 (19:21):
Poor Emory, use a drink?
Speaker 1 (19:23):
Thanks, poor Emory. Full of perfume? You want to smell?
Speaker 6 (19:27):
That wouldn't do any good. You want to know if
it matches my perfume.
Speaker 1 (19:31):
It's your idea?
Speaker 6 (19:32):
Go ahead, all right, no closer, that's it. See yeah,
dearly in the evening, mister Nellback, don't love Hughes.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
I won't until I find out who killed Marcia halpern
good luck.
Speaker 6 (19:48):
For everybody's sake. By the way, the police think you
killed her, don't they?
Speaker 1 (19:52):
Did Taylor brief you a little? I asked him this
morning if he knew a girl named Hilda.
Speaker 6 (19:56):
He must have forgotten.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
Yeah, everybody's got amnesia to make things easy.
Speaker 6 (20:00):
Did you kill her just to make them hard? Did you?
Speaker 1 (20:02):
I see? Well, just tell Taylor I called.
Speaker 6 (20:05):
Don't be a savage, mister Nolvak. You haven't finished your
drink and it's raining outside.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
I'll finished this one.
Speaker 6 (20:12):
That's good. Sit down beside me here, we'll finish our
drinks and pray for a club burst.
Speaker 1 (20:36):
She turned out to be an old fashioned girl. She
had about eight of them before I got out of there.
I tried to pump her, but she wouldn't talk about
Marcia Halfer. I just became a family friend. After I left,
I ducked into a drugstore and started phoning Jackal. I
finally caught him at the Hunt room. He'd worked his
way below the label already.
Speaker 9 (20:54):
Hello, Patchy, I'm having a wonderful time.
Speaker 1 (20:57):
Yeah, what'd you find out?
Speaker 9 (20:59):
I just heard of funny story?
Speaker 1 (21:00):
It's old. What about helping?
Speaker 9 (21:02):
He barely changed his will after the girl died. The
whole estate goes to her.
Speaker 1 (21:07):
Who's next in line, A fellow named Mark Taylor.
Speaker 9 (21:11):
That's the new part of the will, drawn up three
weeks ago.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
Good boy Jack, So I looked up.
Speaker 9 (21:16):
The dope on Mark Taylor. He's a family friend.
Speaker 1 (21:19):
It's a new club going.
Speaker 9 (21:21):
Looks all right. Some funny bank book stuff though.
Speaker 1 (21:25):
For instance, Oh, he drew three.
Speaker 9 (21:27):
Thousand bucks out last month for a Lisbon passage. A
girl named Helen Dupray. Maybe she's a foreign cinema discovery.
Speaker 1 (21:36):
He's no talent. Scott beat me down on homicide in
ten minutes, Jacko. If we're lucky, we'll show him in
something how to draw to one inside straight. Hurry up
and don't stop for a bracer.
Speaker 9 (21:45):
Just don't smell my breath. See you soon over.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
I'd explained everything I could to help. When Jocko got there,
I went over it for him and sent him out
on an errand he was to meet Helman and come
up to Taylor's apartment. I went on ahead. It was
about eleven o'clock when I knocked on the door.
Speaker 6 (22:11):
Mister Novak, so soon.
Speaker 1 (22:13):
Yeah, I'm coming in, Hello Taylor.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
I won't say you're wearing out your welcome, mister Novak,
but it's getting very thin.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
You better take time out and pack your bags.
Speaker 6 (22:22):
Is that nice, Patsy?
Speaker 1 (22:23):
Because a guy named Helman wants you for murder. We've
been over that once, mister Novak. Yeah, we got a
whole new infield this time. Helman thinks you killed a
girl named Helen du Pray. I don't know a girl
named Helen du Pray. The bank botchers say yes, they
say you brought her over here six weeks Agoats. Oh,
you made the team too, Angel. They got you all
fixed up. Roll Man Helpern's kicks up in Sacramento. Get
out of here, Novak. I left a drink here, find
a bar, Get out of here. I wouldn't want to
(22:44):
jam this gun to your face. Come on in, Helmand,
you bring him with you, Yeah, come in here.
Speaker 4 (22:50):
Fellow, is that the girl?
Speaker 9 (22:54):
Yeah, that's a what'd you see here before Sacramento last night?
Speaker 7 (22:57):
He's crazy? It's a plat Mark.
Speaker 1 (22:59):
Lamore, Junior. You sure she's the one.
Speaker 9 (23:01):
Yeah, she was on the road and I've seen her
at the car with his old fellow.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
Hang on, lady, the road gets bumpy from here on.
Speaker 4 (23:07):
My lights were out, so cause you didn't see me.
Speaker 7 (23:09):
Take this little guy out of here.
Speaker 9 (23:10):
I got a story, Senior. Hit the old fellow, then
start the car down the bank.
Speaker 7 (23:14):
I didn't hit him on the head. I told you
that Mark. Yeah, she indeed tell him Mark, tell him
I was here.
Speaker 1 (23:18):
How can I when you tip down? Mit, that's right, Taylor,
get out. Well you can tell him I was here, Mark,
You little fool. Don't you know you've told him already.
Speaker 7 (23:24):
You're a bum guy, Mark, You've been a bum guy
all along.
Speaker 1 (23:27):
I keep my mouth shut.
Speaker 7 (23:28):
I'll give you a chance to talk. I'll tell you
about him.
Speaker 1 (23:30):
No, back, shut up your little halfway.
Speaker 7 (23:32):
You're all right on the straight away, but you're a
bad guy in the curves market. Keep stilling, tin horn
punt like you. I'll talk lost.
Speaker 1 (23:37):
You'd better say it fast. Yeah, you get any prize
in the house, tailor take your choice. Are you working
for a living helmet?
Speaker 4 (23:51):
Yep?
Speaker 1 (23:52):
All right, then let's go.
Speaker 4 (23:53):
Yeah, see you downtown ovay.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
She all right? Chuckle, might of practice?
Speaker 6 (24:02):
Will Betsy?
Speaker 1 (24:05):
You like it this way, baby, no complaints.
Speaker 6 (24:09):
I've always gone for his class.
Speaker 1 (24:11):
I wouldn't like it the other way. Yeah, I could
have used a.
Speaker 6 (24:16):
Little more time, but I'm not greedy. Still raining out, No,
let's stopped raining.
Speaker 1 (24:26):
It's beginning to clear up and over come on, JOCKO,
I'm talking to myself. Oh well, it seems that Marcia
(24:59):
Halburn was dead for years. Somewhere on the other side,
a girl named Helen Duprey got the story out of her.
She looked a lot like Marcia Halpern, so she waited
until after the war and contacted this Mark Taylor. They
cooked up a hoax and the pot boiled over. She
was a post of fake amnesia and stumble into the hospital.
(25:21):
The pictures in the wallet would be printed. Mark would
identify her as Marcia Halpern. The same night, they planned
to kill the old man the way they did that way,
Helen du Pray and Mark could split the dough, but
they figured it wrong. Another girl named Hilda Travers had
the story too. She put the squeeze on Mark and
(25:42):
he blundered. He found out he didn't need a phony
Marcia Halpern. After all. The new claws in the will
gave Mark the dough, so he loaded Helen du Pray
with sleeping pills, while Hilda gave the old man his
last ride. All they had to do was wait for
the dough and then split with Hilda. A few things
(26:03):
went wrong. Sometimes it only takes one. Helen did her part,
but she was no burn Hard and then at the
last minute, she knew something was wrong and mentioned Hilda.
I kind of began to wonder when Mark identified that
picture so fast after more than eight years. He identified
it immediately, and then there was that a handkerchief from there,
(26:28):
and it was free wheeling. All we had to have
was a witness. Well, that guy from Sacramento, you he
was some actor that Jocko picked up in the hunt room.
Hellman finally cleaned up the mess. Taylor's in the clinking.
Of course, the girl already picked up her into the check.
(26:51):
She was nice too, if you don't mind claw marks. Well,
it all worked out and Hellman's happy, except that actor
keeps calling him up for parts.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
The American Broadcasting Company has just brought you the third
of a new series, Pat Novak.
Speaker 4 (27:22):
For Hire, starring Jack Webb.
Speaker 1 (27:25):
Jack Omadagan is played by Jack Lewis. Inspector Hellman is
played by Raymond Byrd.
Speaker 2 (27:30):
Music was composed and conducted by Basim Ablom.
Speaker 4 (27:38):
This is ABC, the American Broadcasting Company
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