Original subtitles

And that was not the only time he struck her.

Oh, no.

Again, not long afterwards, when they were having guests for an out -of

barbering?

Barbecue?

Yes, thank you. Barbecue.

When Lola accidentally tipped the steaks into the fire, he lost his temper with

her.

Mr. Patton, the president of his company, was there. He saw it. He can

There were many people there, Your Honor.

When the steaks fell in the fire, he spanked me in front of everybody.

Oh, well, now, that's not quite true, Your Honor.

When I suggested that the stakes were overdone, she threw them into the fire.

You said they were worthless. What was I supposed to do?

I did not say they were worthless.

And as for that spanking... Mr. Bronson, with my understanding, you are not

going to contest this action.

Well, Your Honor, I'm not just going to stay here and let her make me into some

kind of a sadist.

You are a sadist.

That's quite enough.

I realize you're both under an emotional strain.

The breakup of a marriage causes deep wounds, painful wounds.

But you must remember this is a court of law.

Yes, sir.

Is there any possibility at all, Mrs. Bronson, of a reconciliation?

Of your going back to your husband?

I'd rather be dead.

Well, that goes for me, too.

Very well.

The plaintiff is granted an interlocutory decree.

You have your divorce, Mrs. Bronson?

Sadist.

Oh, I wish now I'd really belted you.

Try it. Just try it.

Perry, thanks for coming out.

Old friend in court never hurts.

She signed the agreement just as you drew it up.

I gathered that from the fact you weren't contesting.

And there was no objection to giving you a 90 -day option on her company stock.

She wanted to get rid of me so bad that she probably would have given me the

stock itself if I'd asked for it.

A hundred thousand shares is a high price to pay to get rid of even you,

Well, she's done it.

And we've got what we want.

Control of Bronson Aircraft with her option and your shares and mine.

Who's that?

Bill Ryder, our chief test pilot.

Well, that's that.

Goodbye, Lola.

Shall we get a drink or something?

I'd better get back to Los Angeles, Jeff.

Can I give you a lift, Mr. Patton?

Well, thanks, but I gotta go over to the test center with Jeff.

You know, our new plane gets its final checkout tomorrow.

Yes, I know.

Good luck.

How's it going, Clarence?

Oh, both engines, sweet and smooth as china silk. Too bad that test tomorrow

instead of today.

Hey, Jeff, you want to check them now?

I just designed planes, Clarence. You make them run. You say the engines are

okay, they're okay.

Give them another check in the morning.

Figure to about an hour before takeoff. Good.

Well, got the seatbelt fastened, baby?

Yes.

Good afternoon, gentlemen.

Pleasure to see you again.

I thought I told you to stay away from here, Walker.

Now, Mr. Bronson, it happens that I'm here by invitation.

Well, I thought you ought to hear his latest offer, Jeff. I told you.

I told you too, Walker.

No offers, late or otherwise.

Now, you've got things a little twisted, son.

You see, I'm selling, not buying.

Selling? Selling what?

Well, let's call it insurance.

I have here a confidential report on the Brompton Aircraft Company.

Company has exhausted cash reserves, perfecting an experimental executive

that will outperform all similar aircraft.

Should plane be successfully tested and certified, company's common stock, now

selling at slightly under $1, will rise sharply.

Might add that should the plane be unsuccessfully tested...

the stock will drop sharply.

No argument about that.

So, why not insure, Mr. Bronson?

$100 ,000 for half of your share of the company.

$50 ,000 to patent for half of his share.

Now, if the plane is successfully tested, we all share in the bonanza.

If it's unsuccessful, why don't you salvage the tidy little nest egg?

You've been trying to move in on our company for nearly a year now, and I'm

up.

Jeff, he's only making a perfectly reasonable offer. Okay.

I'm unreasonable.

Walker, I don't want to see, hear, or smell you again.

Ever. Is that clear?

You helped dad build up this company.

Became president when he died. You know how he dreamed and worked for this

plane.

I know, Jeff.

You also know Walker's reputation.

You give him a foothold, and the next thing you know, he's in control.

Once in control, he'll sell us to Con Air or Skycraft so they can junk our

to protect their own production lines.

I'm not going to sit quiet for that.

Not while it's no longer a dream, but a reality.

Jeff, what if...

Reality comes unglued tomorrow.

It won't!

That plane will take anything we or the FAA can give it.

Court, you haven't already accepted Walker's offer, have you?

Huh? No, of course not.

Good. By tomorrow, you'll wonder why you ever listened to him.

I hope so.

Jeff, about you and Lola, I, uh, I'm really very sorry.

I wish I could say the same.

Jeff?

Oh, Violet.

Well, was that Bill just taking off?

Well done, him.

Was he supposed to see you before he left?

Well, when you live in the sagebrush and your husband lives in the city, it

would be rather nice if he stopped to wave to you once in a while, don't you

think?

Say, Lola wasn't with him, was she?

Yes, she was. Why?

Well, then get out another glass, Dad. We're going to drink a confusion.

A confusion?

Yeah. To Lola and Bill.

Why include Lola?

Why not? Bill's been buzzing around her like a bee around a daffodil for the

last six months.

Or didn't you know that?

No, I didn't.

I've had other problems.

All right.

To Lola and Bill.

A confusion.

A confusion.

Who is it?

Jeff.

Jeff? What do you want?

Where's Lola? She's gone to bed.

You can't go in there.

Okay. You give her the message.

You tell her to stay away from Bill Ryder.

Why do you care what happens to Lola now?

I'll tell you.

She's a silly, no -use, extravagant dame.

But I brought her here from Argentina and lived with her for three years, and

feel responsible for her.

Like you would a stray cat that you picked up.

Stray cat, am I?

Silly, no -use, extravagant.

Well, let me tell you what you are. A stupid ox.

And as far as Bill Ryder goes, I will see him when, how, and as often as I

So?

So, it's your funeral.

But, uh, let me tell you this.

I won't be among the mourners.

I'm still reading you loud and clear, Bill.

Stand by.

He's at 15 ,000 feet. The clouds are just above him.

Tell him he's got to climb to 20 ,000 feet. Clouds or no clouds.

Ground to fly, boy.

Ground to fly, boy.

Climb to 20 ,000 feet.

Did he have to go up that high, Jack?

That's part of the final test.

We're asking the FAA for a certification for 18 ,000 feet.

We want to make sure the plane has a little left to spare.

Oh, I see.

Jeff.

He's past 17 now.

We want instrument readings at 18.

Are you above the clouds yet? Just pulling out now.

What's your altimeter reading?

20 ,000 feet.

Still got plenty of climb left in it.

Bill, this is Jeff.

That's far enough.

Level out now.

Level out. Do you read me?

Read you loud and clear.

How soon you want me to jump off the high board?

Start your dive whenever you're ready. And don't forget, a sharp pull out at 12

,000 feet.

Wilco, sharp pull out at 12 ,000 feet.

Here goes.

25. 350.

It's really moving now.

375.

400.

Yeah, I got some vibration in the tail section.

Eight rounds aren't working.

Piece is falling off the wings.

Bill, pull out.

Pull out.

Never mind the test.

Can't pull out.

Stick's dead. Piece is flying off the wings. Eight rounds aren't working. I

can't do anything.

I can't.

Bill, come in, Bill.

What's happening?

Come in.

Jeff, the plane.

Get the parts right away. Joe, hurry.

Jeff, look up there.

For the company.

Violet, you want the unbornish truth?

We ought to. Have been for months.

Me living here, you out in a sagebrush, never seeing each other like strangers

when we do.

Now, why don't you just be a good girl and run along?

Just like that, huh?

Nine years and now I can just run along like a good girl. For nothing.

For not even a share of today's profits at all.

Profits?

You think I wrecked that plane this morning?

Well, didn't you?

Oh, my.

Your imagination just gets bigger and bigger all the time.

No, dear. I think you mean my ears do, don't you?

You see, that's one advantage of being ignored so much. You hear all sorts of

things. Now, suppose I told Jeff about your meetings with that man Walker.

Do you think he'd kill you or just cripple you for life?

Who's that?

How should I know?

Well, suppose we find out. You're so anxious to get rid of me.

All right, you win. You'll get your cut, Violet. Only take off.

Half? All right, half.

Only get out of here. Use the French doors, will you?

And I'll call you tomorrow.

Oh, no, dear.

I'll call you.

See you.

Didn't I hear voices?

Oh, sure, on the radio.

Say, how about some champagne?

Just happen to have a bottle in the icebox.

Yeah, and that's another bottle.

I'd rather have a brandy. Oh, good. Got even more of that.

Say, Lola.

I wonder if you'd explain something to me.

What?

Well, Leander Walker phoned after you did.

Told me you didn't want to accept this check.

Why?

Perhaps first I wanted to see how much gratitude I was expected to show.

Well, uh... First, I thought... And besides, I wanted to know more about

you did today.

Oh, got a haircut, shaved a second time just for you, and... What you did about

the plane.

Lola, I thought you said you're through with Jeff.

I am.

Okay, then what do you care what happens to him or his plane or the company, for

that matter?

Then you did wreck the plane.

Look, did or didn't.

You're getting your share, aren't you? You better come out all right.

Walker's going to buy your stock at a special price.

Now, let's get back to that gratitude.

Maybe I should be grateful to Mr. Walker instead.

Did he suggest that?

Look, just between you and me, maybe I didn't fly that plane as good as I could

have.

I didn't realize you were so clever.

It sounded over the radio as if the plane really was falling apart.

Maybe I should have gone on the stage.

I'll tell you one thing, though.

I almost waited too long to jump.

That would have been a pity.

Because then you wouldn't be able to telephone Jeff and tell him all about

Oh, telephone Jeff?

You've got to be kidding.

No, I'm not kidding.

Hey, uh, put that thing down.

I know how to use this, and I will unless you do what I say. Now go and

Jeff's number.

Look, Lola, take it easy.

You don't care for Jeff anymore, and he's the only one getting hurt by this

thing. Why don't you just relax, hon?

Dial the number.

Paula was gone then for an hour and a half?

Yes.

She left around 10 .30 and she returned about five minutes after midnight.

When she came in, she looked as though she'd seen a ghost.

And later, when I tried to find out what had happened, she wouldn't even let me

in her room.

That's when you called Jeff?

No, no, I called Jeff earlier.

That's the first time I tried to place a call to Mr. Bill Ryder.

To ask him what had happened?

Yes.

Tell me, Miss O 'Higgins.

Why did you call Jeff?

Well, shortly after Lola left, I became alarmed.

I knew perfectly well she was going to the house of Mr. Ryder, and I didn't

think that she should.

So I called Jeff for advice.

And what was his advice?

He said, leave Ryder to me.

And then he hung up.

And since 7 o 'clock this morning, I have been placing call after call to Mr.

Ryder, and I haven't gotten any answer.

Wouldn't that, on top of how Lola looked, make one wonder if something had

happened, Mr. Mason?

Jeff didn't answer at the club.

All right. Do you have Mr. Ryder's telephone number?

Yes.

Empire 69500.

If something has happened to Mr. Ryder, just what is it you'd like us to do,

Miss O 'Higgins?

I want you to protect Lola in every way that you can.

The same even if nothing has happened.

This Mr.

Ryder seems... It seems to have some kind of a hold over her.

I'm sure of it from her manner.

And you want us to find out what that hold is?

Yes.

So it can be dealt with.

No answer.

Well, I can't commit myself as far as representing Lola or Jeff or anyone,

O 'Higgins, until I find out what actually has happened.

We'll be in touch with you later.

Call.

Well, Perry?

Well, Paul?

Glass.

Think the wind did this, Paul?

Well, if it did, it also unlocked the door.

Maybe we've caught up with Mr. Ryder.

I'd say somebody else caught up with him first.

Somebody with a gun.

And... Not exactly.

11 .58 last night, if this clock's right.

Which pretty well clears Lola Bronson.

She'd have had a hard time making the 15 or so miles to her hotel in five or six

minutes. And she doesn't look like the type to be knocking over the furniture,

either.

From the look of things, I'd say that Ryder discovered a prowler, struggled

him, and got killed in the process.

Somehow I don't think so, Paul.

Operator, I'd like police headquarters.

Yes, emergency.

Central Police.

Lieutenant Tragg, homicide, please.

Well, that's good of you to call me, Perry.

Normally, you're not quite so thoughtful.

Have you been here all the time, Lieutenant?

No, no.

This lady, Mrs. Violet Ryder, came in through this door and discovered her

husband's body.

Called police and they notified me.

Well, Mrs. Ryder, wouldn't you like to wait in the car with the driver?

Yes, I would, thank you.

Well, now, Perry, could we have your story?

Yes, Paul and I came here to see Mr. Ryder on behalf of some stockholders of

Bronson Aircraft Company.

He was their chief test pilot.

Yes, so I'm told.

We noted the broken door when we investigated. We saw the body.

And then, as good citizens should, we put in a call to the police.

Well, then, now, as good citizens, would you and Paul mind clearing out so that

we can get to work?

Or should you wait on behalf of your stockholders, Perry?

No.

No need to stay, Lieutenant.

Come on, Paul.

It wasn't a burglary.

Glass only on the outside.

Broken from the inside.

Uh -huh. And if Tragg hasn't already seen that, he will soon. We'd better

I want you to find Jeff Bronson and bring him back to my office. Meantime,

talk to Lola Bronson. All right.

Of course I'm shocked. Death by violence is always shocking.

But why did you find it necessary to come here and tell me in person?

When I saw Mr.

Mason today, I told him about your going to Bill Wright of health last night,

darling.

And now you believe it was I who killed him.

Lola, Mr. Mason isn't here to accuse you of anything.

He's here to help you.

Why should I want or need help?

I was never in the house at all.

I did drive there, but at the door I heard voices, and I just went away.

Tell me, what time was it when you heard these voices inside?

Eleven, or perhaps a few minutes after. Why?

Did one of the voices belong to Jeff?

No.

Besides, what would he be doing there?

Mr. Higgins called him last night.

Told him you were there.

I'll explain later, darling.

But Jeff couldn't have been there.

It was ten minutes past eleven when I called him at his number.

Hello?

Yes, he's here.

Mr. Drake.

Thank you.

Hello, Paul.

Any luck with...

Yes, I see.

Thanks.

Well, whether Jeff was there or not, he's been picked up by the police.

On what charge?

Murder.

He traced for us the path of the bullet through the ribcage of the deceased and

into one of the ventricles of the heart.

How far would you say the pistol was held from the decedent's body at the

of the fatal shooting?

Ten to twelve inches, judging from the severity and the extent of the powder

burns. Did you discover anything unusual when you examined the body?

Yes, there was a mild contusion or bump on the back of the deceased's head.

Now, as an experienced pathologist who's examined hundreds of bodies, would you

say, Doctor, that the decedent had engaged in a violent struggle with some

adversary immediately before death?

I would say there'd been no violent struggle with anyone.

I see.

Thank you, Doctor. That'll be all.

Your witness.

Doctor, in your opinion, from the condition of the body, could the

engaged in a mild struggle with someone before death occurred?

I suppose so, with someone either unwilling or unable to exert much

A woman, perhaps?

Perhaps.

Thank you, Doctor. That'll be all.

The moment I saw the glass on the ground outside the French door, I knew it

wasn't burglary, even though somebody obviously wanted us to think that it

I see.

Lieutenant, I show you three bullets.

One of them has already been identified as having been found in the deceased's

body. Now, I ask if you recognize these two slugs. Oh, yes, sir. They have my

identification marks on them.

This one was found in the wall of the deceased's living room, and this one

a log in the fireplace.

How do you account for the fact that three shots were fired?

Well, quite easily.

The murder shot, and then two more to bolster the burglary idea, to make it

like there'd been a struggle.

Your Honor, I move that both question and answer be stricken. The district

attorney has enticed this witness into a conclusion.

Objection sustained.

Question and answer will be stricken from the record.

Yes, I look at the Starzluma telescope almost every night.

Yes, and what did you observe in the general vicinity of the Ryder house?

Well, I made my usual observations about the time I got home from work.

That's near to midnight.

Made my usual sweep of the sky and city.

We're only interested in the decedent's house, Mr. Finney.

Well, I saw a man come out about 12 o 'clock through the French doors and got

into a car parked about a half a block away.

I got the license number when he passed under the streetlight.

That's how they caught him so quick.

When I gave that number to the police.

You're sure about remembering the number?

Excellent memory.

Recall the license number?

Also recall another man tried the doorbell a little bit later.

No answer, so he left.

You later saw another person try to get into the Ryder house and then leave?

Do you recognize that person in this courtroom today?

Yeah, that's him, sitting right over there.

Well, sir, I was just looking for a place to sleep.

Yeah, I'd been in town checking on jobs since it looked like the company was

going broke in a hurry.

Anyway, it was too late to get back to the field, so I thought I'd stay with

Bill. Done it before.

Dropped by there twice that night. There was no one home.

So I went to a motel down the street.

I want to go back now to something that took place earlier. I call your

attention to the scene between Violet Ryder and the defendant at the test

center's administration bungalow the night before the murder.

Loaded. Both of them.

They'd pretty well finished a whole bottle of whiskey before I joined them.

What were they doing at that time?

Well, telling how they fell in love.

Violet was saying how she was just a hat -check girl when Ryder first met her.

And Jeff was telling how he and Ryder had been forced down once in Argentina

how Lola rode up to the plane looking like a goddess on horseback.

Fell in love with her the minute he saw her, Jeff said.

Then, well, then they started drinking confusions.

And Violet, why, she suggested a killing swap.

Killing swap?

Yeah, suggested she kill Lola and that Jeff kill Ryder to pay them back for all

the trouble they caused and no one any the wiser.

And, well, they drank to that.

Of course, I suppose they was just kidding.

Well, of course we were just kidding.

Well, if we were going to do anything like that, you don't think we'd talk

it in front of a sub -cretan of a mechanic, do you?

Mrs. Ryder, you must confine yourself to answering Mr. Mason's questions.

I don't want to have to warn you again.

Okay, Your Honor.

You've described how you found your husband's body, Mrs. Ryder, but you

yet told us when you last saw him alive. Now, when was that?

I guess it was just after he parachuted down that morning.

You're certain you didn't see him later, later that evening?

No, no, of course not.

Oh, look, Mr. Mason, I wish I had have been with him. Then none of this would

ever have happened, never.

Now, Lieutenant, I recalled you at this time because you were the one charged

with the ballistic tests on this pistol, already introduced in evidence as

People's Exhibit 4.

I'm the one.

Now, to review for a moment, you heard how the arresting officer, having been

given the defendant's license number by our friend with the telescope.

went to Mr. Bronson's club downtown and impounded his car.

How he waited there for the defendant to return and then took him into custody

for questioning.

Yes, sir, I heard.

I am, of course, leading this witness, but since this is purely preliminary, I

trust there is no objection.

You may proceed, Mr. Berger.

You have heard also, have you not, how when a proper search was made of the

defendant's car, the officer found this pistol and also this wallet.

identified as belonging to the deceased, wrapped in rags and hidden under the

spare tire in the trunk of the defendant's car.

I heard the officer, so testify.

Now, Lieutenant, I ask you what you found when the officer turned this

over to you for ballistic tests.

I found it was registered to Jefferson Bronson, the defendant.

I found that a test slug matched all three slugs fired from this pistol found

the murder room.

And that meant what?

That the fatal bullet in the other two...

Came from the defendant's pistol.

No.

This is all wrong.

Jeff didn't kill Bill Ryder. He couldn't have because I killed him.

Don't pay any attention to her, Your Honor. Sit down. I killed Ryder.

I told Mr. Mason I was never in the house.

That I was being framed.

That it was a lie.

We fought over the gun and I shot him.

Then I tried to make it look like a burglary.

That isn't true. I did it. I killed him.

She's lying.

I killed him.

Now, Mr.

Bronson, let's have the highlights of your story again, if you don't mind.

Well, Conception called me about 11 .10.

Told me she was worried about Lola being at Ryder's alone.

I told her I'd take care of Ryder, or something like that.

So I got my gun and I drove over.

Had already figured out what he'd done that morning.

And when he let me in and I saw no Lola, I accused him of wrecking the plane.

He got sore and came at me with a poker, so I shot him.

when I got the idea of the fake burglary.

And then I fired another shot.

There were two extra slugs found in the living room, Jeff.

I mean, two extra shots to make the struggle look like it was bigger than it

was.

And the glass with the whiskey, you wiped it clean and put it with the

Look, Perry, if Lola had been in the house, which she hadn't, why should I

for her? We're all through.

Why is she covering for you?

Well, who knows why a woman does anything?

Now, would you please return the prisoner to his cell?

Thank you, Mr. Bronson.

Well, Perry, which one would you rather defend?

Which one are you going to prosecute?

Well, one thing is certain. They can't both be guilty.

But I'd hate the thought of it being either one of them. They're such nice

people.

Nice but stubborn.

Hello, Paul. Hi, Perry.

What's Berger going to do, do you know yet?

He'll continue against Jeff, probably.

If only to prove he was right.

Of course, he has Jeff nailed.

Weapon, opportunity.

What better motive than jealousy?

Not to mention wrecking a man's plane, ruining his company.

It went for that third bullet.

Third bullet?

Jeff said that he fired two shots.

Then amended his story hastily when I reminded him that Tragg had recovered

three slugs.

Somebody else could have fired that pistol.

It isn't likely.

But it's about the only thing we have to go on.

Harry, maybe something I just found out fits in with that third bullet.

Remember, you asked us to check the whereabouts of Violet Ryder the night of

murder? What did you come up with? I had one of my men check the register of the

motel where Clarence Keller stayed that night.

Violet was registered there, too. Not three blocks from the Ryder house.

All right, so I was in town. What does that prove?

Proves perjury, Mrs. Ryder, and a possible jail term. Now, would you like

to jail?

Oh, no.

No.

Oh, please, Mr. Mason, what do you want from me?

I want the truth.

Now, you did pay a visit to your husband that night, didn't you?

Well, yes, but... Well, I knew he was getting some money for that plane that

he'd wrecked and...

Well, I just wanted to talk to him about it, but he pushed me right out of the

house.

Well, look, Mr. Mason, if I told the police one thing, I'd have to tell them

other. And, I mean, their knowing about the plane couldn't help anyone, and,

well, I was afraid it might just make things worse for Jeff, that's all.

Now, this money your husband was getting, did you expect to receive a

it?

Yes, but only because I was Bill's wife.

I mean, there was nothing special that I knew.

Look, Mr. Mason, why don't you talk to Courtney Patton? He must have been in on

the deal, too.

Yeah, I double -crossed Jeff.

I sold Leanna Walker half my stock for $50 ,000.

Insurance, he called it.

I'm ashamed.

Aren't you more ashamed of being involved with Ryder and wrecking Jeff's

Oh, now, look, Mr. Mason, I didn't know anything about that. That wreck cost me

plenty, because I still had stock in the company then.

Still had?

I sold Walker the rest of my stock three days ago for ten cents a share.

He'd been trying to get hold of the company for three months, the only way

could think of.

Where can we find Walker?

Gee, was it the Sunset Ritz?

Not now. He could be anywhere.

Wait a minute, will you? I want another drink.

Paul, I want an all -out search.

Also recheck the whole telephone calls made from Ryder's place the night of the

murder. Maybe he was in communication with Walter.

Mr. Mason, just for your information, I've decided not to proceed against Lola

Bronson. I don't even want her as a material witness.

As far as I'm concerned, she can clear out right now there are just too many

holes in her story.

As for Mr. Bronson, you can either plead him guilty as charged, or I'll proceed

with the prosecution.

Here's a list of the phone calls made the night of the murder. Release the

call and check those made from Ryder's house.

One to Patton, one to the Sunset Ritz, one downtown to Jeff.

Ryder never called me that night, Perry. Only Conception.

The important one is from the Sunset Ritz. Walker just checked out and took a

cab to the airport.

Paul, get your car out of the lot and meet me out in front.

All right.

What are you going to do, Perry?

First, you want to tell Mr. Berger and Judge Abernathy that we found the

murderer.

Thank you.

I was about to despair of you ladies.

At your service again, Mrs. Bronson. And yours too, Mrs. Higgins.

Shall we board the plane?

I think we'd better check our tickets first.

Mr. Walker?

Mason. I'm afraid you're going to miss your flight, Mr. Walker. This is

Bryce. He has a warrant for your arrest.

Arrest?

On what grounds?

Conspiracy to defraud, industrial sabotage.

Isn't that why you're leaving for South America?

I'm leaving for South America because that's where Mrs. Bronson is going to

me her stocks.

Mr. Walker, who told you I'd do that?

Your cousin, Miss O 'Higgins.

All right, Mr. Walker, let's go.

Why Conception?

And why didn't you tell me?

I'll tell you on the plane.

Lola. Take a moment.

I'm afraid there are a lot of things she hasn't told you.

What?

She hasn't told you that she followed you to Ryder's house that night.

That she was watching while you struggled with him. Watching when that

went off.

That she must have seen him fall against a chair and knock himself unconscious.

Unconscious?

But he was dead.

No, he wasn't.

Because after you ran out, she got hold of the gun.

And she killed him.

Isn't that right, Conception?

But how could I have done it?

I was at the hotel telephoning Jeff at that very moment.

You called Jeff not from the hotel, but from Ryder's house.

After Ryder was dead.

We have a record of that telephone call.

Conception?

He was an evil man.

I knew he would never rest until he got you.

After you ran, he picked himself up and he went to pour himself a drink.

I took the pistol.

But he laughed when I told him he should never see you again or I would have him

arrested for what he'd done to Jeff.

He laughed when I told him that you were going back to South America with me.

He laughed.

He took my arm and he twisted it.

I shot him.

Evidence unearthed by my esteemed colleague.

The state will not oppose a defense motion for dismissal.

Defense so moved.

Very well.

Case dismissed.

With the defendant to be released from custody at once.

The court is recessed for 15 minutes.

Well, so ends the mystery of the three shots.

One fired by Lola, one by Jeff, one fired by Conception. I still have a

Why Walker's continued eagerness to buy Bronson's stock?

Well, once in control, then by threatening to build another test plane,

force one of the other aircraft companies to buy him out. Only now the

lending Jeff the money to build the plane himself.

Well, I have another mystery.

Oh, no, now, really. You said that Conception called Jeff, figuring he'd go

Ryder's house, think Lola killed him, and then either cover up for her or take

the blame himself.

He did both.

But with the divorce, how could Conception think that Jeff still loved

enough to do that?

Take a look.