Backfire Page #4

Is anything wrong with that?

Captain, you got a bad lead.

You don't know Steve.

He was playing it straight.

For years we broke

our necks to get a ranch.

- He wouldn't mess all that up.

- Sentiment, son, sentiment.

- In my job I have to deal with facts.

- I'm giving you facts.

Then let me give you some.

December 4th, 7:
12 p.m.,

a call comes into Homicide...

...that a man's been killed on Marden Drive,

out in the Los Feliz district.

The house belonged to Solly Blayne,

but he wasn't going to occupy it any longer.

He was lying dead

on the living room floor.

And only his wife was sorry.

- When do we get the house...

- Wait a minute. Just be patient.

Take it easy, you'll get your story.

Any footprints, George?

- Yeah. Everybody's.

- That's too bad.

What's the story?

How about a lead?

Give us a break, will you?

Very simple. At first the guy calls up

to make sure Solly's at home.

Few minutes later, he drives up in his car,

walks across the lawn to this window.

There sits Solly in his chair,

sipping a highball.

The guy lets him have it. Three slugs.

Yeah, good shooting.

- Excuse me, captain.

- Yes, doctor?

- Mrs. Blayne must get some rest.

- She's in no condition...

- Yes. It's been pretty rough on her.

- We won't need her anymore tonight.

- Thank you.

- Oh, uh, Doctor Anstead.

- Yes?

Tell her we'll have to leave somebody

in the house.

- I understand.

Oh, captain?

Yes? What is it?

- There's a call in your car.

- All right. Thank you.

- D-5 to 1.

- D-1 to 5.

The room clerk from

the Fremont Hotel just called in.

Solly Blayne was in an hour ago.

He saw a man named Steve Connolly.

Over.

D-5, roger.

Fremont Hotel. Fourth and Olive.

Solly Blayne was there an hour ago.

- What room is Steve Connolly in?

- 228. Come in a half hour ago.

Keep away from that phone.

Don't worry. It was me who called you.

I was the one who recognized Solly.

It is feared the murder of Solly Blayne...

...may be the beginning of full-scale

racketeer warfare within Los Angeles.

The police department

has known for some time...

All right, open up, Connolly, police.

Hold it. You're liable to hit a taxpayer.

That was the last

we saw of Steve Connolly.

I don't have any actual proof

that he killed Solly Blayne.

No witnesses, no prints,

no established motives.

But until I get evidence to the contrary,

Steve has to be number one boy on my list.

Why? Because he ran away?

Who wouldn't?

Look, captain, Solly Blayne

comes to see him about something.

Then he hears on the radio

that Solly's been killed.

Next, you're pounding on his door.

To Steve that can only mean...

...you're gonna pin it on him.

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