Detective and Mystery – Retro Radio Podcast

Burglary detail. A safe cracker has been burglarizing businesses, and Joe Friday is called on to put a stop to it. On the day watch, Joe listens to the details of a recent robbery. Joe shares a smoke with the suspect as he walks him to the in derogation room. Joe, and his partner, Bill Lockwood, poke holes in their man’s story. Why was he hanging around the drugstore with a crowbar? Though he has a record of narcotics arrests, he’s no burglar, and was in jail during some of the robberies. In voiceover, Joe tells how such dead end leads need to be pursued, though they take time away from finding the criminals. More leads take the cops to an ex-convict who now runs a chicken ranch. Chandler seems to be on the road to reforming, and has an alibi for the crimes. More possible suspects are checked out from the known ex-convicts in the area. A machinist tells about a customer with a special request. Ralph McKinnley doesn’t have a police record, but Joe tells how the man and his strange request may play into the crime spree. On the trail of McKinnley, the cops finally corner him, and take the busy man downtown. The uncooperative man is a tough nut to crack. Can the cops make a connection with any of their leads? It takes forensics from the crime lab, and plenty of pressure, but a payoff comes from a police stakeout on his apartment.

A pair of escaping thugs set the stage, but how does their plans on easy money fit into the case that just landed in the lap of Philo Vance? A wealthy man, Berke, has died with no heirs, other than a missing son, Fred, and another that has long been thought lost. When the lost brother shows up, and knows more about the Berke estate than Fred, complications begin. What might Vance learn when he pokes his head into a brotherly fight in the mansion? Ben Berke, the thug from our opening scene, diligently reads the newspapers for all he can find on the family. The latest news on secrets locked in a safe tips the boat, and the case begins in Ernest once a body is found. Back in his office, Vance reviews the details with his secretary. Who killed Ben? Was it Fred, or the lawyer over the estate? What about Ben’s thug partner from the opening scene? He has an injured arm, but is he still in the game? District Attorney Markham uncovers the connection between the thugs, but it appears to only be circumstantial. Can a hard connection be Made? Confidence between the thugs breaks down, but wait… Vance uncovers a twist ending

Homicide Detail. A corpse has been found in the hospital elevator and it’s up to Joe Friday to identify the body and find the killer. Working the night watch with his partner, Bill Lockwood, Joe interviews hospital staff. The body was still warm and placed in a wheelchair in the elevator. What will other attendants reveal about the elevator? Joe and Bill inspect the crime scene and marks on the body. The crime lab team gives the scene a thorough inspection and Joe reports into the chief. Will clues come in with fingerprints, or checking with the “Missing Persons” detail? In voiceover, Joe describes the mundane details of the investigation. Clues lead to an apartment building. What will the landlady reveal about her Tennant and the recent party? The trail leads to a factory foreman, where the cops take the man outside the noisy production floor. Cheswick is the estranged husband of the dead woman. Was there any friction between the couple? He has a solid alibi for the time of the murder. A local bartender may have the best clue in finding the killer. The off duty bartender is nervous when the cops question him and take him downtown. His story isn’t believable, as he details his whereabouts. His description matches one given by hospital attendants. Now it’s just a matter of coming clean, and confessing.

Bunko detail. A big time scam artist has set up shop in the city, and Joe Friday has to stop him. Joe Friday discusses the latest case with Charlie. Since Ed Jacobs is going on instructor duty at the academy, Ben Romero’s nephew will be filling in as partner. First, Joe describes the requirements to become eligible to work as a detective. Bill Lockwood reports in during one of the toughest investigations the cops have had to deal with in a long time. Lockwood reviews how the con man operates, as a business consultant to large firms. The cops interview a Real estate agent about her former employer, Russel Preston. Does he still work there, what does he look like, does the secretary still have contact with him? Joe describes the various mundane details that have been pursued, as the investigation continues. More victims of the scammer are interviewed. This time a new alias is given. As the store owner has to step aside to talk with customers, Bill takes interest in the toy, wind up, tank on display. It shoots sparks from its side gun, and everything! A lead comes in that Russel Preston has just hired another secretary, and could be on a new scam. Checks are made with various bars and restaurants that Preston would be targeting, but so far, no luck. Though Preston has been spotted, he manages to stay a step ahead of Joe and Bill. How much should Joe reveal to the latest mark? Does he have something more to do with the scam operation than he’s letting on? regardless, the suspect has been picked up, and now both men face charges.

Juvenile Detail. A baby is left in the care of a young woman in a bus station, but the mother doesn’t return for it. Working the day watch with partner, Ed Jacobs, Joe Friday interviews the young woman who was given a baby to watch. why didn’t the mother ever come back? Stepping out of the noisy bus station, the cops continue the conversation in their car. How does Marjorie Louis have a relationship with Dorothy Miller, other than just being on the same bus? Leads are pursued, but Marjorie is the best source the cops have to get more details. A police woman calls Joe and Ed aside to point out clues in the babies belongings. With Marjorie in a hotel, and the baby in a hospital for safekeeping, the cops keep up the search. The description that Marjorie gives of the 20 year old dark haired Dorothy turns up some interesting twists, and hint at cover ups. The bus driver can’t remember a passenger of Dorothy’s description riding his bus. A hospital claims a woman matching Marjorie’s description just gave birth to a son. Time to catch up to Marjorie at the convention she’s attending and confront her with the facts. Why would Marjorie try to conceal her baby from her husband? Her husband had been sent overseas, and left her alone. There was no reason Marjorie couldn’t join him, but he wouldn’t allow it, and two years is a long time to be forced to wait for him. Desperate to keep it a secret, and not hurt Walter, this was the best idea she could come up with for her son. Confronting the Army Captain, the cops bring the family dirt into the open, but will it resolve the relationship, or end it?

Homicide Detail. A man is shot down in the street, and Joe Friday has to track down the shooter. It was a mild January day for the night shift, as Joe and Ed discuss desserts, and trouble with in laws. When a domestic dispute case comes in, the cops realize how good they have when hearing how bad the family lives of others are. Responding to the call, Joe and Ed interview neighbors who thought the shooting was rowdy teenagers. Details of the fleeing man being shot multiple times is recounted. He’s now in critical condition, and in the care of medical authorities. It’s clear though, that his wife did the shooting , but where is she now? Neighbors continue to tell the story of the hot headed woman, and arguments. Preparing to surround, and rush the small cottage, it becomes evident that Mrs Radford snuck out in the earlier confusion. As the cops plan on checking with friends and family on where she may be, a neighbor close to the Radford’s, and with a gift of gab, manages to keep the woman on the line, but will it be enough to trace her phone calls? Can she be tempted to come out of hiding? Why can’t the phone calls be traced? When the cops recognize the sound of a passing streetcar, her position, and telephone booth where she is calling are identified.

Simon dresses up as Santa for a charitable cause, but he needs a little help in filling out hiw suit, and his ho ho ho. A dame, claiming to be Sally, barges in with a gun, but doesn\t have the heart to use it. When more visitors come, Sally flees the scene. Then Mr Hudsondemands the same kind of package as Sally, though its a matter that Simon knos nothing about. Was it Sally’s gunshot from the kitchen that frightened away the insistent Hudson? Checking up on Sally’s workplace, the santa suited Simon finds a wisecracking butler, and missing jewels from the swanky high rise penthouse. Joined by his cabbie friend Louie, Simon chases the trail to another apartment on the low rent side of town, and the body of the missing santa. Putting the squeeze on their man, Simon begins to unravel a tangled mess of a love triangle. Now it\s a matter of following their noses to a killer. Danger awaits before the crime is solved, but will Simon ever make it to the job he originally took on to dress as santa?

Homicide Detail.. A 38 year old mother has disappeared,, and it’s up to Joe Friday to unravel the mystery. While waiting for his partner, Ed Jacobs, Joe gets the report. Rose Baker has disappeared before, but her boyfriend Carl Sheldon claims she hasn’t been gone so long in the past. Rose left her 4 kids in the care of her sister, and different statements by various witnesses are the beginning of a tangled web of lies. Did she move, is she just on the prowl to some of her other boyfriends on her string? Is she just a forgetful drunk who easily loses her purse? Miss Marin is Rose’s sister, and ex-girlfriend of Carl. Might she have an ax to grind? Joe and Ed interview her. But find her to be responsible in caring for the kids left with her. As the search goes out. Joe retraces the clues he has to go on. Might there be money issues in raising the kids? Is there anything different in the way Rose disappeared this time, as opposed to others? The matter becomes grim, when the body of Rose is found. Joe describes how the crime lab went to work to secure the scene. A phone call from a witness claims to know who killed Rose, and the cops turn to confronting the killer. Conflicting stories are soon resolved, and the motive behind the crime is exposed./

Robbery Detail. A pair of convicts are armed and dangerous, and refuse to be taken alive. Its up to Joe Friday to stop them. Miss Thompson is throwing a party for her roommate when she is visited by Joe Friday. She’s the girlfriend of one of the convicts, but will she be helpful in finding Andy? She confirms he and a friend were there for clothes and money. Joe arranges a stake out on her apartment in case the robbers return, and the investigation continues. Reports of more robberies are shared, and more possible connections are considered in locating Andy. In voiceover Joe tells about more victims, interviews, and police procedure. A theater manager tells of the Wild West style hold up by his former employee. The leads keep rolling in, but the criminals are still just out of the grasp of Joe and Ed.

Jerry has been away on business, and to keep herself busy Pam has been taking fencing lessons. Her fencing instructor was a world class sportsman in his younger days, but now is mentor and trainer to a promising young man. A twisted tale of blackmail unfolds. What hold does the woman known as the Duchess have on the young man? His misplaced loyalties and pride only draw him deeper into a losing situation of murder. His old mentor and trainer may be past his prime, but he still holds a lesson in bravery and loyalty at the end.

Homicide Detail. A complaint about an apartment owner who threatens his tenants if they move in gets the attention of Joe Friday. Joined by partner, Ed Jacobs,, Joe Friday interviews a housewife in the auto court. Pete Cameron has a good job at the airplane factory, but with housing shortages, they’re doing the best they can. Mrs Cameron tells about being turned away from an apartment at gun point. The cops visit the apartment owner to warn him of his responsibility as a gun owner, and see why the Cameron’s lease can’t be honored. Daniels faces jail time, and the cops continue checking with neighbors to get more sides of the story. Is Daniels known to be violent, or have a bad temper? The main problem in the freshly cleaned apartment building seems to be all the rags, painters gear, and the odor of chemical fumes. Joe Friday stakes the apartments out, and shares the mundane procedure taken thus far. Daniels admits his other apartment building that burned also had kerosene, and other debris laying in around. Can Joe and Ed prevent another arson? Oliver Randal is picked up, and questioned about his employer, Daniels, and being instructed to start fires. The dim witted employee leads the cops to Daniels, and he confesses why he burned down the new construction sites.

Meeting with Bruce, an insurance adjuster, Frank Race is hired as the go between to pay a ransom for a kidnapped man. Frank isn’t ready to get on board, until he learns he will also be following the money trail to capture the bad guys. The bills in the payoff have all had serial numbers recorded, and Frank soon determines the center of operations for the kidnappers, Salt Lake City. Frank encounters a girl from his past. Cybil was only a scrawny little girl, but has grown up,, been engaged, and in the recent year has broken it off with her fiancee, Kruger. As Frank and his side kick, Mark, drive the winding roads of the off season ski country, gun shots head their way. Failed brakes lands our Heros in the hospital, and in serious condition. In the days after the car crash, the trail has grown cold. Even squeaky clean towns like Salt Lake City have their seamy sides and dives. Its just the kind of place for Frank to pick up on the scent of Cybil, and her old flame. Will the connection lead Frank all the way to the kidnappers? Cybil knows things she isn’t revealing. Is the investigation done when the kidnappers end up dead? Frank smells a rat and won’t stop; until he has the mastermind in hand.

Charlie and #1 son are helping to plan for the annual police Christmas party. Carols are sung at the piano. The party takes a less than festive turn when a man in a santa suit is found dead. Charlie gets busy with checking on clues, and is soon on the trail of his suspects. A dark colored van is a major clue, but it seems to have vanished. As Charlie and #1 son move in, a man with a sinister voice fills them in on motives for the killing. With some decisive action from Charlie, the bad guy is taken down, and the party can resume.

Person-ell Division. A man claims to have been assaulted by a police officer, and Joe Friday investigates. Calling Blancharrd into the office, Joe is joined by partner, Ed Jacobs to get his side of the incident. The narcotics arrest was straight forward, but the criminals have a lawyer to defend them on the matter of police brutality. Is Evans and his friends lying? How did the man’s shoulder become dislocated? Miss Roland stays in the Evans rooming house, and tells about the scene of the beating by the police officer. Discrepancies need to be ironed out, and the cops go to get the story right from Evans. It isn’t the first time that narcotics arrests have gone down at his place. Why can’t the cops do something about cleaning up the neighborhood? More inconsistencvies turn up. What will his doctor say? Newspapers are running with the sensational headlines of police brutality. A hot tip promises to expose the truth. What will it take to ensure their man is motivated to tell the truth about Evans? Scams, bribes, shady poker games, and suddenly witnesses come clean.

The Norths are set to go out for the evening, but Jerry realizes that  he needs to contact an important author whose book he is to publish. Due through a few mishaps the contact number is lost, and street thugs get wind of something important going down with the Norths. They don’t know what it is, but figure it could be something they could extort the Norths for big bucks. Their information is useless though, because the shady doings they heard about are only part of the plot in the proposed book. Still, where the Norths are concerned, a murder mystery is sure to materialize. When a body is found, Jerry and Pam are thrust into the underworld to stir things up and get to the bottom of the crime. Their joke about the misunderstood book plot takes on a new dimension as they, and their mystery author plunge into solving the case.