 From Hollywood, it's time now for Johnny dollar Mrs. David Parsons. Well, I called Mr. Ecker and he told me where you're staying. I was just on my way out to your home Mrs. Parsons, I'd rather you didn't come to the house. Mr. Dollar, couldn't I meet you somewhere? Well, sure Better still, why don't I come by your hotel and pick you up? That'll be all right 15 minutes. Is that too soon? That's fine Mrs. Parsons. Yes, your father-in-law know you're meeting me. He did. I think he'd kill me Tonight and every weekday night Bob Bailey in the transcribed adventures of the man with the action-packed expense account America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator. Yours truly, Johnny dollar Expense account submitted by special investigator Johnny dollar to the Eastern Casualty and Trust Company number 25 Yardley Boulevard, Boston, Massachusetts The following is an accounting of expenditure is during my investigation of the Calakles matter Item two four dollars and fifty-five cents one long-distance phone call to Dave Blaine chief investigator for Eastern Casualty I explained to him that in spite of our information that David Parsons, Jr. Had been missing for ten days People in Los Angeles connected with him seemed indifferent or irritated by an investigation I told him how old man Parsons had tried to throw me out three times when I got around to suggesting that Perhaps his son might have flown the coop with some money and bonds Blaine told me to keep trying and keep on trying to get to the bottom of it. I took him at his word It was a little after two o'clock when I saw Mrs. Dorothy Parsons pull up in front of the Beverly Hilton lobby She wore a ribbon to hold her hair back in the convertible a sundry showed off a pair of well-tanned shoulders The dark glasses the cigarette holder and the smile did the rest and making her a very pretty woman. I Spoke. I love worried. I Keep you waiting long Yes, I do too it just struck me I'm here to see about your missing husband now. It looks like we're going on a picnic I think you don't have to wear sackcloth and ashes to do your job now really do you well It sometimes helps on a job like this You disapprove of me. Don't you I disapprove of everybody. I have to Mrs. Parsons all the time forever Only until a thing straightened up till you separate the chaff from the weed. I suppose yeah Where are we going? I thought you might like a drive down by the ocean I'd rather be facing you across a desk. You shan't do that mr. Dollar. I won't allow it Stop looking so dumb How's that? I don't know. I just don't know Would you feel any better if you faced me across a luncheon table? That's as close to a desk as I can think up. Yeah, let's try that out. I Gave her what I could have a smile and let her think it over She drove well keeping her eyes to the road both hands on the wheel She was a careful kind the rear view mirror was adjusted two or three times looking for our traffic cops We went off Sunset Boulevard and onto the road that is set right by the ocean The Sun was shining the air was warm And I got to thinking what business did I have worrying about a missing man on such a nice day? What is it? I'm tired of driving. Let's walk along that lovely strip of beach. Oh No, wait a minute. It's such a lovely day in the air so good walk with me talk with me Just a little while and then we can talk about all these other things I married David when I was not quite 18. He was almost 30 Let me see that was 14 years ago 14 years Go on He joined his father's firm and he's been there ever since We live well Socially economically I Guess I belong to the keep your social position in mind club. Don't I I don't know What do you think of me I Met you today to talk about your husband, Mrs. Parsons, but I've been talking about my husband. I Told you about meeting him about being married to him What else is it a tell now tell me about missing him what can I tell you about that? Where he is for one thing. I don't know any ideas. No none You're so pretty I almost believe you oh You are a human being but I don't believe you. I don't care Tell me how pretty I am. I don't understand you. I didn't understand your father-in-law David Parsons is missing. No one wants to talk about it do anything about it make any moves. What is this? You're cross with me now. Yeah For some reason I'd assume you'd want me to talk to somebody about your husband You'd want to talk to somebody too that you'd that you'd want him back want to know if he's well if he's in trouble and what happens You spend an hour on a sunny afternoon showing me your best profile doing everything but getting down to the business at hand I don't get it. I'm sorry. I Guess I don't blame you What is it you want to know? When did you see him last? Last Tuesday morning at breakfast at home. Tell me about it It's nothing to tell really He ate his breakfast read his paper Put on his coat kissed me and left I Called his office at noon about something or other in his secretary told me he hadn't come in I Really didn't know he wasn't around Till Wednesday afternoon late. How's that? Well Tuesday night, I I went out with friends Wednesday, I slept late I presume David was in bed when I came in I didn't look in his bedroom Wednesday afternoon, mr. Ecker called and asked to speak to David Mr. Ecker told me David hadn't been in his office all day Tuesday I Checked his bedroom and his bed hadn't been slept in Tuesday night So I called my father-in-law. Why didn't you call the police? Why should I it only seems reasonable to me go on? Mr. Poison's told me not to mention the matter to anyone that he'd take care of it. He hinted I'm bad at this Johnny because well you have no idea But I mean mr. Poison senior doesn't hint He's a very blunt person. I met him this morning. Yeah But I'll say he hinted that David might have gone off with someone else. I see Has he ever disappeared before? Yes many times one was the last time Last fall The three days he was gone and before that it was in the spring He was gone for a matter of five or six days when he came home on these occasions. What did he say? What did he do? Nothing. Oh, no, I can't believe that I mean if he's gone a few days without leaving any kind of word when he returned He must have had some explanation for it. I suppose he did he might have said something about getting even I don't recall look at me Now this is serious I'm looking at you. You said you've been married to him 14 years. You said he joined his father's firm shortly after yes What did he do before that? He studied and traveled didn't work We wrote or something. I don't know what kind of a man is he? He's David Parsons, Jr. He's impeccable Brilliant and honest as a husband Aren't you overstepping yourself somewhere a lot of personal questions will have to be answered about him by someone He's a very devoted husband and father except for those times when he disappears except for those times. Yes Do you suppose he'll reappear this time? Yes, of course. Why don't you he's your husband? I'm wine winds coming up Feel like so much. I feel very much like going home. All right Mrs. Parsons Yes Did you expect me to make love to you out here this afternoon? Kind of questions that it's to the point Did you Yes, why it's not a nice question to ask me I Think sometimes I'm quite attractive. I think you must be attractive all the time. Thank you Why didn't you kiss me? We don't have to go into that Unless of course you want to tell me why you stole me all afternoon. Do you? To shame Mr. Dallen one thing more When I spoke with you earlier, you asked my advice in this matter I advise you call the police about your husband. Did you you know I did I also advise your father-in-law to do the same thing He said he'd kill me and himself before he'd call the police in you said or I thought you said you'd call them in Anyhow that you were concerned about your husband and wanted him found Did I get that wrong? I don't want any police. Mr. Dallen. I don't think they're necessary. David will come back No police What made you change your mind your father-in-law? You said you only had one more question. I lied. I've got a thousand questions. I should call home Come on. We walked up to the highway and climbed back into the car She drove to the nearest filling station and public telephone booth. I Waited in the car while she made a phone call Some high school kids drove up in a jalopy and sweatshirts and jeans They waved ten pounds of wieners at me for no reason at all and asked me if I'd like to go on a wiener fry. I told him no An old man with a bamboo fishing pole came in he dropped a soggy Gunny sack on the pavement while he disappeared around at the back. I went over and peaked in Three pretty good-sized perch smelled out at me. I Looked off at the ocean just in time to see a pair of surfboard riders catch the creamy top of a roller Climb up on their feet and wave to their girlfriends sitting in the sand Nothing was wrong with the world. Nothing at all life was going on just fine David Parsons Jr. Had been missing ten days and nothing was wrong at all. I Let up a cigarette What difference did it make if a man was missing ten days? Not a bit Especially to his wife who looked her prettiest when she told me practically nothing about his disappearance The ashes fell on my lap. I'm sorry. I took so terribly long mr. Dollar Had to call my father-in-law's home too. There was a message for me. Look I'm afraid I'm going to have to go over your head your father-in-law's head Everybody's when I get back in town. I'm going to tell the police about this I just decided while I was sitting waiting for you. It won't be any need for that. Huh? David's come back What he's home now. That was the message. He'll be there when we get there You see all of your worry was for nothing you and I We could have had a perfectly lovely afternoon if we'd known this couldn't we If you say so mrs. Parsons You all right brother Take it easy. Better give me a hand with her. Can somebody call an ambulance? Yeah, sure you take it easy Take care of her until What is it? I'm sorry mr. She's dead. Oh Here's our star to tell you about tomorrow's intriguing episode of this week's story tomorrow trouble comes early and stays late Join us. Won't you yours truly Johnny dollar a Johnny dollar starring Bob Bailey is Transcribed in Hollywood written by John Dawson. It is produced and directed by Jack Johnstone Be sure to join us tomorrow night same time and station for the next exciting episode of Yours truly Johnny dollar Roy Rowan speaking