IWCF 063 Fifteen Minutes to Murder

0:00Hi, this is Dave Roberts. Heading into summer without a medical emergency kit, that's a risk. Summer colds can linger and getting sick on vacation can derail everything. That's why everyone needs a medical emergency kit. It includes doctor prescribed medications to treat common and serious illnesses. So if you wake up sick, at home or on the road, you already have what you need. It's like having an urgent care and pharmacy at home. Say $45 with code blue at urgentcarekit.com slash blue urgent care kit.com slash blue. I was a communist for the FBI. Starting Dana Andrews and an exciting tale of danger and espionage. I was a communist for the FBI. From the actual records and authentic experiences of Math Svetic.

1:03How many of the incidents in this unusual story? Here is our star Dana Andrews as Math Svetic. Who for nine fantastic years lived as a communist for the FBI. For nine phantasmal years, I was the man who looked into the dark mirror and wondered, which is the reflection and which is me. For nine years, I lived my double life so intensely that sometimes I wondered, which is the real Svetic? What is reality and what is the dream? It's over now that all fades back into memory and merciful and reality. It's hard to believe it happened. So fantastic, so stunning were the events and their implications. Sometimes I wonder, is it really over or is this a law? A law in the nightmare. In a moment, listen to Dana Andrews as Math Svetic under coverman.

2:23Now here is Dana Andrews as Math Svetic under coverman. This story from the confidential file is marked 15 minutes to murder. I've been out of sorts for weeks and I know what it is. A steady grinding burden of intrigue and vigilance and double dealing. Just plain raw, unvarnished fear of getting me down. I go to a doctor and he tells me exactly what I want to hear. At last, I have a good legitimate reason to be excused temporarily from party beauty. I make my routine telephone check-in with my chief, Comrade Rev Chinko, from a pay telephone full of the glad news from my doctor. Nothing right now except continue with your routine duties until further notified. How about those routine duties? And be a little more prompt in reporting. Well, I can explain that delay. I've been to my doctor. Why? Nothing serious, routine check-up. He did say I ought to take a rest.

3:24I see. He wouldn't want me to go here or in the middle of an assignment, would you? Did he find anything wrong with you? Nothing serious, really. I could go back and have him pin a stiff cardiac rap on me. That'll make you any happier. What did the doctor discover? A little high blood pressure, but that's only... But enough. What? Report to headquarters at once. Look, I'm supposed to take it easy. Report to headquarters. The doctor said... At once. At once. Sit down, Comrade Sylvettich. Before we go much further, I want to point out... Point out nothing until I finish, Comrade. I'm sorry. I've been doing some work while you were on your way over here. Concerning me? I have rearranged matters to provide for you. Yes. Provide for me? You need a rest, Comrade. I could use one. I have arranged everything. How do you mean?

4:24Arrange what? A private room at Angel of Mercy Hospital. Look, I'm not really sick. You need a rest in bed. Well... I had assigned somebody else to this, but your mild hypertensive condition makes you more logical over the job. Oh, it worked then. A rest in bed. That party is fence. We expect some return for our generosity and complete itleness with soon bore you. Get in there. What's the job? Directly across the street from the room I've reserved for you. Some 200 feet away is the back of a row of fashionable apartment houses. I know the place. From your bed you will keep a constant lookout on one of those apartments... Which apartment is marked on this simple diagram. 12 floor. All five windows. You will need this pocket telescope small enough to keep on your person. Allow nobody to realize that you're watching the apartment. What's the object? Oh, I shouldn't die.

5:24You should very definitely know, Comrade. We are out of patience with the FBI. Oh? Tired of their spying, tired of their undercover burrowing into the very core of our party apparatus. It is time we serve notice that this is war and that espionage and war is punishable by extreme measures. And then the man I'm watching is an FBI spy? Study every movie makes. He knows he's a marked man. He does not expose himself where we can punish him. I understand. Repeat this number after me. Shoot. Elmwood 41137. Elmwood 41137. Again. Elmwood 41137. Mark nothing down. Of course not. Watch the apartment notice Benedict's actions. Well, that's his name, I know. Benedict? Call it that. Go ahead. Report to Elmwood 41137. Closeleaf. It may take a week or two weeks or a month, but keep at it. What may take that long, exactly? For Benedict to decide it's safe to leave his stronghold?

6:28When he does give our men half an hour's notice. They will do the rest. Check. Informers and contemptible stool pigeons. Time may squirre. What else? That's it. Everything's prepared for you. All right, I'll pick up a few things and report it to the hospital. To the medic. Yes? We will leave for the hospital directly from here. How come back here then? We are leaving from here immediately. But secrecy, comrades, is a fatigue secrecy. Absolute and impenetrable secrecy. We will go to the hospital from here on a car I have waiting for us. They are all over the FBI spies and informers. You seem disturbed, comrades. That's just this. I'm to be the accessory to a man's murder. An FBI informer? Some vacation. You did not join the party to sip pink lemonade, comrades.

7:28In the hospital, you will under no circumstances attempt to contact the party. Do you understand? I understand. It is out of our hands. Whatever occurs must be credited to the ordinary underworld retaliation. All right. Forget us. Simply call L-Mode 41337. 1-137, isn't it? Just testing. We will go now. We work several blocks and hesitated a corner. We picked up by a non-descript car given by a man I've never seen before. Silence. All the way to the Angel of Murphy Hospital. Absolute silence. I'm being whisked away to a private hospital room secretly in Communicado. Just by on another FBI undercover man like myself. And send into his death. And I can't even get to a telephone to call my FBI contact and report what happened. I've got to report to them. I've got to get to the FBI.

8:28All I get is to the hospital though. Her check-o stands by wordlessly while the registrar checks me into my room 12-16. Then he goes and I'm on my own. I salute it. Maroon. Can I get you anything, Mr. Spedig? Oh, thank you, nice. Dr. Anato will be in to see you soon. Who? We're the doctor. Dr. Anato. Fine. I'll be in there. Okay, he'll be in in a flash. Oh, you're not going to be a bad patient, are you now? Oh, I'm just going to be the sweetest thing ever happened to this little old temple of Murphy. You don't have to be caused, do you? I want to be left alone. Just as you say, Mr. Spedig. Absolute minimum of solicitous attention. What are you angry at me for? I'm not angry at you. Oh, I'm sorry, Ness. I'm not angry at you. I know you're nervous and upset, but... We'll take care of that, though.

9:28Won't we? I just remember. I'm not mad at you. Always the telephone connected? Oh, yes. Go right ahead and use it. Dr. Anato will be right in. The second I'm alone, I take the pocket scope from under my pillow and pier out the window. I cause 200 feet of street and a backyard terrace for the rear of those stylish apartment buildings. I pick out Benedict Suite. That's it, all right? The sportsman's apartment. Rifles on racks, hunting trophies on every wall, another trophy on a manful piece. Hi, this is Dave Roberts. Heading into summer without a medical emergency kit, that's a risk. Summer colds can linger and getting sick on vacation can derail everything. That's why everyone needs a medical emergency kit. It includes doctor prescribed medications to treat common and serious illnesses. So if you wake up sick, at home or on the road, you already have what you need. It's like having an urgent care and pharmacy at home.

10:29Say $45 with code blue at urgentcare kit.com. Slash blue. Urgentcare kit.com. Slash blue. Dave Roberts here. There you are, surrounded by fans, sharing wings, sharing drinks, high-fiving random strangers. Everybody remembers the game. Nobody remembers the guy coughing behind you until a few days later. At 2am, you wake up with a fever and your throat's on fire. Now what? Urgentcare, close. ER, slam. Telehealth, maybe. But the pharmacy's closed. You needed a medical emergency kit. These aren't first aid kits. They contain essential prescriptions used for over 30 common conditions. Sinus and ear infection. UTIs, stomach bug, travelers diaria, and more. On hand before you need them. Use your doctor-developed guidebook to select the right prescription or call their telemedicine doctor standing by. It's like an urgent care and drugstore at home. When you're sick, traveling, or stranded, you'll wish you ordered a medical emergency kit. Order online in minutes and it's shipped to your door.

11:29And say $45 with my promo code blue at urgentcarekit.com.slashblue. That's promo code blue at urgentcarekit.com.slashblue. Hi, this is Dave Roberts. Heading into summer without a medical emergency kit? That's a risk. Summer colds can linger and getting sick on vacation can derail everything. That's why everyone needs a medical emergency kit. It includes doctor prescribed medications to treat common and serious illnesses. So if you wake up sick, at home, or on the road, you already have what you need. It's like having an urgent care and pharmacy at home. Say $45 with code blue at urgentcarekit.com. Slashblue. Urgentcarekit.com. Slashblue. I reach for the telephone. I'm going to get you number one. I'll get you a seat. You order, please. Elmwood 41137. Thank you. Never mind the opera. Yeah.

12:35Elmwood 41137? Yeah. I'm in. Oh yeah. You know who's talking, don't you? Keep talking. You may have to move fast. Move fast is where we do best. Stay close to the phone now. I got a permanent poker game right in the room. I told her now. Check. Now. You order, please. Evergreen 65542. Thank you. Here be I somehow somehow I've got to let them know where I am at least and what I'm up to. What one of their boys is in for. Just go. That's my contact code name. I'm O'Neill. Just go. O'Neill. Just go. O'Neill. Just go. Come on, answer. Get with it boys. Get on the boat. Hello?

13:35Oh, just go. Just go, please. Right away. I beg your pardon? Driscoll. Driscoll, right away. Hurry. There's nobody by that name here. Yes, there is, I tell you. Who is this? O'Neill. Got him. I'm O'Neill, he'll know. Oh yeah. Uh, this is Driscoll. Who? Go ahead. How's your mother? Fine. How's yours? I know that voice on the wire isn't Driscoll. Then who is it? I have to reach the FBI. I don't know what I've got on the line. I've got to take a chance. Calculated risk. I've got to stay on the phone. If I am talking to the FBI, I've got to talk to gibberish that make some kind of sense to them. And sounds harmless enough to anybody who might be tapping my wire. Maybe this guy who says he's just going to hit the wire tap. I don't know. I've got to play it cosy. But I've got to play. Hello? Hello, are you there on you?

14:36You know, uh, I was just thinking, Driscoll. Yeah. Those mysterious telephone calls your wife's been getting some crank or something. Yeah. The next time this bum calls, why doesn't she play up to him and have her sister run next door and have the cops trace the call? We had exactly the same idea. That's what we're going to do. We'll have her keep him on the line long enough though. I know. Well, that way the cops can trace the call and close in on Mr. Mysterius. That sounds very conspiratorial. What? Oh. Hello? Somebody just walked in. I am Dr. Anatole. Who? I think you're best ring off now. All right. You all right? Better hang up. Sure. So long, Chema. I've got to ring off. Yeah. You should not have a telephone until a staff physician examines you and decides you may have one. I'm all right, Dr. Then why are you here? I'm with a little hypertension, that's all. You should not have a telephone until I have okayed it. I'm surprised.

15:37Now if you cooperate, I shall examine you. Now back to Dana Andrew, starring as Matt Sivatic. And I was a communist for the FBI and the second act of our story. How much? Dr. Anatole here. What does he know beside medicine? I'm afraid of that musulaginist voice and that cold nothing smile of his. Is he there to watch me? That phone made him pretty mad in his cold, but it was a very bad thing. Novice. Glad to see you.

16:37Yu rotated. Oh, that isn't right. Come on out of the way now. You solve now. You know, a man who reaches you when you look at him, you know, you're struggling, you know. Did he get sick or something? And what is that? What happened just now? A man, who died on the face frame. One get weiß. Now we're back there to get real ill this time. And thatckerpoity is the principal at his age. And when he gets up his nerve to try it, he's dead, and I will kill him indirectly. And it looks close now. Your order, please. I'll move 4-1-1-3-7. Thank you. Yeah. Yeah. Any time now. All to you. I hate to disturb you, poker game. What's the matter, it's you. Never mind. Why, guy. Stand by to go and fast notice.

17:38Yeah, I'm all 10-stuff. I mean it. Listen, what are we kids? We know what to do. All right then. But you still put us up? He's taking stuff off the wall and packing them. That means he's ready to go. When he goes, we'll come. All right. Stand by. Yeah. That's all. I keep watching Benedict. All the signs point to his making a break for it. I think of picking a chance on the pretty nurse who looks too crisp and fresh to be a comrade. But how did one know? Send it with a sealed note, will he have the eye address? Or no. Right a note and send it through the mail. Maybe special delivery. That's it. Take a chance, that's all. At the chance that whoever I give the letter to to mail is on the level. Everybody can't be a spy. But it only takes one. I'll do it. Oh, nurse. Oh, nurse.

18:39Yes, Mrs. Eddy. I might have a letter for you to mail. When do you go off duty? At four o'clock, Mrs. Eddy. All right. I'll have it ready for you to... No. What? I'm fine. Forget it. Never mind. Well, all right, Mrs. Eddy. That's what you said. To late, I waited too long, hesitating to be scared. Because I can see that Benedict, across the street, is getting ready to clear out. By the time the nurse got to the FBI headquarters, it'll be all over anyhow. I've got the report to rev Chanko's Goons Squad. I don't want to. I've got to. And then, maybe figure some way out for Benedict. And for myself too. I'm with four, one, one. I've got to. Hello? Your order, please.

19:39I'm with... Hello. I'm with four, one, one, three, seven. Thank you. No. I can't do it. I won't. Good afternoon, Mrs. Cervetti. Anatole. Or Dr. Anatole. I... I didn't hear you. Perhaps you were preoccupied. Mrs. Christopher says you seem quite upset a moment ago. Who? You know this. It's said? Something about changing your mind about some letter? Oh, that. That's a small affair of the heart, you know. That's probably for me, so that it serves you. Yes. Thank you. Yes? I had your party for you when you hung up, Mrs. Cervetti. I don't think I was going to be able to do it.

20:40I had your party for you when you hung up, Mrs. Cervetti. Well, I don't think I... I'm right ahead, Cervetti. No operator. Hello. Oh, you again. Hold on just a second, will you? Thanks. Will you excuse me, doctor? Oh, of course. I'll come back later. Hello. I talk, I'm Sport Talk, I can't. I'm going to be listening outside. Oh, what is it now? He's ready to leave. Oh, okay, give it to me faster. He's wearing a light gray suit with a gray Tweed topcoat and a pearl gray snap brim hat. I could hear you about any time now, so better to get there early and late. Grey suit, gray Tweed topcoat, pearl gray snap brim hat, check. The entrance to the apartment is on the other side, not facing the hospital. Yeah, check. Have you got enough? Oh, we can't miss. Not all? Well, here we go. You are happy about it, aren't you?

21:41A bug is a dollar. How long will you be? 15 minutes, Dr. So long, Mr. Ho time to kill. No time to kill. For 15 minutes, the murder. May I, Sivetic? Come in. What's up? Having a rather hectic time of the dance. It's going all right. Let's just try your pulse. Time's fine. You don't want to excite yourself too much, Sivetic? I don't. Can't fool the pulse rate, you know. I'll settle down. I'm sure of it. In fact, I've signed your discharge. Mr. Christopher, we'll be up in a moment with your clothing in effect. I'm discharged? You'll be out of here in 10 minutes. Fine. I won't see you again, so... Goodbye. Goodbye, Dr. A lion bed trying not to think.

22:41Then trying to think of some way out for Benedict to cross the street. Fascinated. I stare at him across the way, preparing to clear out. I walk right into those Tommy guns. Then I sit up sharply in bed. The man across the way is holding a pair of binoculars to his eye, looking straight at me, Siv. I know they're binoculars, and I should have known he'd have binoculars. Well, all that other sporting kind of familiar on. And then... All at once. I understand. I know. I'm not watching him. He's watching me. And if he is watching me, then my wire has probably been tapped and they know all about that call to the FBI. They wanted me to try that call. And I'm bit. I fell for the whole tricky trap to make me show my hand. I'm the dirty stew pigeon, unquote, that web chinko, hoped to do the dealings of. I'm the passing. Tag. I'm it.

23:41I'm dead. Because... Here comes the nurse with my clothes and effects. So I can walk out of here. To be mowed down by gunshots that I've called myself. Oh, beautiful. Here you are, Mrs. Seddys, your thing. You can be out of here in 10 minutes, we hope. Well, what's the rush? How about an hour? Oh, no, Dr. Anatole said 10 minutes. Can I have half an hour? I'm afraid not. Why not? Well, there's another patient coming in in 10 minutes. All right. Okay. Get out. You can have a wheelchair to the curb if you like. I don't like. Will there be a car waiting for you? Yeah. A big black sedan. Oh, fine. Yeah, fine. Get out. I get dressed. I look across the street. Benedict is gone. I go over to the window and go to the shade. But it doesn't mean anything now. They know I'm coming out. And that I'm FBI.

24:41I try to think of how I can get out by other exits. Not that it matters. If they don't get me now, they'll get me later. Now will be better for them. It would be an example of quick-bowled vengeance for other informers to notice. I'm dead all right. But I have one small satisfaction. At least I wasn't putting the finger on a fellow FBI on the cover man. And then the door snapped open and the big man who wasn't there is there. Oh, Neil, Matt. Driscoll. Driscoll, it is Matt. Let's get out of here fast. Where were you? I tried to call you at the FBI, but some strange voice answer. I know. You know. I took a chance and talked to some Jabberwocky at him. Hoping he'd catch on and trace the call back here to the hospital. Yes, my boy, Matt. And we're smart little fellas too. Because that's how I knew you were in this room. For you, Ben all the time. Two rooms down the corridor watching that coming across the street. You two? They told me he was an FBI agent they wanted to knock off. I thought I was killing our own man. You almost did.

25:41What? I'm the guy. But it's me thereafter. They're gonna mow me down in the street. They've been watching me, testing me. I'm dead. Look, I was watching him first getting a line on the people who visited him. They caught on after two days and said him to watch me. But they had to get the information about me from you. How do you know that? Well, look at me. Remember the clothes that Jabberwocky across the street was wearing? Grey suit, grey tweed topcoat, pearl grey hat, right? Well, he was watching me and mimicking whatever significant things I did for you to see in report. By reporting on him, you were reporting on me. Thought of a carom shot. Now after me, Matt, not you. I asked you completely as of this assignment. But they wouldn't have let you act for them. Now look, you leave first and I'll follow in five minutes. Watch out for that doctor Anatole, though. Anatole? He's one of us. Oh, brother. Have I got ahead of you? Get going. Then what about the killer car? It's on the way. Nah, never get here. As soon as we find out where you were, thanks to your call. We put a tap on your phone. We've had Elmwood 4, 1137, staked out for two days.

26:44Oh, then you've picked up those gunsels. Ten minutes ago, with all kinds of raps against them. They've all got records we can put them away for. Quite a haul, I mean. Yeah. And you're in the clear. The reds will blame me for everything. Nice haul. Terrific. Vacation in bed. Ha! When I get downstairs, sure enough, no black sedan. I'm not bristling with Tommy Gunn. My head is still whirling, and it isn't blood pressure. It's pressure, all right, but not blood pressure. I shake my head to a taxi driver at the curb. Walk it off, Sermedic. Walk it off. Rest, sure. No, sure. I want to be resigned to the pressure by now. Resigned? Maybe. But there's no rest, and there's no peace. Just resignation to being marooned among enemies.

27:46Forbidden for acknowledging my friend. I'm a communist for the FBI. I walk alone. Dana Andrews will return in just a moment. Dana Andrews will return in just a moment. This is Dana Andrews. I can drop my role of Matsavetic after each show. But there's a real Matsavetic from whose fantastic adventures these stories all stand.

28:48The story you've just heard happened in all its basic details. The constant silent warfare between the FBI and the communist party never ceases. This story told one small phase of that bit of fight. Names, places, and incidents have been disguised naturally, but the spirit of fact remains untouched. Next week, another exciting adventure from the Journal of Matsavetic, who worked undercover for the FBI. It's a landmark in your listening, so mark it. See you then.