Perry Mason: The Case of the Desperate Deception

And you never saw him again?

Never.

But I'm sure it was Goldman.

You'd be willing to testify that if I managed to find him?

Of course.

But now I must go.

I can't tell you how grateful I am you agreed to see me.

I was beginning to think I was chasing a ghost.

Unfortunately, he's very much alive.

Au revoir, Captain Belmont.

Au revoir.

Now, sleep.

You know,

you haven't heard a word I've said all night.

Something about Cleveland?

You're back in your Dieter Krugman mode, aren't you?

It's that obvious, huh?

David, I know how badly you want to find Krugman.

I mean, I know that's why you swung a transfer here.

I know he did something terrible to your family.

For God's sake, you've only been in Paris a few months, and the man's been missing for 45 years.

You didn't expect it to be easy, did you?

Of course not.

Besides, you can't even be sure that Washington tip is valid in the first place.

No, Krugman is alive, all right, and he's living somewhere here in Paris.

That tip came straight from my friend at the OSI.

I worked at the embassy for two years, and I don't know what that is.

It's the Office of Special Investigations.

They're the guys who tracked down Nazis living in the States.

Anyhow, Elsa Ramsey was a Majdanek survivor, and she saw Krugman here not more than a week ago.

I never heard much about Majdanek.

Was it like Auschwitz?

Uh, smaller, but, yeah, just as bad.

Anyhow, maybe this Elsa Ramsey made a mistake, and it wasn't him.

Then why was she murdered?

You don't know.

She was.

It could have been an accident.

No, no, she spots Krugman, tells the Sireté.

I talked to her, and 15 seconds later, she's dead.

That's no accident.

Anyhow, I mean, I saw it.

That car deliberately ran her down.

Say you're right, that Krugman is here.

Will you keep after him?

You could wind up splattered all over the street or something.

I don't want that to happen.

She saw her mother and father.

My grandparents, you understand?

She saw them taken to the gas chambers.

Had her two brothers murdered, I mean, right in front of her eyes.

Krugman would have killed her, too, if he had the chance.

As it is, he pretty well left her crippled for life.

I'm sorry, I didn't know.

In fact, she just had another operation on her legs.

I couldn't tell you how many that makes.

It's funny, when I was a little kid, I used to think my mother lived at the

hospital and just came to our house to visit.

But how do you possibly expect to find him?

You don't even know what he looks like, right?

No, no one's ever seen him.

I've got a picture of him even from when he was young.

So, all you have is a sort of a rough description from your mother, and she was, what, 13 years old at the time?

I know it is not going to be easy.

If it was easy, they would have found him years ago.

But I have to keep looking.

I just, I just have to.

Can't you understand that?

Of course.

I just don't want to see you overshadow everything else in your life.

Like I'm Springsteen's.

Captain Berman, please.

You will join me in the Van.

What the hell are you doing?

What are you talking about?

I'm afraid I must insist.

I assure you, I mean you no harm.

David, don't.

Don't be afraid.

Captain Berman will be returned home safely.

Now, hurry.

Please.

Okay, I think you better tell me what's going on.

I must apologize to you for what may seem as cheap melodrama, but sometimes we are forced to take extreme measures.

Yeah, who the hell is we?

You do not need to know that.

All you need to know, Captain, is that like you, for years, we also have

been searching for Dieter Krugman, and we believe now that he is here in Paris.

Where is he?

He goes by the name of Altman, Felix Altman, a successful businessman.

Well, if you're so sure he's Krugman, why don't you go to the police?

He's a wanted war criminal.

Because, as yet, we lack sufficient evidence.

All we have are rumors and one inconclusive photograph.

Photograph?

We believed we also had an eyewitness, the same one you had, Elsa Ramsey.

Look, if you and...

Who you work with?

If you're so sure you've got Krugman, then why don't you just find another.

Majdanek survivor that can make the identification?

Because the death camp at Majdanek was just that, Captain.

A death camp.

Survivors were not the end product.

That is why we need your help, Captain Berman.

Me?

We have sources at the police at the Surrey Day.

They told us of your interest in Krugman.

We investigated and learned that your mother is a Majdanek survivor.

We would like you to bring her to Paris so she can make the identification.

I don't know.

When can I see that photograph?

A rare picture.

It's obviously changed in 45 years.

Which is why we need your mother's testimony.

Where can I see him?

You can't see him at home or in his office.

He refuses to see strangers.

But we have learned that every Thursday morning, he goes to a mineral spa outside the city.

Where is this spa?

It's called L'Eau de Dieu.

It is near Barbizon.

I'll go tomorrow.

Do you have a car?

I can borrow one.

How do I contact you?

We will contact you.

And now you're free to go.

Just as I promised the young lady.

No, the Major's a good guy.

I just said I had some urgent personal business and he gave me the day off.

I still don't think you should go.

I mean, if he is Krugman, then he's a very dangerous... Look, we talked that all out.

I've got to go.

I want to see what he looks like.

That's all I want, really.

You sure it's okay about the car?

Yeah, as long as you don't go over 110.

I'll have to pack my five.

Maybe I should cop an urgent personal business plea, too, and go along with you.

Well, I can probably get away, too.

No, it's my problem.

I'll deal with it.

It's better I go alone.

Really?

Here's the quickest way to get there.

The big nights, huh?

The classy joint.

Come on, I'll show you where I parked the car.

And you better get back to work.

All right.

I'm not going.

Mr. Rondeau?

Oui.

De 26, donc de 15h30 à 17h30.

Parfait.

Oui?

Parlez anglais?

Yes, I do.

I have a message for Mr. Felix Alvin.

If you go through that door and down the stairs, you will find Mr. Altman in room 8.

Je me trompe de pièce, monsieur.

It's your name, Altman?

Ja.

Young man, what is it you want here?

Out with it.

It's not important.

If you have something to say to me, then say it.

I have nothing to say to you.

I think you do.

You want to talk about Majdanek?

Leave us, please.

Who are you?

How did you get in here?

It doesn't matter.

Ah, but I think it does matter.

No, what matters, Herr Krugman, is what you did at Majdanek.

What are you talking about?

You know what I'm talking about.

My name is Altman.

Felix Altman.

Please, don't lie to me.

I've seen your picture.

You're Dieter Krugman.

Oh, man, you're a fool.

I'm calling the police.

It's been over three years, Perry.

Not since Dan's funeral.

I know, Helene, and I'm sorry.

We've been too long apart.

No.

No apologies necessary.

But too long friends for that.

Besides, I never contacted you either.

There's still no excuse.

Stan will always be my closest friend.

He always said you were the one who got him through law school.

No.

No, in class, he always took the best notes.

But you, how are you?

Fine.