The Dark Mirror

- Good morning, Lieutenant. - Good morning, Temple.

They're all here. How do you want 'em?

Give me the woman that reported it first. The cleaning woman.

- Her husband's with her. The janitor. - All right. Both of them.

- (Door opens) - (Temple) You and your husband.

Sit down, please.

Oh... what was the man's name?

Dr Frank Peralta.

Dr Frank Peralta. All right, what happened?

When I went in this morning to clean up, it was, er... about half-past seven.

There he was, just lying there.

You live at the same address, Mr Benson?

That's right. Same floor.

- You saw Dr Peralta last night? - Around ten o'clock.

He was coming in, I was going out.

- Was he alone? - No, he had a young lady with him.

- You know the young lady? - Never saw her before.

- Very pretty. Very nice-looking. - Remember what she was wearing?

Some kind of a blue suit. Flowers in her hair.

- Gloves? - No, I don't think so.

But I don't remember exactly.

They were going in up to his apartment presumably.

That's what I assumed, of course.

- Mm-hm. That was about ten o'clock? - Around ten.

Think you'd know her if you saw her again?

I think so. We met face to face.

I see.

What do you know about her, Mrs Didriksen?

Well, I live in the apartment just under Dr Peralta.

About 10:35 last night I heard this thud on the floor above my ceiling.

- How do you know the time so well? - I just turned on the 10:30 news.

I heard footsteps on the stairs outside, so I opened my door a bit and looked out.

I was curious.

Yes. I'm glad you were. What'd you see?

A young woman, quite pretty, past me and went out the front door.

From Dr Peralta's apartment.

Well, I suppose so.

But you didn't actually see her come out of his door?

Hmm, I'm not sure, but I don't think so.

Do you think you'd recognize her again if you saw her?

Oh, yes, yes. I'm sure I would.

I got a very good look at her. She passed into the light.

I see.

Your Dr Peralta's secretary?

I was.

What do you know about any plans he had for last night?

He had an engagement for dinner with a girl named Theresa Collins.

- You didn't care for Miss Collins? - I know very little about her.

But I couldn't believe that Dr Peralta was in love with her.

You mean he thought he was?

Oh, sometimes he did and sometimes he didn't.

But she treated him so wickedly. She kept him in such a state.

He was going to propose to her last night, he said.

Theresa Collins. You know where she lives?

No. But I can tell you where she works.

She runs a magazine stand in the lobby of the Medical Building

where Dr Peralta's offices are.

Were.

Mrs Didriksen, you go first.

Just look around. See if you see anybody you know.

In the middle years, but not a bad little number at that.

Keep your mind on what you're doing, will you?

You go out with me and I'll buy you a steak.

Good enough for me.

- I ain't kidding. - Neither am I.

Thank you.

When I get out of this monkey suit, I ain't such a bad-looking guy.

Now, Benson, you go.

That's the girl, all right. Behind the counter.

- Are you sure of it? - Well, pretty sure.

Pretty sure? Won't you swear to it?

I think so. Still, there's something... Yes, I'll swear to it.

Well, I hope you'll remember that.

- Don't you remember me? - Sure, if you want me to.

I remember you, all right.

- Where'd she go? - How do I know? What about in there?

That's the girl, all right. Behind the counter.

- You swear to it? - Yep. On a stack of Bibles a mile high.

OK. Thanks. We'll get in touch with you later.

Looks pretty good.

- Miss Collins? - Yes.

I'm from the Police Department.

I, er... I beg your pardon.

Good morning, Doctor.

I wonder if you could show me something in the line of lemon drops.

- How about lemon drops? - That's a very good idea.

I don't know how I can thank you enough.

Nut! (Chuckles)

- I'm sorry. - OK.

Do you mind telling me how you spent last night?

- Why? - Do you mind?

- No, but... - From about eight o'clock on.

- What's it all about? - Begin at nine.

- Will you tell me then? - Yeah.

All right. I went for a walk in Jefferson Park.

- Alone? - Yes.

How long did that take you?

I got home about 11:30, quarter to twelve.

For nearly three hours you walked alone in the park?

Well, not exactly. For about two hours I was listening to the band concert.

Then I strolled by the lake and sat listening to the singing over the water.

Then I got chilly, so I went on home.

In all that time you never met anybody you knew?

- I didn't say that. - Anybody who knows you I should say.

My butcher and his wife sat back of me during the concert.

- Oh. What's his name? - Mr Peterson.

Vine and 14th. That's where his shop is.

Uh-huh. You speak to him?

Oh, sure. We're old friends.

- I can check, remember? - All right, check.

Anyone else?

Yes, the park policeman down by the lake.

We talked for quite a while.

You know his name and number?

No, but we know each other. We've talked down there before at night.

What's he? Some kind of sweetheart?

Not till I get his name anyway.

- Well, the truth is... - And a boy named Nat.

Nat de Groot walked home with me.

Where will I find him?

He works at the Tru-Value shop at 15th and Vine.

And he actually walked home with you?

Go ask him if you don't believe me.

- I intend to. - All right. Now what's this all about?

Dr Frank Peralta was murdered last night.

Murdered?

Stabbed to death. Straight through the heart.

- Doctor... - Terry!

Help me.

Terry, what happened?

- Break it up. Break it up. - Yes, sir. Folks, keep moving.

It's all over, lady. Keep moving.

Well, what do you want?

Hello. Frankie?

OK. She's all right now.

A little shaky, but OK, the doctor says.

All right. Let her go.

Are you kidding?

'Course I'm not kidding. It's a free country, isn't it?

You mean with two witnesses that saw her smack at the place?

Against three who saw her smack away from it.

Four smacking miles away from it.

I saw them.

Three solid tax-paying, God-fearing citizens,

who know her and talk to her all over Jefferson Park last night.

From nine o'clock till 11:35.

- Well, what do you know about that? - I don't get it. I just don't get it.

Don't make any more sense to me than Chinese music.

- Second floor front, Lieutenant. - Thanks.

Can I come in?

- Certainly. - Thanks.

How are you feeling now?

All right, thanks.

- It sticks, you know. - It sticks?

The alibi.

Oh. Well, of course. It's the truth.

That butcher, now.

- He couldn't be in love with you. - No.

The cop might and the other guy, but not the butcher I don't think.

Hmm. I don't think so, either.

- Guys fall in love with you, don't they? - Some.

Peralta?

He was a very dear friend. Very dear.

Why'd you quarrel with him? The elevator boy heard you yesterday.

We differed about something. Rusty never liked him.

Oh, Jealous? You think Rusty might have killed him?

- Why? - He was in love with you too, wasn't he?

For a policeman you spend a lot of time thinking about love.

- Yeah, I'm a romantic type. - Thanks.

You left-handed?

Excuse me. Is this visit social or professional?

You gave the doctor his lemon drops with your right hand.

I was born left-handed.

Most of the things I've learned to do, I do right-handed.

I didn't like being left-handed.

The medical examiner figures he was stabbed right-handed.

- What am I supposed to say to that? - I'm just waiting to see.

- If you don't mind... - We'll break it, you know.

This alibi. It may take time, but I'll figure it yet.

For dough.

If you don't mind, I'd like you to leave.

I'm tired and I want to go to bed. You and your...

Oh, Terry?

So that's it?

My sister, Ruth.

Why didn't you tell me?

Excuse me.

I was going to, when the time came.

Everybody knows it, so there wouldn't have been much use to hide it.

- Not at the Medical Building they don't. - No, not there.

That was so we could take days off when we wanted to.

When we didn't have another job.

Do you make a habit of that kind of monkey business?

All twins do, now and then.

Well.

You're Terry and you're Ruth?

You've no idea how much this relieves me.

That's nice.

I was beginning to think I was losing my marbles.

It's not always easy to tell us apart, that's true.