Casey, Crime Photographer
The Twenty Minute Alibi
par Robert Sloane
A man calls his insurance agent just five minutes before his life insurance policy is due to lapse for nonpayment. When the agent refuses to grant him more time, the man asks whether the policy is still in force. The agent says yes—and hears a gunshot at the other end of the line. Police call it suicide, but Casey suspects murder.
Casey investigates the dead man’s estranged wife, secretary, and other women in his life, as well as a father-in-law who openly calls him a scoundrel. Each has an alibi, and the case turns on finding the one that is not quite perfect. A problem with a pay phone at the Blue Note and the hotel operator’s record of outgoing calls help Casey uncover a crucial discrepancy in the timing of the call.
This mystery combines brisk detective work with the atmosphere of Casey’s newspaper world. Brief character moments add a lighter touch, including a glimpse of Walter’s poor coffee-making, while the investigation builds toward the exposure of the killer.
This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.