Anne Avery: Thank you for coming so quickly.
Joe Mannix: Well, you sounded upset this evening.
Anne Avery: Someone broke into my apartment.
Joe Mannix: Did you call the police?
Anne Avery: They left just a few minutes ago.
Joe Mannix: Well, I, uh, don't really see how I can help you any more than they could, Miss Avery. Things like this happen every 30 seconds in Los Angeles.
Anne Avery: Not like this.
[shows Joe that her apartment has been ransacked]
Anne Avery: Lieutenant Malcolm said he couldn't spare any men to help guard the place, and if I were too frightened, I should think about hiring a private detective. He mentioned you. I am frightened, Mr. Mannix. I'm scared to death. I think I must have interrupted whoever it was before he finished. My bedroom hasn't been touched.
Joe Mannix: Before he was finished? You think he was after something specific?
Anne Avery: Yes. A million dollars.
Joe Mannix: That seems like an awful lot of loose change to keep in an apartment.
Anne Avery: My father was William Avery. He was killed yesterday in an automobile accident. You may have read about it.
Joe Mannix: He was, uh, released from prison yesterday morning after serving ten years.
Anne Avery: For stealing a million dollar payroll.
Joe Mannix: Which, uh, someone now thinks you have.
Anne Avery: I don't have it, of course. And neither did my father, not ever.
Joe Mannix: You believe he was innocent?
Anne Avery: Oh, I know he was. He told me, and I believed him.
Joe Mannix: Were you very close?
Anne Avery: Not until recently. He and my mother were divorced when I was just a child, a long, long, time before he went to prison. I lived with her until she died a few years ago. I sent him Christmas cards, and every once in a while, a letter. Sometimes he answered. And then a few months ago when he knew he was going to get out, he wrote me and asked me to come and visit him. I did quite a few times. We got to know each other very quickly, and made up for a lot of years. We talked about my life, my friends. I know he was innocent.
Joe Mannix: Obviously, someone thinks otherwise. Miss Avery, exactly what would you like me to do?
Anne Avery: Find out who it is. Tell him I don't have the money. Tell him I have no idea what happened to it, and neither did my father.
Joe Mannix: We'll... I'll do what I can. Tell me, how much do you remember about your father's trial, names of witnesses, things like that?
Anne Avery: Not a thing. My father's lawyer could help you, though- Lawerence Corwin. His offices are in Beverly Hills.
Joe Mannix: I'll talk to him. I don't think you better stay here for the next day or two. Uh, I'll find some friendlier surroundings. Now, why don't you pack a few things in a bag and I'll be back after you about 5:00?
Anne Avery: Fine.