Private Detective Lenny Samuel’s Diamond Case
A Mysterious Disappearance
Lenny Samuel, a private detective with an office on the fourth floor of a tall building on the west side of Los Angeles, was approached by a woman named Helen Garfield. She offered him a job at $50 a day to find her sister, Elaine, who had vanished. Helen insisted on no police involvement and refused to disclose her reasons. Intrigued, Lenny began his investigation.
Elaine’s Apartment
Lenny visited Elaine’s apartment. Finding it empty, he entered and noticed most of her clothes were gone, an unusual detail for a typical disappearance case. As he prepared to leave, two men appeared at the door. A scuffle ensued, and Lenny was knocked unconscious.
The Las Cabanas Club Connection
Later, Lenny visited Elaine’s workplace. A colleague revealed that Elaine frequented the Las Cabanas Club, where she met a man named Benny Greep. Lenny went to Benny’s apartment, only to find him dead in the bathtub. He called the police, who took him in for questioning. Despite his claims of innocence, the police were skeptical. Surprisingly, they released him without explanation.
A Twist in the Tale
The police investigated Helen Garfield and discovered she didn’t exist. Confronted with this information, “Helen” revealed her true identity: she was Elaine Garfield. She confessed to visiting the Las Cabanas Club to see Benny Greep, a musician there. Two suspicious men, clearly criminals, regularly visited the club with large bags, leaving empty-handed.
Diamonds and Deception
Elaine overheard one of the men talking and saw the contents of his bag: diamonds and jewelry. She and Benny decided to steal one of the bags and hide it in her apartment. When the criminals discovered the theft, Elaine moved to a hotel and hired Lenny, fabricating the story about her missing sister to ensure her safety, as Lenny was often in her neighborhood.
Resolution
The story concludes with the criminals’ arrest and the resolution of all mysteries. Unfortunately, poor Lenny doesn’t get paid.
Characters
- Lenny Samuel: A highly intelligent private investigator with remarkably calm reactions. Even when arrested for murder, he remains unfazed.
- Helen Garfield (Elaine Garfield): A clever but deceitful woman who initially hires Lenny. She is described as beautiful.
- Sergeant Murphy: A stereotypical, balding, older police officer with a dislike for private detectives. Despite his lack of intelligence, he ultimately apprehends the criminals.