Dragnet – Big String. ep187, 530118

Working in the homacide department, Joe Friday deals with a killer, but the listener has to deal with less than desirable audio. A bit of tape hiss, mostly clear, but soft and muddy sounding. Frank Smith and Joe Friday review the details of kidnapping demands. Clues from Mr Wagoner about his wife,and possible suspects are gathered. As the crime lab learns what they can about the ransom note, a stakeout is put into place.

The demands are met, but will Joe Friday catch the kidnapper in his trap? Wagner worries the suspicious kidnappers will kill his wife, but Joe assures him the odds are now in her favor. After small talk about Frank’s fashion sense develops, news about the case comes in. Mrs Wagner shows up, and after a medical check up, is ready to share what happened to her. Though the questioning is still stressful for the victim, the cops need to act fast to catch the criminal. Blindfolded, tied up, and driven out of town, she tries her best to tell about the man and woman who abducted her.

The descriptions are enough to set Friday on the right direction. The names of known felons and robbers pop up on Joe’s radar, but can anything be pinned on them? Joe Friday isn’t fooled, and the evidence against the Harpers is too overwhelming.