- Joe Friday searches for a check forger who has been using the name of the old-time movie villain Parker Allington, who died three years ago. The search takes him to a former extra who has given up show business for crime.
- Friday, Smith are working the day-watch out of Forgery Division, the boss is Captain Welsh. A woman, Anita Neskett, is in the squad room reporting a bad check her mother received as down payment, one month's rent given to her by an actor. Her mother is the caretaker or landlady renting rooms in her house. Parker Alington is the name on the bad check, it is a former actor, known by Frank from his childhood. The check is a month old and Miss Neskett's mother did not plan on reporting it. The man never moved in, the rent was $50 per month, the extra $20 was cash Mrs. Crimp gave the man for moving expenses. The Screen Actors Guild is contacted to run a check on the name Parker Alington. The woman asks the police to call back later while she looks it up.
Friday, Smith visit Agnes Crimp, Anika's mother, at the house with rooms to rent. Agnes explains she gave the man the $20 for moving expenses, but he never showed again. She said she was not going to press charges, the man was down on his luck. She shows resentment with the questions about the man and her belief in him. Friday calls from the pay phone in the hallway to the Screen Actors Guild, learning Mr. Alington died four year ago. He asks Mrs. Crimp to accompany them to HQ in order to identify the man passing the bad check. She does not recognize anybody from the mug books and describes the man as smaller than Friday, with a sad expression. Others reported bad checks passed with the same description of the man given by Mrs. Crimp.
Daisy Wilkers contacts the police a man is at her place trying to pass a bad check. Friday, Smith drive to her house with rooms to rent; the man left twenty minutes ago. The man reached for his checkbook immediately, paying the first month's rent in advance plus $25 dollars extra. She refused the check because the man wanted her to believe he was some dead actor. She called the police when she recognized him as the actor Wilbur Trench, a player of bit parts.
The Screen Actors Guild confirmed Trench's existence, in bad standing, past-due on his dues, last reported being represented by agent Paul Pilcher. Friday stops by to see Pilcher, while he waits he chats with Miss Golightly, secretary. Pilcher comes in, says he doesn't have a current address on Trench, but he put out the word for Trench and contact Friday when hears from him. The TV company gave Frank a picture of French from the last time he appeared. The check victims all confirmed this was the man passing the bad checks. Pilcher called and gave a hotel number where Trench was living; Friday, Smith went to investigate. They take Trench downtown, arresting him for the bad checks.
Wilbur Trencher a/k/a Wilbur Trench is now serving his term in the State Penitentiary, San Quentin, CA.
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