Dragnet - The Big Dare

It was Wednesday, September 29th. Detective Sergeants Joe Friday and Ben Romero are working the night watch out of Homicide Detail. Friday was on his way back from the interrogation room. It was 11:23 PM when he got to Room 42 Homicide. There, he sees Romero, who asks him "Did they bring Palmer in yet?" Friday says "He's in the interrogation room. The Captain's with him". Romero asks "What's his story?" Friday says "He claims he had nothing to do with it. Have you contacted any of the boys' relatives?" Romero says "He hasn't got any in town. It was just him and his mother". Friday asks "You called Juvenile Hall, didn't you?" Romero says "Yeah, they'll look after him for the time being. Pretty big shock for a kid". Friday says "Yeah. Did you get anything out of him?" Romero says "Harry and I have been talking to him. He's just starting to make sense. You want to lend a hand?" Friday says "Sure". He walks into the room where Robert Palmer is being questioned about the stabbing death of his mother. Robert says "We were going to the beach tomorrow, my mother and I. She had the day off and we were going to the beach. That's all I know". Friday says "Alright, Robert. Come on, son. It's going to be all right now. We need your help, Robert. I think you could answer a few questions for us". Robert looks at Friday and says "You're the cop that drove me down here, aren't you?". Friday says "That's right". Robert says "I'm not going back to the house". Friday says "You won't have to, son". Robert says "I'm never going back to that place. It was awful". Friday says "Could you start from the beginning for us, Bob, and just take it easy? Tell us what you know". Robert says "Well, all I know is I left the house about half past seven. Mom gave me the money to go to a show". Friday asks "Was she alone in the house when you left?" Robert says "Yes, that's right". Romero asks "What time did the movie let out?" Robert says "About 11 o'clock. It was pretty late for a school night, so I went straight home. Then, I found Mom was in the bedroom. She was on the floor. There was this knife, this big knife".