Trying to remember name of a noir type suspense movie with counterfeiters (?) working out of an abandoned beach house (near New York ?). Cop's wife intercepts a call at a payphone and goes to the house in his place. That's about all I can remember.

I have watched a lot of film noir, at least I thought I had until I saw the list linked below. But I don't remember the plot you mentioned. Maybe the list will help jog your memory-hope so.
List of film noir titles - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_film_noir_titles)

This is a very wild guess. As I read your description, it made me think of this:

Sorry, Wrong Number (1948)
Wikipedia synopsis excerpt:
Leona Stevenson (Barbara Stanwyck) is the spoiled, bedridden daughter of wealthy businessman James Cotterell (Ed Begley). One day, while listening to what seems to be a crossed telephone connection, she hears two men planning a woman's murder. The call cuts off without Leona learning very much other than it is scheduled for 11:15, when a passing train will hide any sounds. She calls the telephone company and the police, but with few concrete details, they can do nothing. Complicating matters, her husband Henry (Burt Lancaster) is overdue and their servants have the night off, leaving her all alone in a New York City suite.
As she makes a number of phone calls trying to locate Henry, Leona inadvertently begins to piece together the mystery. The story is told mostly in flashbacks. When Leona reaches Henry's secretary, Elizabeth Jennings (Dorothy Neumann), she learns that he took an attractive Mrs. Lord to lunch and did not return to the office. Mrs. Lord turns out to be the former Sally Hunt (Ann Richards). Leona stole then-drug store employee Henry from Sally, and married him against her father's wishes. Sally is now the wife of Fred Lord (Leif Erickson), a lawyer in the district attorney's office. From overheard conversations, she learned that her husband was close to resolving an investigation that involves Henry somehow. Sally became so concerned that she followed her husband and two associates to a mysterious meeting in a seemingly abandoned house on Staten Island. The house, according to a "no trespassing" sign, belongs to a W. Evans. Sally arranged to meet Henry for lunch, but before she could warn him, he left the table and did not return. Later, Sally calls Leona with more news. The house on Staten Island has burned down, and three men, including someone named Morano (William Conrad), have been arrested. Waldo Evans (Harold Vermilyea), however, has escaped.

You can read the rest here:
Sorry, Wrong Number - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sorry,_Wrong_Number)