A private detective is hired by a distraught husband, Howard Melton, to locate his missing wife, Julia. Melton, a district manager for a cosmetic company, is concerned about his wife's sudden disappearance from their cabin at Little Fawn Lake. He provides the detective with a telegram from Julia, indicating she is seeking a divorce and planning to marry another man, Lance Goodwin. The detective begins his investigation, suspecting that Julia may have been involved in some trouble, possibly related to her kleptomania. As the detective delves deeper, he learns about Julia's past and her relationship with Goodwin. He visits Goodwin's home, only to discover Goodwin dead, shot in the head. The detective realizes that Julia's disappearance is more complicated than it seems, and he suspects foul play. He finds evidence suggesting that Julia may have been murdered and that her body was hidden in the lake. The investigation leads to a series of twists, including the discovery of a gold anklet belonging to Julia, which was found in the cabin of Bill Haines, a local man with a troubled marriage. Haines' wife, Beryl, had also gone missing around the same time as Julia. The detective uncovers a connection between the two women, revealing that they were both involved with Melton and Goodwin. As the detective pieces together the events, he confronts Melton, who is revealed to have orchestrated the cover-up of Julia's murder. Melton's motives are tied to his desire to protect his reputation and avoid scandal. The detective's investigation culminates in a confrontation where Melton's guilt is exposed, and the truth about Julia's fate is revealed. In the end, the detective's persistence leads to the arrest of Melton and Beryl, who had conspired together. The case highlights themes of deception, betrayal, and the complexities of human relationships, ultimately showcasing the detective's skill in unraveling a tangled web of lies.
By Raymond Chandler · First published 1943 · Genre: Mystery, Crime, Noir