 Because he was unable to secure an adequate judgment, attorney Everett Dorrell offers to loan Dick Hammond $15,000 for his mother s medical care. Dorrell gets a frantic call that his girlfriend Helen Austin is threatening to kill herself. He speeds out of his driveway and runs over Helen. Hammond drives up and offers to dispose of the body, suggesting that Dorrell drive into a post, have the car repaired and blame the damage on that accident. Dorrell gives Hammond the $15,000 in cash. That evening Hammond s garage catches fire, and Dorrell s damaged car is found inside. Clara Thorpe, Helen s aunt, demands Hammond return the $15,000 to her. Hammond consults Perry Mason, who says Dick must inform the authorities. Where Dorrell had been willing to support Hammond, his prospective father-in-law, Marvin Claridge, silences the attorney. Fatefully, Helen was the driver of the car that injured Hammond s mother and killed his sister. Further, she was dead a half hour before Dorrell hit her. Hammond is charged with murder, and Perry takes the case.