 Hugh Caldwell kills his wife Janice and in despair asks for the help of his friend and neighbor Mark Halperin. And Mark helps a friend in deed, of course. So the murder appears to be the job of a thief, but Lt. Columbo has some doubts. There is not a single finger-print of the deceased in her house and he begins to suspect Halperin. Unfortunately for Lt. Columbo Halperin is the chief of the police.