A Shot in the Dark

Nightclub owner Philip Richards publicly announces his engagement to Helen Armstrong and his sale of the club to George Kilpatrick. The announcement sets the stakes high and stirs up interest among the club's patrons. It also prompts Schaffer to question Philip's lower bid and to threaten Kilpatrick, signaling trouble ahead.

Schaffer, a local racketeer, confronts Kilpatrick over the decision and makes his threat explicit. He warns that Kilpatrick should beware the consequences of crossing him. The confrontation heightens the danger surrounding the club's future.

Clare Winters, Philip's ex-girlfriend, tries to stop the sale and pulls a gun on him. Philip wrests the weapon and places it in his safe, attempting to defuse the dangerous situation. The gun's concealment foreshadows the violence looming over the plot.

George Kilpatrick is shot and killed at the airport while on his way to the taxi. Peter Kennedy, a reporter in love with Dixie Waye, witnesses the murder and becomes drawn into the investigation. The killing shatters Philip's plans and sparks the central murder mystery.

Lieutenant William Ryder questions Philip about Kilpatrick's murder, probing his alibi and potential involvement. Philip maintains his innocence while trying to protect others, deepening the suspicion around his circle. The interrogations widen the list of suspects.

At Philip's apartment, William is introduced to Helen, Philip's fiancée, and her brother Roger. The family ties begin to blur as loyalties and secrets surface. Philip remains at the center, masking his true involvement in the turmoil.

Peter goes to Clare's home and discovers that she is missing. The disappearance becomes a critical thread in the investigation and heightens the urgency of the case. The search for Clare pulls more players into the web of suspicion.

William and Peter learn that Roger has been attacked in his apartment, and a handkerchief bearing the initials 'A. M.' is left behind. Peter suspects Al Martin, Philip's right-hand man who recently left town. The clue links the inner circle to the murders and hints at a deeper conspiracy.

Clare Winters' body is found, along with the gun that Philip had taken away from her. The discovery directly implicates Philip and intensifies the police chase. The case grows more tangled as the evidence points toward the club's leadership.

An elevator boy reveals that he saw a man matching Philip's description on the same floor where Clare's room is located. The sighting provides a crucial link between the killer and the club's premises. The timeline tightens around Philip as a primary suspect.

William arrests Philip, who confesses to Clare's murder but then draws a gun and escapes. William suspects that the confession is a cover to protect someone else. The chase continues as the true killer remains elusive.

After a sequence of confrontations, Helen admits she killed Clare in self-defense when Clare threatened her life. William learns that Clare was Kilpatrick's ex-wife, adding motive and complexity to the case. Helen and Roger are captured and confess to both murders, while Dixie is courted for a date but ultimately leaves with a naval officer. The tangled web of lies and loyalties is finally brought to light as the truth comes out.