Grand Central Murder

Convicted murderer Turk escapes police custody by crashing through a washroom window just as a train arrives at Grand Central Terminal in New York. He phones his former girlfriend Mida King and threatens to kill her. The escape sets off a high-tension pursuit at the terminal.

Mida King, a Broadway star, hides in a private train car on a siding at the terminal. She intends to leave town with her rich fiancé, David V. Henderson, planning to secure a new, more lavish future. She had left her show between acts to avoid the spotlight and scrutiny.

David Henderson and Connie Furness discover Mida's body. The on-site doctor cannot determine the cause of death, turning the scene into a homicide investigation. The discovery shocks all involved and shifts the focus of the investigation.

Police Inspector Gunther is called in to solve the murder. The doctor’s inability to determine a cause of death leaves the case to be solved through interrogation and deduction. The investigation opens up a web of suspects around Mida.

Turk is recaptured by the police, and the private detective Rocky Custer—hired by Turk—is brought in to help with the case. Rocky’s sharp wit and street-smart methods add an extra edge to the investigation. The team hopes to identify the killer among Mida’s circle.

A wide net of suspects is assembled, including Ramon the phony psychic stepfather, Paul Rinehart (Mida's ex-husband), producer Frankie Ciro, Mida's maid Pearl Delroy, her understudy Baby, and Connie plus Roger Furness, who guards his daughter’s interests. Gunther has each person recount what they know as Rocky assists with questioning. The tension builds as hidden motives begin to surface.

Frankie’s patience wears thin as he learns Mida plans a rich divorce settlement in about six months. David Henderson overhears Frankie discussing this, giving him a motive related to Mida’s impending financial windfall. The overheard talk shifts some focus onto economic incentives in the case.

Ramon dies during the investigation, apparently of a weak heart. The death suggests foul play rather than a natural cause and deepens the mystery around Mida’s circle. The investigators must consider whether Ramon’s death was connected to the case.

Rocky reveals that Mida was murdered by electrocution in the shower of the locked railway car, with plumbing connected to the electrified third rail. The meticulous setup shows a calculated plan to remove witnesses and ensure the crime goes unseen. This discovery ties the various deaths to a single mastermind.

The killer returns the wiring to a storage locker, but Ramon spots him and is paid off to keep silent. The bribery demonstrates a determined effort to silence witnesses and bury the truth. The investigation edges closer to identifying the killer as the motive becomes clearer.

To eliminate a loose end, the killer poisons Ramon, removing a key witness. The murder of Ramon further cements the killer’s concerted plan to misdirect the investigation. The score is still being settled behind the scenes as the net tightens.

Rocky identifies Roger Furness as the killer. Furness breaks away to board a departing train, but he falls to his death on the third rail. The case ends with Furness dead and the mystery of Mida’s murder laid bare for the authorities.