There’s Always a Price Tag

An opportunistic, multi-talented freelancer who schemes to plunder Erle Dester’s fortune. He plays the couple against each other while trying to stay ahead of the law, and his calculated plan begins to collapse as evidence and violence complicate his escape.

A Hollywood director on the brink of bankruptcy and plagued by heavy drinking. He leverages Nash’s presence to maneuver his own interests, while hinting at an insurance scheme that could secure his demise or wealth depending on how events unfold.

Dester’s wife, scheming and unscrupulous, eager to secure the insurance payout. She collaborates with Nash to kill Dester and coerce a cover-up, relying on charm and fear to keep the plan intact until it spirals out of control.

A sharp lawyer and insurance agent who understands the policy details and the risks of a fraudulent claim. His expertise becomes a safeguard for the truth, and his involvement raises the stakes for any false narrative.

A housemaid drawn into the scheme by the lies surrounding Dester and the attempted disappearance. Her terse involvement makes her a key witness whose testimony could unravel the cover-up.

A seasoned detective who appears in Hadley Chase’s universe and sharpens the investigation around Nash’s movements. His presence amplifies the pressure to solve the case and exposes the flaws in the cover story.