A Crime of Passion

The story starts off with former president Henry Britland and his wife, Sandra discussing the dilemma that their friend Thomas Shipman had gotten himself into. Thomas, the secretary of state, was accused for the murder of his ex-girlfriend, Arabella whom he fell in love with following the death of his wife, Constance. Though, the story didn't seem right to Henry, for he knew Tom as a self-controlled man. No matter how twisted everything seemed, Henry and Sandra gave their best efforts to help Thomas in any possible way.

The evidence provided didn't so much as help either. The scene of the crime was located in Thomas's library where Arabella was shot three times with his pistol. Nevertheless, Henry came to the conclusion that he'd be there by Thomas's side no matter what happened. Because Tom was such a gentleman, murdering someone else seemed too unreal. Thomas's lawyer suggested that Thomas state an insanity plea, admitting the shooting. This way, at least some sympathy would be felt towards him. Thomas's memory was too vague to remember the night before, but something just didn't make sense to him either.

Subsequently, Henry and Sandra made their to his home where lunch was prepared for the three. The drapes were mentioned; how a crackling noise, the sound of gunfire would be heard when someone opened or closed them. Thomas's side of the story explained how his housekeeper, Lillian had invited Arabella in after she had unexpectedly came over. His gun was present because it was going to be exchanged at the police station for the “guns for toys” drive the next morning. It was not loaded prior to her visit. Thomas was already upset with Arabella for ignoring every one of his calls and in the end, broke off the relationship. Unfortunately, his story couldn't have been told to the police because he was blackmailed by Arabella.

Upon leaving, Henry and Sandra reasoned out different scenarios and figured that someone else may have been on this game as well. Like the former president, other close friends of Thomas stated that he was always a gentleman and that he couldn't be guilty. It was becoming more and more clear to Henry that his good friend was being set up. Sandra's visit to one of Arabellas's ex-boyfriends shaped things up to same conclusion as her husband's. Arabella only went for wealthy men to take advantage of them in the end. Her method to do so was blackmail, as she did with Shipman.

As Sandra was interrogating one last person, Henry was on his own reviewing everything they had discovered. Only one person could walk into Thomas's house, who also knew that Arabella was present- the housekeeper, who coincidentally was being questioned by his wife at that very moment.

Thomas and Sandra sat side by side with a gun pointed towards them, Lillian explained how she was jealous of all the women Thomas had been involved with. She wanted to marry him herself, and he was going to pay for her unhappiness. Just as she worked her way up to killing them, Thomas noticed the control for the draperies and hinted for Sandra to reach for it. As she got his hint, Sandra quickly pressed the button to open them. The drapes made the sound of gunshots, Lillian whirled around, and they threw themselves onto her. Just in time, the secret service entered the house and arrested Lillian. It was a crime of passion, but for the wrong person.