On a spring afternoon, the crumpled body of a very old woman lay dead at the foot of the stairs in her home in the Hollywood Hills.

Jessie Mitchell, the old woman’s widowed daughter in law, mourned the death as Bitty had been like a mother to her even before Jessie had married one of Bitty's grandsons.

After a frantic two weeks when Jessie and Wilma, Bitty's housekeeper, followed a list of funeral instructions left by Bitty. The funeral luncheon was finally over.

Matthew Grainger, Bitty's lawyer, spoke with any belligerent relatives that wanted things immediately settled, and informed them that the will would not be read until the grandson, Charles Mitchell was located and present.

Following a series of frightening later events, the police suggested Jessie visit friends. She agreed.

So, Jessie started searching for Charley.