Friendly Case of Blackmail

In “A Friendly Case of Blackmail,” Mildred Hardwick finally decides to leave her joyless marriage and run away with her lover, Hillary Gaines—until a thick San Francisco fog derails everything. On their way back to return her before her husband sees the goodbye note, they accidentally strike and kill him in the mist. Panicked, they flee the scene, convinced no one will ever believe it was an accident. But someone did see them: a smooth-talking opportunist named Baldwin, who soon appears with a smile and a blackmail racket tailored specifically to their secret. As the payments rise and the pressure becomes unbearable, Hillary plots a desperate way out—only to find himself trapped even deeper when the police uncover Baldwin’s insurance policy, his safe-deposit visit, and a trail of evidence pointing straight to murder.