Accomplice

Simon Lash, a book-collecting lawyer turned Los Angeles private detective, is hired by blonde Joyce Bonniwell to find her missing husband, who suffers from bouts of amnesia. Years earlier, Joyce left Simon at the altar to marry the wealthy Bonniwell, who is now vice-president of the Sheridan National Bank. Simon's first thought is that Bonniwell was embezzling money from the bank, and he questions Vincent Springer, the bank's president, about the bank's finances. In the meantime, Simon's assistant, Eddie Slocum, goes to Bonniwell's club to learn what he can about the missing man. Springer insists that everything is in order at the bank, and adds that as far as he knows, Bonniwell is not missing, but is on vacation. After Eddie reports that he found a letter for Bonniwell from a Mrs. James Baker, Simon investigates. Redhead Evelyn Price, who lives at the apartment, admits that she is having an affair with Bonniwell, who, according to her, has been missing for several days. She suspects that he is at Castleman's Mink Ranch, which he owns, near Palmdale. Simon now believes that Joyce is really trying to get evidence for a divorce, and proceeds to her house to return her retainer, as he does not handle divorce work. While he is there, a phone call from Sheriff Rucker informs Joyce that her husband's body has been found with its head blown off at Castleman's Mink Ranch. Joyce and Simon drive to the ranch to identify the body. Rucker suspects that Simon and Joyce have murdered Bonniwell for his money. Castleman, however, believes that Bonniwell committed suicide. Simon, having seen evidence of two shots, knows that Bonniwell could not have killed himself. Although Joyce admits that Bonniwell lost all his money, she denies any knowledge of the ranch or of Bonniwell's relationship with Evelyn. Later, Simon telephones Eddie, who informs him that Evelyn and Springer have both disappeared. From the hotel desk clerk, Simon learns that Bonniwell used to visit town with a flashy brunette, who claimed to be his wife. After Rucker reports that a brunette was seen driving Bonniwell's car in the desert, Joyce reveals that Springer's fiancée is a brunette. Simon sets out to find her, but before he does, he learns that both Castleman and Evelyn have been murdered. Piecing together various clues, Simon proceeds to Mesa, New Mexico. There he meets Jeff Bailey, the town marshal, who reports that a stranger named Stringer earlier drove through town on his way to Pete Connors' massive home, known as the Castle. At the Castle, Connors reveals that Bailey is his nephew and confines Simon in an old harness room. From there, Simon sees Joyce arrive and breaks out of the room. Joyce explains that she headed for the Castle after she learned that Springer had telephoned Connors' number. She then tries to kill Simon, who discloses that he knows she committed all three previous murders. Wearing a brunette wig, she masqueraded as Springer's fiancée, and murdered Springer at the mink ranch because he discovered that Bonniwell was embezzling from the bank. Both Evelyn, who was really Springer's mistress, and Castleman were murdered to stop them from revealing the truth. Bonniwell, who is alive and hiding at the Castle, then appears. In the ensuing gunfight, Bonniwell accidentally kills Connors and Joyce, and is himself killed by Simon.