RachelJamesisshotthroughherkitchenwindowwhilehavingbreakfastearlyonemorning.ShewashavinganaffairwithDr.JulianStorrs,anOxfordprofessorwhoisacandidateforMasterofLonsdaleCollege.Whenhernextdoorneighborisalsokilledhowever,MorsedeterminesthattheshootingofJamesmayhavebeeninerror.Morsealsosuspectsthathemayhavebeenablackmailer.BothStorrsanhisrivalfortheMastersposition,DenisCornfordhadsecretsthatwouldmakethemsuspects.Morsedeterminesthatseveralothersalsohadthingstohideandanyoneofthemcouldhavecommittedthemurders.