Fred Heit, coroner for Cataraqui County, New York, receives word that a couple has drowned out at Big Bittern Lake, but searchers have recovered only the woman’s body and the man’s hat. A letter addressed to Mrs. Titus Alden of Blitz is in the pocket of a coat that the woman left at an inn. Heit tells his assistant to call both the Republican and the Democrat, the respective newspapers of the political parties in the town. He also contacts the office of District Attorney Orville Mason, his boss.

Heit discovers the multiple names that Clyde used along the way to Big Bittern. He sees the wounds on Roberta’s face and head. He finds Roberta’s bag but not the man’s. Witnesses come forward to say that they saw a well-dressed, nervous man on the road to the ferry to a town called Sharon. After reading Roberta’s letter, Heit concludes that he has a murder case and that Roberta was the tragic victim of a villainous lover. Heit keeps the letter to himself to slow down the investigation. The trial could give Orville Mason just the attention that he needs to win the Republican nomination for a judgeship, which might help Heit keep his own job.