When a wealthy physician is shot, his wife disappears. It seems she has a habit of running away when things get tough. Is she the murderer or another victim? Burke finds out more about her unhappy history from her sister at an amusement park, tracks the missing woman's past through a gambling casino, a lonely hearts club, and a waterfront dive. The other men in her life (also possible suspects in the case) include a ship's cook, a con artist ""hypnotist"" and an ex-jockey. An anonymous note proves to be the clue that reveals who the real murderer is. Burke arrives just in time to prevent another murder.