Shell Game (Prologue Crime)

Bill Stuart is vacationing in Florida, collecting shells, when one evening he stumbles upon a beautiful young woman hiding under a fishing pier on a deserted beach. Undaunted by her cock-eyed story, he offers her a lift into town. Valerie agrees if she can drive. When she discovers they are being followed by a gray sedan, Valerie breaks every law to shake them; and just as mysteriously does a quick disappearing act when they arrive at the bus station. The local chief of police isn€t interested in tracking his missing person, so Bill heads back to the beach to retrace Valerie€s footsteps-which just happed to lead to a cabin that is occupied by the body of a very recently murdered man!