Joshua Sharpe's landlady Mrs Jessop accuses Josh and Debbie from walking in to her apartment and stealing a patent leather handbag after she sees them playing in the hall. Their father does not believe his children would do such a thing and after confronting them with it to be sure he suggests to Mrs Jessop that they get the beat police officer to sort things out. Mr Sharpe was surprised by her reaction to his suggestion of getting the police. She seemed very distressed and afraid of involving the police, so much so that the shock seemed to have killed her. Why was she so afraid of the police and who had stolen the patent leather handbag and could Mrs Jessop's death have been murder?