Ralph Neufeld -- research student in chemistry. Found dead in his laboratory. Accident? The police say it is.

Louis Brade, his professor, thinks otherwise. But who could have done it? There's only one other key to the lab, and that belongs to -- Professor Brade.

The only person who knows a murder has been committed is also the most likely suspect. So he sets out to find the murderer himself. Quickly. Before the police realise it couldn't have been an accident.