When auto magnate Robert Bailey announces he is going to retire and turn his plant over to the employees he incurs the enmity of K.Y. Mitchell, a large stockholder in the company; Carey MacGregor, head of a parts manufacturing company that depends on Bailey Motors for most of its business; Logan Walters, general manager of the business and his social-climbing wife Laura; and Mary Brookhart, a predatory widow who is also a large stockholder and in love with Bailey. Bailey announces he is flying to his mountain retreat for a vacation and to complete the transfer of his interests to the employees. On the way to the airport, Bailey's car is side-swiped and his private plane cracks up before leaving the ground. Bailey is injured and his taken home, and narrowly escapes death when a bullet is fired through his bedroom window, He hires noted detective Frank Rogers to investigate. Mitchell, MacGregor, Walters, Mary and Bailey's ne'er-do-well nephew, Ralph are all suspected by the detective.