Grand Exit 1935

The Interoceanic Fire Insurance Company is beset by a string of suspicious blazes that threaten its stability and the livelihoods of its policyholders. The story centers on Tom Fletcher, Edmund Lowe a former investigator for the company who was fired under murky circumstances. With fires escalating, the board reluctantly brings Fletcher back to uncover the arsonist and restore trust. He sets his demands high, requesting a range of perks and a substantial bonus for catching the culprit. To boost his odds, he forms a tight-knit team, including his new secretary Miss Appleby, and dives headlong into the mystery.

During his inquiries, Fletcher encounters a mysterious woman named Adrienne Martin, Ann Sothern, who has appeared at several fire scenes, and he grows suspicious of her possible involvement. The investigation takes a personal turn as he learns that Adrienne’s father, Fred Maxwell, once owned the Maxwell Glass Company, which went out of business after the insurance company refused to pay his daughter Adeline. Fletcher also senses that Adrienne is driven by a desire for revenge against the insurer that wronged her family.

Fletcher confronts Adrienne with his suspicions and traps her into revealing her true identity as Adeline Maxwell, Ann Sothern. He finds evidence in her possessions that appears to connect her to the fires. However, when Grayson, Fletcher’s co-investigator, Onslow Stevens, uncovers that Adeline Maxwell had died several months ago, Fletcher realizes he has inadvertently framed an innocent person. Overwhelmed by remorse, he goes to the authorities to confess his mistake, and Grayson, disappointed by Fletcher’s willingness to sacrifice anyone to solve a case, leaves him.

Determined to make things right, Fletcher restarts the investigation from scratch. He soon discovers that Adrienne’s father is alive and has been orchestrating the fires to exact revenge on the insurance company. Fletcher confronts the elder Maxwell, who finally confesses to the crimes. With the truth exposed, Fletcher clears Adeline’s name and brings the mastermind to justice, repairing his relationship with Grayson in the process and restoring a measure of peace to those around him.