Twenty Plus Two 1961

Alder is hired to investigate a murder linked to a missing heiress

Tom Alder, a Los Angeles private investigator who locates lost heirs, is pressed by a police friend to look into the murder of a movie star's fan club secretary. The case tantalizingly hints at a connection to Doris Delaney, a wealthy young woman who vanished from a New York City school thirteen years earlier. He agrees to probe, hoping to uncover clues the police have overlooked.

A clue ties the murder to Doris Delaney case; Dane emerges

Early in his inquiry, Alder uncovers a clue the police missed that ties the film star murder to the Delaney disappearance, steering him toward Leroy Dane, a celebrated Hollywood action hero with a World War II hero record. The link is tenuous but suggestive, and Alder resolves to follow it to its source. The search thus broadens from a local murder to a long cold missing person case.

Alder recalls Linda Foster and Nikki Kovacs

Alder's memories bring Linda Foster back into focus. She had sent him a Dear John letter during the Korean War, and she is now divorced and dating a wealthy man. She remains entangled with the same circle and is closely connected to the younger Nikki Kovacs, who is openly charming and dangerous.

Plane ride to New York; Alder meets Nikki Kovacs

On a plane to New York City to pursue the Delaney case on his own dime, Alder sits beside Nikki Kovacs and begins to sense a familiar thread connecting her to the missing heiress. Their conversation plants seeds of suspicion and intrigue that will unfold over the coming days. The trip marks a turning point in the investigation.

Frenchy Pleschette tries to hire Alder in NYC

In New York City, Frenchy Pleschette, a career conman, tries to hire Alder to locate his missing younger brother Auguste. He offers an initial thousand-dollar bill and later threatens with a gun, but Alder refuses both the job and the danger. The encounter leaves Alder wary of the Pleschette family and sets the stage for the personal entanglements to come.

Alder interviews Mrs. Delaney

Alder interviews the reclusive Mrs. Delaney, Doris's mother, who claims she knows her daughter is still alive. She has no proof beyond conviction, yet she accepts Alder's sincerity and insight into Doris's character. The conversation deepens Alder's resolve to understand what really happened to Doris.

Linda follows Nikki to Chicago; Nikki disappears

Linda follows Nikki to Chicago and discovers that Nikki herself has gone missing. The pursuit widens the circle of people connected to Doris Delaney and Nikki, increasing the stakes for Alder. The Chicago detour marks a turning point in the investigation.

Alder recalls Lily Brown in Japan; Doris's connection

Alder recalls meeting a woman in Japan who resembled Nikki, at an escort club during his wartime recuperation. The woman, who went by Lily Brown, hinted at hidden troubles and suggested links to Doris Delaney that would not reveal themselves at first. These memories begin to connect the Delaney mystery to Nikki and the Pleschette family.

Doris is Lily Brown; Alder heads to Chicago

Putting the pieces together, Alder realizes Lily Brown is actually Doris Delaney, and he races to Chicago to pursue the newly uncovered trail. The revelation reframes the entire case and drives him toward a confrontation with those who would keep Doris hidden. The momentum shifts the investigation toward the Midwest.

Dane arrives in Chicago; Alder tightens the noose

Back in Chicago, Alder's investigation threads Dane into the Delaney case, and Dane arrives in the city, prompting Alder to taunt him in hopes of drawing him out and tightening the noose. The confrontation builds toward the climactic showdown.

Hotel convergence in Chicago

Linda's boyfriend and Nikki's fiancé converge on the same Chicago hotel where Nikki was last seen, bringing multiple pursuers into one tense location. The gathering heightens the stakes and accelerates the path toward resolution. The hotel becomes the focal point for the remaining players.

South Dakota pursuit and Nikki's confession

Alder heads for the Pleschette family homestead in South Dakota, trailing Frenchy. He finds Nikki stranded there and she emotionally confesses a past of rape and a resulting flight from her family, a pregnancy, and a life that led to prostitution in Japan. The confession exposes deep scars that shaped her actions.

Dane revealed as Auguste Pleschette

Dane arrives and is revealed to be both Auguste Pleschette and Nikki's rapist, having operated under multiple identities. He confesses to manipulating events and to using others to conceal his past actions. The identity reveal reframes the motive and danger surrounding the Delaney case.

Showdown ends Lane's threat

In a climactic showdown between the two brothers, Lane announces his intention to kill his pursuers, sparing only his dottering father. Frenchy guns Lane down before he can shoot, ending the immediate threat. The confrontation cleanses the field but leaves emotional scars on all involved.