Tim Balfour has returned from Italy after his parents were killed in a car accident. His artistic father left the family years before due to his bad boy actions. Tim Balfour finds himself in trouble after he gets involved with Chick Montana and another boy who rob a store. Chick tells Tim they hit the owner too hard and it'll cost $200 to make it all go away. When Tim goes to pay Chick he thinks he may have hit a man but can't find him. Chick now tells him he wants $2000 to make things go away. Tim knows it's a shakedown but he has few options open to him. He's only recently started living with his wealthy grandfather, Timothy Sr., but his father had abandoned the family years ago. As a result, the old man is still a bit frosty towards him while his father's brother, his uncle Luke, is downright hostile. About the only person who is nice to him is the family housekeeper Edith Summers. When Chick is killed, Tim is charged with murder and Perry Mason defends him.
—garykmcd