On a cold wintery day in the living room of a four-story brownstone boarding house, owner Rachel James and her closest friend, Minerva Hall are having a much needed cup of tea and talking about the recent departure of a few of her tenants. Rachel says "Two of my tenants have left, and another, Mrs. Parker, is concerned about living here after Mr. Carson's suicide. Having three empty rooms now, and maybe another soon, I'm not sure I can make ends meet". Just then, Police Lieutenant Mike Forbes of the Homicide Division rang the doorbell. Rachel invited him in to the living room. He says "I am here investigating the death of Harold Carson". Rachel says "you mean his suicide?" He says "the fact of the matter is that it was not suicide. Harold Carson was murdered."