Originally Aired: July 26, 1949
Philo Vance #55, "Cheesecake Murder Case," opens with a deceptively tender domestic scene between Jane Ashley and her boyfriend Billy. Over an uneaten piece of cheesecake, Jane playfully teases Billy about a special present she's made for him. When she finally reveals it—a handmade mask to protect his identity—the sweet romantic moment takes a dark turn as the true nature of their relationship becomes clear. Billy is a criminal, and Jane is helping him conceal his identity during robberies. With his partner Mike waiting downstairs in the car, Billy prepares to rob a photographer who keeps cash in his studio.
As Billy leaves wearing Jane's mask for luck, he coldly remarks that if the photographer resists, he'll be the one needing luck—an ominous threat that suggests violence may be imminent. The juxtaposition of Jane's loving concern and Billy's casual criminality sets the stage for what promises to be a deadly encounter, one that will presumably require Philo Vance's detective skills to unravel the truth behind what becomes the Cheesecake Murder Case.