Originally Aired: February 14, 1950
Philo Vance #84, "Scarface Murder Case," begins with an intriguing evening at an upscale restaurant where detective Philo Vance becomes captivated by a beautiful blonde woman dining with a mysterious scarred man. While sharing dinner with District Attorney Markham, Vance insists the woman has been trying to attract his attention. Despite Markham's skepticism about Vance's claims of receiving signals from the lady, both men observe the couple for over an hour. When the pair rises to leave, Vance convinces Markham they must follow, convinced the woman wants them to pursue her.
Racing to catch up with the couple in the restaurant's foyer, Vance and Markham encounter a puzzling twist. The scarred man they watched all evening is still present, but the blonde woman has vanished. When confronted about his female companion, the man delivers a shocking denial, claiming he hasn't been with any young lady all evening. This impossible contradiction launches Vance into a perplexing mystery where beautiful women disappear and witnesses contradict what seems to be obvious reality.