The Murderer Hides His Face

In the forest near the village of Drahovice, a nurse from the local health centre, Marcela Brychová, is found murdered. Three months ago, another young woman died nearby and a sexual motive was proved in the case of her murder. In the case of Brychová, the motives are not so clear. Two criminologists from Prague - Major Kalaš and Lieutenant Varga - patiently collect all available leads and question the villagers. Marcela's husband, who is serving his military duty, might have a motive - having had learned from his mother that his wife had been cheating on him. The detectives also find Marcela's lover, window-dresser Kyncl. Gamekeeper Bureš and divorced physician Wintr, the latter being Marcela's employer, are also suspects. Moreover, the imbecile horse herdsman Michal was in the forest in the critical time. The alibis of all the suspects are gradually proved. Then, the body of the young woman accountant from the local cooperative is found murdered. Before she left to visit her mother, the cooperative manager Král advanced her one thousand crowns, and robbery is thus a possible motive. The autopsy, however, again proves sexual violence. Michal may know something, but he falls down from an attic. The circle tightens. The investigators are helped by the psychological portrait of the murderer. Král's brother Jiří, governing the local chateau, has a very young step-daughter named Radka. She, too, was attacked a year ago, but survived the assault. During the re-enactment of the girl's attack, the investigators break through her psychological trauma. Radka's reaction proves her step-father's guilt of the sexual attack.