When Darkness Falls

In the darkest days of World War II, Stella Hanson, a beautiful, intelligent daughter of a traditional West Virginia industrialist builds her own production company to aid the war effort. Her rich father wants her to consolidate her efforts with his own and support her family endeavors. However, she believes that her father is only interested in filling his own coffers and declines. She turns the day-to-day operations over to Paula Simpson. Simpson is more interested in obtaining all the government contracts she can get her hands on than she is helping her country. Stella attempts to confide in an old friend, Tony Powell who is the son of the Chief of Police in Salem Falls, West Virginia. Torn asunder by her conflicting emotions and problems, she is unable to tell Tony what is bothering her. Nonetheless, she does plan a date with him on Saturday night. She plans to tell him her problems then.
Next morning, someone shoots Stella Hanson in her back with a forty-five while she is taking a routine walk in the woods near her house. Tony arrives with his father and is appalled because she has been murdered. The only clues are that she was shot in the back, her watch is lying on the ground near her to indicate a violent struggle and someone carved a swastika on her arm.