The shadow on the spark

Dr. Jarvis returns to New York after a medical congress, expecting to meet his longtime friend Jim Craighead, but discovers a shocking headline reporting Craighead’s sudden death. The story describes a seemingly routine accident followed by a fatal operation, leaving Jarvis bewildered and determined to learn the truth. He rushes to the coroner’s court, entering a maze of legal testimony and medical detail.

As the inquest unfolds, the evidence—blood on the inspector’s coat, a hunchback flinging documents into a stove—suggests more than a simple mishap. Jarvis teams with a skeptical physician to examine the surgical details, questioning the reliability of circumstantial proof. The narrative promises a clever blend of forensic science and courtroom drama, urging listeners to consider how easily facts can be misread.

The narrative weaves 1920s city life with meticulous medical exposition, making every clue feel both plausible and urgent. With each testimony, Jarvis uncovers hidden motives among lawyers, insurers, and the enigmatic hunchback, while the ticking clock of a life‑insurance payout raises the stakes. Listeners will find a puzzle where science and intuition collide, inviting them to decide what truly happened before the curtain falls.