The House Without a Key

APatheserialintenchaptersoftwo-reelseach:DanWinterslip,awealthymaninHonolulu,hasnotspokentohisbrother,whoownsahotelnexttoWinterslip'sestate,inovertwentyyears.Minerva,sistertotheestrangedbrothers,comesfromBostontotrytoreconcilethetwomen.JohnQuincyWinterslip,Dan'snephew,receivesaletterinstructinghimtoretrieveaboxfromanatticinSanFranciscoanddumpthecontentsintotheocean.HeisonboardashipboundforHawaiiinwhichotherpassengersarealsoafterthebox.DanWinterslipismurdered.CharlieChan,aChinesedetective,offerstohelpsolvethekillingandthemysteriessurroundthebox.Chanislookingforthepersonwhosewristwatchismissingthenumber'three.'