Intrigue

When Dian Hunter, the co-owner of a men's magazine, wants to sell her majority share to a media tycoon, her womanizing partner and photographer objects. Soon afterwards, Miss Hunter seemingly disappears. Lt. Columbo investigates.

What happened to businesswoman Diane Hunter? Everyone thinks she went on a trip to England to sell her majority share of men's magazine Bachelor's World, but she never showed up to her meeting. Lieutenant Columbo is sure that her business partner and ex-lover, photographer Sean Brantley, killed her to keep her from selling. But proving it is another thing entirely, and Sean has a few surprises for everyone's favorite homicide cop.—Leaper

Dian Hunter, the controlling partner of a men's magazine, disappears. She was supposed to fly to England to sell her interest to a U.K. businessman, Sir Harry Matthews. That will mean the end for Sean Brantley, the Hugh Hefner-like front man for the magazine, who owns only 49 percent. Columbo is on the case and quickly zeroes in on Brantley as his main suspect, finding a number of inconsistencies in Brantley's story. The dogged detective bears down on Brantley but, for once, he has been fooled. Brantley's partner turns up alive -- it was all a planned publicity stunt. However, the partner now plans to sell her interest in the magazine to Sir Harry for even more than before. Brantley can't permit that and, when Dian turns up missing a second time, Columbo faces a problem. He's like the boy who cried wolf, making it very difficult to nail Brantley.—Bill Koenig