Farewell Gesture

the long version

Paul Manson has just gotten out of prison, where he served four years for killing his father while preventing the older man from beating Paul's mother to death. Just prior to his release, he's asked if he'll do a favor for another inmate by carrying out a contract killing on a woman named Philomena Wise. Manson refuses and, after he gets out, takes it upon himself to find Philomena Wise and warn her. Philomena turns out to be a private detective and is murdered before Manson can deliver his warning - but the body Manson sees in the police mortuary is not that of Philomena Wise...