McBride: It's Murder, Madam

The film opens with defense attorney McBride winning a case by proving an eyewitness cannot distinguish between his client and his associate. Meanwhile, Marilyn Fletcher arrives in Los Angeles from Nebraska, seeking her friend Natalie. She is directed to Heather Bronson, who she believes runs a legitimate escort service for actors. Heather sets Marilyn up on a 'dinner date' with Harold Paxton, which turns into an attempted assault. Marilyn escapes and goes to the police, then returns to Heather's home to confront her, only to find Heather murdered. Marilyn is arrested at the scene. McBride's friend in the police department, Roberta, asks him to represent Marilyn, believing the girl is too innocent to be a killer. McBride and his associate Phil Newberry begin investigating Heather's life and discover she was running a high-end call girl ring and blackmailing her clients. They find encrypted emails on Heather's computer addressed to 'Nero237', 'Untouched1', and 'Heartthrob'. These leads take them to Mayor Joe Theodore (whose wife was a former employee of Heather's), champion boxer Luis Escobar, and TV star Chad Foster. While all had motives due to blackmail, McBride begins to suspect Victoria Sawyer, a wealthy philanthropist who claimed to be Heather's mentor. McBride discovers a secret compartment in Heather's armoire containing cash and a 'Christmas' CD that actually contains a digital ledger of Heather's business. In the courtroom, McBride systematically dismantles the prosecution's case. He calls Victoria Sawyer to the stand and reveals that she was actually Heather's silent partner and mentor in the prostitution business. When Heather began blackmailing Victoria, a struggle ensued. McBride points out a bandage on Victoria's hand, which she claimed was a bite from her new Jack Russell Terrier. McBride produces evidence that Victoria bought the dog the day after the murder specifically to cover up a human bite mark left by Heather during the fatal struggle. Victoria breaks down, Marilyn is acquitted, and McBride returns to his dog, Jesse, while Roberta reveals she is dating the prosecutor, Norman Collins.