At a local fair in Beernem (Belgium), Hector De Zutter, a young farmer, disappears during the night of Nov. 7th, 1926. Many rumours in the village insinuate that manslaughter is implied. The accused, members of the well-to-do middle-class, are protected by the mayor of the village whose son-in-law is judge at the Bruges office of public prosecutors! Clearly, this is a very good reason for the inhabitants of Beernem to keep quiet when Hector's dead body is found. Julienne De Zutter, sister of the victim, starts her own investigation and search for possible witnesses. She gets the support of Victor De Lille, editor of the newspaper "'t Getrouwe Maldeghem" (The Maldegem Faithful, a local newspaper from Maldegem, Belgium). He publishes week after week articles covering the murder and starts a relief fund for mother De Zutter. Eventually, three defendants are arrested...
