Our story begins with Ann Williams and Casey hanging out in the Blue Note with Ethylbert. They talk about their newspaper assignment at the circus to cover the King of the Apes, a star orangutang.

At the circus, angry voices are overheard before Casey and Ann begin interviewing the characters who run the show. , and take care of the star ape. After the behind the scenes glimpse of circus life, the show starts with the ring master calling out the acts. Suddenly the festive atmosphere is broken by the sound of screams, and Casey has a hunch that the murder is no accident.

Back at the Blue Note, Casey and Ann talk the murder over with Ethylbert. The murder was made to look as if circus animals are the culprit, and was just one of the hazards of the job. Casey and Ann have their suspicions but not enough evidence to even take it to press, let alone nailing down a criminal charge. Can Casey poke around and bring things into the open?

Can Casey put on the pressure to make the bad guys squirm, and confess? Listen in as the drama unfolds, and the trap is sprung, but not before the body count rises.