Homicide Detail. An unknown man is found dead, and it’s up to Joe Friday to solve the murder.

On an overcast day, Joe Friday works the night watch in Los Angeles. Interviewing a witness, a bartender tells about the commotion outside. Two men attack a third one, but the encounter went down too fast for bystanders to get involved. In voiceover, Joe recounts the investigation progress with his partner Frank Smith, and the clues found in the get away car.

The owner of the car is notified. Mrs Gorman tells what she knows about her husband’s business dealings, and drinking habits. When was the last time she heard from him? Should she call him at work to see if he’s OK? Fred Bernard is tracked down in his shop to be interviewed about the unidentified man. how well does he know the Gorman’s? Its back to the station house, then a coffee shop where more news about the car comes to the ears of the detectives.

New clues turn up criminal records on suspects. Mike is already in custody on other charges. Will he come clean, or shed more light on the crime? The car thief has an explanation for being in the car, and having cash on his person, but does it clear him in the eyes of the cops? Exposing lies prove to Joe that Mike and Tom are their men, but it takes playing their guilt off each other to dredge up the hard evidence they need to wrap up the case.