Juvenile Detail. A baby is left in the care of a young woman in a bus station, but the mother doesn’t return for it.

Working the day watch with partner, Ed Jacobs, Joe Friday interviews the young woman who was given a baby to watch. why didn’t the mother ever come back? Stepping out of the noisy bus station, the cops continue the conversation in their car. How does Marjorie Louis have a relationship with Dorothy Miller, other than just being on the same bus?

Leads are pursued, but Marjorie is the best source the cops have to get more details. A police woman calls Joe and Ed aside to point out clues in the babies belongings. With Marjorie in a hotel, and the baby in a hospital for safekeeping, the cops keep up the search. The description that Marjorie gives of the 20 year old dark haired Dorothy turns up some interesting twists, and hint at cover ups.

The bus driver can’t remember a passenger of Dorothy’s description riding his bus. A hospital claims a woman matching Marjorie’s description just gave birth to a son. Time to catch up to Marjorie at the convention she’s attending and confront her with the facts. Why would Marjorie try to conceal her baby from her husband?

Her husband had been sent overseas, and left her alone. There was no reason Marjorie couldn’t join him, but he wouldn’t allow it, and two years is a long time to be forced to wait for him. Desperate to keep it a secret, and not hurt Walter, this was the best idea she could come up with for her son.

Confronting the Army Captain, the cops bring the family dirt into the open, but will it resolve the relationship, or end it?