Working the robbery detail, Joe Friday and partner Frank Smith get word of local bars being terrorize by thieves. Friday interviews the bartender. Other than identifying a mode of operation, and that the same two gents are doing all the robberies, the case seems to be going nowhere.

Another robbery, another interview, but the hard clues just aren’t coming in. A break comes in from a street informant.

Friday needs to act fast when the next robbery winds up with a police officer being shot. More lucky breaks turn up after the interview at the latest robbery.

Friday has a tough nut to crack once he is hauled into the police station, but with overwhelming evidence, it’s just a matter of time.