Looking forward to enjoy a plate of chicken catchatori, Philip Marlowe is sidetracked by a phone call from a friend. Randal has a problem with a gambling debt, a dame, and blackmail. Has the dame paid the gambler, or will she take the matter to Randal’s stockholders in his business? Tess is found dead, and yet another dame enters Philip’s life followed closely by a thug of a jealous boyfriend.

Will any new clues pop up when the gambler, Nayler, is visited? In keeping Randal’s reputation safe, the gambler also benefits from Philip being successful. What? No thumps on the head? Philip seems to be having all the luck today. How long will that hold out?

A virtual prisoner by racketeers, Philip will be in physical harm, but with some help by Maxine, the lights go out, and its the break Marlowe needs. A last moment clue saves the day, and the race is on to rescue his client, kick the lid off the mystery, and turn a killer over to the authorities. But wait, will there be one more surprise waiting for Marlowe at the end of his day?