There's an accident at bootlegger Ed Hoagley's distillery, and Hoagley has the victim made to look like a hit-and-run case. The ruse works—until Cain identifies the man as one of Hoagley's boys.

Cain arrives in a small but wide-open town, intent upon smashing the power of local vice baron, Herman Coombs. He gets nowhere fast with the police force--all handpicked by Coombs.

Cain finds it hard to believe that narcotics boss Lou Strode has really guit, even though Strode has a good reason--his son died as a result of dope addiction. Cain looks for evidence on which to get him indicted.

Cain searches for a waterfront racketeer.

An examination of syndicate kingpin Frank Neehan's operation turns up the name Phillip Hallson. Cain wonders if this is the Phillip Hallson who is a federal judge--until Neehan's case is suddenly transferred to Hallson's court.

Gambling czar Big Ed Pavanne's dying wish is to see his son Rick, who is at college in the Midwest.