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.
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.
