A former standover man is shot dead at the docks. Several witnesses refuse to come forward, and Homicide detectives get nowhere until an informer passes on the name of the chief witness, whose brother is a policeman.

A burglar, Jennings, breaks into the weekend beach house of Dr. Tarling, and trips over his body. Detectives question three suspects - the victim's son, his medical partner, and Jennings.

While sitting in their car near the beach, a young couple are threatened by a man with a gun. Trying to pacify the gunman, the boy is suddenly shot dead and the girl attacked and criminally assaulted.

Returning home from a date, Lynn Preston is kidnapped, her boyfriend is knocked unconscious, and a ransom note is left for her parents demanding $100,000 for the girl's release.