It wasn't easy to pick up as a private detective again after four years in the Army, Gillian Baltic found. Things were changed in Camino City, though they seemed just as full of corruption and graft as ever. But it was a new crowd and it took time to learn the ropes.
Gil was suspicious when Detective Lieutenant Pete Storm of the City Police gave him such a hearty welcome and took him to lunch. They'd never been friends. And it wasn't long before Gil knew Storm wasn't really being friendly now.
Harriet Poland was sure her husband had been murdered. The Police Department of Camino City were sure it was an accident. Poland had been writing a book on graft in Camino City, and a man named Denzon had been doing some typing and ghost-writing for him. Denzon was a dope-taker who had committed suicide a few weeks before. It all looked like a pretty mess, particularly when the dope angle led to Louie Carmett, the new boss of rackets in Camino City, and to Steve Kiley who worked for him.
Gil was in love with Betty Kiley, Steve's sister, and he'd once saved Steve from a murder rap. But that didn't make a rat like Steve grateful. He led Gil right into a nice trap.