Malloy and Reed are at the Malibu sheriff's station to transport a wanted prisoner, Charlie Shanks, who was caught on a traffic violation, back to Los Angeles. While at the sheriff's, they learn about the murder last evening in Malibu of a young woman by strangulation. The authorities have no leads on the case. On the drive back to Los Angeles, Malloy notices a vehicle that has been following them ever since they left the sheriff's. Shanks also seems to know that the vehicle is there. In a remote section of Malibu Canyon, Adam-12 is ambushed seemingly by the men in the vehicle that was tailing them. One of their tires is shot out, forcing them off the road. Malloy and Reed have no way to request backup as they are in a radio dead section of the canyon. Based on information provided by Shanks about the men in the vehicle, Malloy and Reed decide that one of the two of them - Reed being the chosen one - will try to make it out of the canyon on foot to radio for help, while the other, Malloy, will stay with who will hopefully be a cooperative Shanks, to outmaneuver what looks to be two snipers. They hope that there are no more surprises for either of them in the canyon as they separate.
—Huggo