Plot

Joe Mannix and Peggy go to a nightclub intending to listen to a young guitarist, where Peggy recognizes a fugitive criminal named Brastow. Joe manages to recapture Brastow, who is to be extradited to New York to face charges of murdering a police officer. Brastow is to be escorted by an old acquaintance of Joe's named Ross Santini, now a New York detective. But Joe becomes puzzled by several attempts on his life by men he believes to be working for Brastow, and concerned about his friend Santini's increasingly odd behavior.—aldanoli

Mannix's plan is to accompany Peggy to the Cable Club to watch her friend Pete perform, then leave after the set in not wanting to be a third wheel in what is supposed to be Peggy and Pete's date. But that plan goes awry when Peggy sees across the room fugitive Eric Brastow, a known drug dealer who has so far beaten the rap when charged in Los Angeles, but who is now wanted for the murder of an undercover police officer in New York City. Mannix is able to apprehend Brastow who is taken into custody to be transferred to New York for trial. The two NYPD detectives sent to do the transfer are Ross Santini and Tom Wall, the former who Mannix knows as he started his career six years ago in the LAPD, Santini once having saved Mannix's life. This Los Angeles trip will be a homecoming of sorts as Santini's bride, Mary, is accompanying him so that they can visit her parents who live in Simi Valley. Mannix notices that Santini is acting somewhat skittish as concurrently several attempts are made on Mannix's life, he certain it by associates of Brastow's. Mannix has to figure out why he in particular is being targeted and if it has anything to do with Santini's odd behavior.—Huggo