Simon Templar involves himself in the mysterious case of a San Francisco crime ring head by an elusive character known only as Waldeman. Police Inspector Travers has committed suicide after being discharged from the police force on suspicion of being part of the gang, and his daughter, Valarie, has organized her own crime ring in order to bring out the mysterious Waldeman and prove her father's innocence. Templar meets Inspector Fernak on the flight to California, and the two longtime enemy-cronies form an alliance to help run down the mysterious criminal, whom the Inspector suspects may be Templar himself.
—Les Adams <longhorn1939@suddenlink.net>