His partner, Rhodes, has proposed marriage to Barbara, Erskine's daughter. This apparently isn't the first time. Only this time, she's said yes -- and wants to get married quickly.
He's not happy. She's only 19 and still has two years to complete college. And he's still ill at ease with her getting involved with an FBI agent given the hazards involved in the profession.
He's dating Joanna Laurens (Lee Meriwhether), who works over in the FBI lab. She looks like she's in love with him. But he finds it hard to make time for her because of his bureau workload. Also, Assistant Director Arthur Ward is giving Erskine grief. Ward feels strongly that his chief investigator is on a wild goose chase and being far too stubborn about it. Ward tells Erskine that the investigator's freedom could be curtailed if Ward or "the Director" (J. Edgar Hoover) feel it's warranted.