The deadly vendetta of a disturbed young woman leaves a city prosecutor murdered, and Bronk is frustrated in his attempt to piece together the motive for her revenge. A bizarre message left for him leaves no doubt the murderess is relieving a twisted grudge, but the message leaves only more questions as to when she will kill again and who. Bronk works to unravel the mystery before she can strike again.
Sara Mitchell is the first policewoman assigned to patrol duty in Bronk's department. After arresting an apparently drugged young woman on her first night on patrol duty, Sara is accused of attacking her prisoner and finds her new career in danger when no one can disprove the charges. Bronk believes she is innocent and sets out to clear her of the charges.
Phil Barrow, a would-be bank robber, is slain and his accomplice girlfriend, Cara, is captured. She links Barrow to the auto accident that killed Bronk's wife and crippled his daughter, Ellie. Bronk has always felt the so-called accident was the result of a contract on him and the mayor and district attorney feel this killer hunt is more emotional than objective. In his overzealous attempt to avenge his wife's death, Bronk jeopardizes his career and his life.
Three people die and the lives of other civic leaders, including Mayor Santori and wealthy Arnold Cutler, are jeopardized as terrorists set fire to an Ocean City hotel during a hospital benefit party. Bronk captures the ringleader, but his girl associates kidnap Cutler's son and offer Bronk a deal. The Cutlers reject the offer and Bronk and his partner set out to thwart the gang's deadly intentions.
Charles Bisantz, a fleeing mob ""bag man,"" puts an unsuspecting ringer, Nathan Lewis, aboard an Ocean City commuter flight with a bomb. Because of delay in taking off, the plane explodes earlier than the killer had planned and he is forced to steal Lewis' body and dump it in a quarry. Lewis' widow becomes a willing decoy in an effort to trap the elusive Bisantz.
Ocean City is terrorized by a killer who has strangled several women, mostly prostitutes. Bronk flushes out the strangler, who dies in a fall following a rooftop chase. However, Bronk is convinced there is another murderer, who used the strangler's killing spree as a screen. He digs deeper and uncovers a strange mystery involving a case of altered identity.
A young assistant city attorney is murdered while investigating an illegal alien smuggling ring. Later 12 Mexican national farm workers are found dead in a submerged truck. Bronk's investigation leads to a sadistic daredevil motorcycle racer, Quillery, but Bronk can't prove anything. With the help of a Mexican cop, Bronk infiltrates Quillery's operation disguised as an alien farmhand, setting the stage for a final confrontation with the warped killer.
A known mob gunman is arrested, bailed out, then murdered. Bronk realizes a ""hit man"" is double-crossing his associates and using the police to lead him to his intended victim, Mitchell. Mitchell's ex-mistress, Marni, tries to help Brink find him. But Bronk suspects a triple-cross and jeopardizes his own life to thwart the killer.
Alex Bronkov has been police officer in Ocean city for 20 years. Although his wife died in a car accident and therapy for his paralyzed daughter is expensive, he remained incorruptible. When a former friend asks him to help him out of a heroin deal, it turns out to be a trap. His partner is shot, and Bronk suspended. But he won't give up and starts to fight alone against the drug connection and corrupt municipality.