A middle aged invalid is discovered dead in her bedroom and Homicide detectives find themselves on the trail of a demented killer. Widow Mrs. Anstey befriends a mild mannered man, Albert Fisher, in a cemetery, who is actually the embittered killer whose motives are complicated by his belief that his actions are mercy killings. Fisher's daughter Marjorie gradually realizes the situation and begins to fear for her own life.
A blast from a shotgun greets Carol Connor and Shirley Cross as they leave a kitchen tea party. Detectives are anxious to question a former boyfriend known to have threatened one of the girls. Sen. Det. Delaney voices his unhappiness about the deaths and sorrow he now has contact with - he finds this new aspect of police work pessimistic and gruesome, and considers resigning from the squad.
Eight year old Barry Neal is kidnapped, and callous attempts are made to extort money for his return. Sen. Det. Patterson, against his own training and judgement, becomes personally involved in the distress of the parents. The boy is later found murdered, and when Patterson catches up with the killer he nearly drowns him as they fight on the beach. Patterson later resigns from the Homicide squad.