Jack Shannon becomes a detective on the San Francisco police force, and his first case sends him back to the Big Apple. He has to defend himself against a charge that he, as a New York cop, strong-armed a witness. Jack's move is put on hold when the NYPD questions his conduct on his last case, strong-arming a witness. One reason for Shannon's move to San Francisco is to provide additional family for his young son, Johnny, in the persons of his in-laws, Paul and Irene Locatelli. Prior to making the move, Shannon and his partner, Mel Mishkin, with the help of 14-year-old prostitute Clare Piotak, had worked to indict Phipps, a notorious mobster whose rackets include prostitution and drugs. Using Clare's pimp Vernon Jones as the key witness, Shannon and Mishkin delivered what they believed was an air-tight case. However, with Shannon in San Francisco, the New York case blows sky-high when Veronon recants, accusing Shannon of coercion.

Shannon learns that Paul, his father-in-law, is the victim of loan sharks. He has been pressed to commit a crime to repay a due.

Ivy Horton tries to kill her ex-husband and mental patient, Alex, to protect herself and her daughter. Even though the man is threatening his family he can't be arrested until he commits a crime.