A story told mostly in flashbacks concerns the suicide of a policewoman whose officer husband was killed in a liquor store holdup.

Posing as a wino, Baretta is trying to nail a skid row killer when he is abducted and held captive by a tough old woman who believes he is her wayward son.

Baretta becomes involved with a young thief, who steals from some pretty dangerous characters to help support his family.