Ken Thurston is in a meeting with his supervisor, Chief of the U.S. Intelligence Agency. The chief says "I know it sounds fantastic, Ken, but it's happened. Here's the cable from Calcutta". Ken says "The third ship in six months to leave Calcutta disappears somewhere in the bay of Bengal. I guess I better read the cable". The chief says "Later, Ken, here's the story in brief. This Muhammad Lal had been fishing in the Andaman islands and was heading north for Calcutta. Around midnight, he noticed the lights of a freighter coming from the northwest. It was still four or five miles away, when it suddenly blew up. There was a tremendous blast". Ken says "And it sank immediately. Is that it?" Chief says "Yes. By the time he reached the spot, there was only a few pieces of wreckage and this submarine". Ken says "Cruising around on the surface and machine gunning survivors. Chief, If that's true...." Chief says "Yeah. Anyway, Lal was smart enough to grab a life jacket, slip over the side of his boat, and swim away from it. A few minutes later, the sub picked up his boat in the searchlight and sank it with a couple of shells". Ken says "That's quite a story". Chief says "Listen, Lal claims he saw something in the searchlight. That sub was flying an American flag". Ken says "What? Chief, you don't suppose they're trying to use that angle now to...." Chief says "I don't know, Ken, but we've got to find out. I checked with the navy just to cover. They've got one light carrier on maneuvers in the Andaman islands, with Indian government observers aboard. No subs...." Ken says "Hiding under an American flag machine and gunning survivors". Just then, Pagon's cousin, Zagon, walks in and says "Hello, Mr. Thurston. I just happened to be... uh...oh... how do you do, Mr. Chief?" The chief says "Zagon Zeldschmitt, by heavens, when it isn't Pagon, it's cousin Zagon. He says "Oh, shoot, I guess we're just the friendly type". Ken says "I'll have Miss Brooks check the airlines, right away". The chief says "Alright, Ken, I want to get caught up on the situation as soon as possible".

Captain Frank Kennelly was working his night tour, 4:00 PM to 8:00 AM. The earlier part of the tour had been exceedingly quiet due in part to a heavy downpour of rain, which began early in the afternoon and continued until nearly 11:00 PM. A good rain keeps the troublemakers off the street. By midnight, the sky had turned clear, although the streets of the city were still wet and glistening. Kennelly was in his office taking care of some accumulated paperwork and awaiting the appearance of patrolman Daniel Ritchie, who had requested some time off for the purpose of attending to personal business in Florida in connection with his father's estate. Meanwhile, Sergeant Watters was at call box 11, talking to Lieutenant Garman. Waters says "I went up there on 1st Avenue to take a look at that condition. There's about a foot of water on the street at that spot, Lieutenant. Looks like the catch basin and the sewer is stopped up there". Just then a woman walks up to Waters at the call box and says "Excuse me, officer". Waters says "Just a second, lady". Garman asks "What did you say, Sergeant?" Waters says "A woman just walked up and was speaking to me, Lieutenant. Anyway, all the water from the rain has just hung up there, Lieutenant. I think it'd be a good idea to notify the borough president's office and have them send a crew up to clean out that catch basin". Waters finishes his call and says to the woman "Yes, ma'am. What is it?" She says "I wanted to tell you I just shot my husband". Waters says "Yeah, where at?" She says "In that house there next to the corner. I live in there". Waters asks "Where is he?" She says "Upstairs in the flat". Waters says "Alright, Let's go have a look". She says "I couldn't help it. I really couldn't". Waters gets Sergeant Tyler, who was in the petrol car while Waters was at the call box, to come with him. Waters says to Tyler "We've got a shooting, come on". Tyler says "Yes, sergeant". Waters asks the woman "What did you shoot him with?" She says "A gun". Waters says "I know it must have been a gun. What kind of gun?" She says "A shotgun, I think you call it".

Giuseppe Angelino, owner of the local butcher shop, knocks on the door to Richard's office. He says "Door's open. Well, Mr. Angelino, come in". Angelino says "I didn't know whether you were busy or not". Richard says "What's the trouble, Angelino?" He says "Well, you see, it's like this. I come to you as a sort of representative for all the other butcher shops, the independent ones. I ain't the only one that's worried. So, all the butchers got together last night and decided to do something about it". Richard says "I hate to be a nag, but do something about what?" Angelino says "We all been paying money to a protective association. Every week a couple of guys come around and collect. If we don't pay, we get our shops busted up. And if that ain't enough, we get our heads busted too. See, I still got three stitches right here on the top of my head". Richard says "Oh, nice job". Angelino says "I got these last week when those two guys come for the money. I couldn't pay, so one of them hit me with a blackjack, and knocked me out. When I came to, my shop was a mess. There was a note saying that they'd be back". Richard says "Well, you better go to the law, Angelino. They'll give you good protection and won't cost you a thing". Angelino says "We discussed that at the meeting, but we decided it was too dangerous. We've been warned that if we go to the police, we'll get hurt bad. We got the families, Mr. Diamond. We can't take the chance". Richard says "Yeah. Have these two hoods been back to see you?" Angelino says "Oh, no, they ain't been back. Not yet." Richard says "For you or a Rockefeller, my fee's the same, Angelino. One hundred clams, uh, dollars a day in expenses". Angelino says "We took up a collection. I only got a hundred dollars, but if it costs more, you can take it out in trade at any of the butcher shops. It's the only way we can pay you". Richard says "Oh, I'll throw a barbecue. Let's go, Angelino" He says "Where do we go?" Richard says "Well, you and the rest of the butchers have not only hired yourselves a private detective, you have hired yourself a new addition to the butcher's union".