Rick Jackson whose years as POW in Korea have caused him to resign from the human race is forced into a leave of absence from his California pet shop when a redheaded girl disappears and a taxicab driver is killed. Besides being pursued by death dealing morticians, a suspect congressman -- and the police, Rick finds help from a youngster with the measles, a clever actor and his own ability to live through beatings; manages some cliff-hanging escapes -- and gets the redhead. Very jaunty.