Lieutenant Reardon of the San Francisco P.D. reluctantly goes along with the department's decision not to honor the prisoner-exchange demands by the kidnapper of just-retired Sgt. ""Pop"" Holland. But one of two Italian nationals (in jail on a minor charge) is released by Reardon's pal Sgt. Dondero and is subsequently murdered. Before Reardon's final pinpoint detection, Dondero walks from the doghouse into the lion's den. Reliably efficient tick-tock action.