A well organized team of extortionists kidnap a group of businessmen on a chartered fishing boat. Ransom amounts and instructions are phoned to the victims' wives. The NYPD becomes involved in the case when the charter boat captain is found tied up and drugged-but alive. Meanwhile, the businessmen plan a revolt.

The NYPD is shorthanded, overworked and sleep deprived due to various conventions being held at the same time in Manhattan. When a visiting conventioneer is found brutally murdered Lt. Parker has no choice but to send an exhausted Sgt. Arcaro out to investigate.An unlikely person emerges as a prime suspect.

A determined and utterly logical retiree wants an agreement to raise a drawbridge honored by a railroad - no matter what. When the railroad makes a series of trumped up charges against the man, Lt. Parker finds his tolerance of aggravation is at the breaking point. Det. Arcaro losing a prisoner on an elevator was bad enough.