The strangulation of four children in the vicinity of San Francisco leads the police force to appoint inspectors Al Hawkin and Kate ("Casey") Martinelli to discover the criminal.

Suspicion falls on renowned artist Vaun Adams, convicted of murdering a young girl years before.

Hawkin convinces a reluctant Kate to set the trap for Lewis in her home by letting Vaun recover there.

He arrives and declares that he will kill Kate and her lover Lee and leave Vaun to take the blame.

Lee alerts the police to his presence, but the sniper who kills Lewis does not do so in time to prevent him from shooting and permanently disabling her.