[1] During a New Year's Eve party at the wealthy Ranton Manor, an escaped convict named "Strong" John Sikes trudges through the snow with his infant son.
Fourteen years later, Ann is married to Dr. Richard West and they are the parents of fifteen-year-old adopted son Bob and two-year-old biological daughter Annie.
The old friend takes John to the headquarters of ironically nicknamed gangster "Slim" Sam Morton.
After the Wests leave their townhouse to vacation at their country house, Morton's gang robs the empty residence.
John discovers Ann's jewelry box among the stolen goods and remembers his vow of revenge.
In the middle of the night, John calls in a fake medical emergency to trick Dr. West into leaving his family.