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Homicide detail. A woman has disappeared, taken from her home by a man disguised as a police officer. It’s up to Joe Friday to find her. On night watch, Joe and Ben tell about the wait, after posting news bulletins over the airwaves on the missing woman. The maid had reported a man in a gray suit, identified himself as the police, and had taken the lady of the house, Mrs Kessle. The kidnappers have only called not for a ransom, but to warn the cops to stay away, or they’d kill their victim.
In voiceover, Joe Friday tells what police policy is in dealing with a kidnapping. Despite the trauma, professor Kessle keeps up appearances for the sake of his children, since this is the first night of Passover, and the Seder meal has already been arranged. Even Joe and Ben are invited to the solemn holiday observance as the family tries to keep up appearances. All that can be done for the cops is wait… and be part of the prayers for the meal. Despite a call from the morgue, prayers continue, until professor Kessle can’t take it any further, and breaks down.
A visit to the morgue determines the corpse isn’t his wife. Without further word, it’s as if kidnappers and victim have vanished. A written note comes that is handled with care, to preserve any fingerprints. This time the warning to keep cops away is accompanied by a ransom demand.
Following the ransom instructions, except for the keep cops away part, and the bring money part, are closely observed. Will the kidnappers fall into the cops trap?No show, and no further contact wears on nerves, as the cops wait with the family. A stroke of luck turns up Mrs Kessle, but she can’t tell where she has been or who abducted her. The kidnapper’s plan falls apart, and is soon picked up.
