(intro narration) Daytime. Undercover cop Joe is bringing groceries, and a couple of books to read, to lovely Laurie Neal-- she's holed up in a room in 2-story motel, as part of a witness protection program. (She's been shuttled from one safe spot to another for 7 months now.) Suddenly, a car speeds by and fires at some undercover cops stationed outside; they return the fire, but then a bomb blasts through Laurie's window. Later, Lieutenant Lassiter puts Laurie up in a backroom at the Casa del Gato; he also sends for Cat, who is an old friend of Laurie's. They will have a federal indictment against mobster John Radek within 48 hours, if Laurie stays alive to testify-- Radek has put a $200,000 price on her head.

Cat meets with Radek in his private office; Radek owns and runs a big gambling casino. Cat tells Radek to take his bounty off Laurie; Radek says Laurie was his secretary, and then told a grand jury he was into narcotics-- and without Laurie, they have no case. Cat makes