Crime Wave

'Doc' Penny and two of his gang have broken out of San Quentin. While robbing a gas station for "eatin' money," they kill a police officer. However, one of the gang members is badly wounded. A city-wide search ensues, led by hard-nosed detective Sims. He orders records searched to determine if there is an ex-con in the vicinity who might give them shelter. Meanwhile, at Steve Lacey's apartment, his phone rings in the middle of the night. Lacey, two years out of San Quentin, has gone straight. He's married now, with a good job as an aircraft mechanic. He answers the phone, someone asks for him, then hangs up. Regrettably, he regularly receives unwanted phone calls from ex-cons who pass through town, looking for a handout. He and his wife Ellen assume this is just another. Back at headquarters, Lacey's name turns up in Lieutenant Sims' search. Despite Lacey leading a clean life since leaving prison, Sims feels he's a likely candidate for the escapees to seek out. He has an underling call him. When the phone rings again, Steve and Ellen are sure it's just another ex-prisoner, so they ignore the call. But this only confirms Sims's suspicions, and he sets out to check on him personally.