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Homicide detective Joe Baron is financially desperate because of the extravagance of his wife, Lisa.  Consequently, while investigating the shooting of a burglar by society physician Horace Van Tilden, Joe devises a plan to solve his money problems.  Learning that Van Tilden is the head of a large dope syndicate, he plans to rob his safe of $1 million in cash.  Joe's partner, Pete Delanos, a Mexican tired of being underprivileged, learns of the plot, and demands to be cut in on it.

Meanwhile, Joe has resumed a romance with the dead burglar's wife, Rosalie, an alcoholic waitress.  Aware that Rosalie knows of his narcotic dealings, Van Tilden has her pushed to her death and then interrupts Joe and Pete as they are robbing his safe.

Following a gun fight, Joe and Pete return to Joe's house with two bags of heroin, but Joe agrees to return one bag if Van Tilden will treat the badly wounded Pete.  The doctor agrees; but when Pete dies, the two men turn on each other, and Van Tilden is killed while Joe is severely injured.  With no alternative open to him, Joe submits to Lisa's calling an ambulance, knowing that the police will soon follow.