When Commissioner Bärlach's assistant, Schmied, is found murdered, Bärlach's ambitious colleague, Walter Tschanz, follows a lead that points to the shady business magnate Richard Gastmann. Gastmann is an old acquaintance with whom the commissioner has a score to settle. Many years ago, Gastmann committed a murder right before Bärlach's eyes, but Bärlach was unable to prove it. Now, the terminally ill detective uses Tschanz to devise an elaborate plan to finally bring the criminal to justice...