The Falcon in San Francisco

On the train to San Francisco, Tom Lawrence and his sidekick encounter Annie Marshall, a lonely girl who claims she is being held prisoner by her nurse and butler. Annie's story is interrupted when Miss Carla Keyes arrives for her, cutting the tale short. The encounter plants the seed of a kidnapping case that will follow them into the city.

The Falcon arrives in San Francisco to a waiting police presence, signaling the police interest in the case. Tom is released on $10,000 bail posted by Doreen Temple, who hints she will reveal her motive later. The bail sets in motion a web of intrigue surrounding Doreen and the missing girl.

That evening, Doreen Temple hosts a dinner with her bodyguard Rickey posing as a police officer. Rickey questions Tom about the murder and warns him to stay away from Duke Monette and the S.S. Citadel. The encounter establishes a dangerous dynamic between the Falcon and the people around Doreen.

Tom and Goldie visit Annie's house and meet her older sister Joan, who denies knowing Doreen or Vantine. Annie insists Loomis is holding her prisoner, deepening the mystery. The family ties complicate the truth and broaden the suspect pool.

Tom sneaks back to Annie's room to question her directly. Annie again claims Loomis keeps her prisoner and shows a photo of a ship's officer, hinting at a larger conspiracy. The clues push Tom toward the ship and its shady connections.

Loomis is shot dead by an unknown assailant as someone rummages around the nurse's room. The murder intensifies the urgency of the investigation and raises the stakes for Annie and the other players. The killer's identity remains elusive, fueling the suspense.

Tom returns to his hotel and is confronted by Vantine, who brandishes a gun. Tom disarms him and learns Doreen is tied to Duke Monette and the illicit S.S. Citadel shipment. The confrontation tightens the circle of suspects around the Falcon.

Tom visits Star Coastal Lines and discovers DeForrest, the general manager, meeting with Joan, the company’s owner. A clerk directs him toward an address linked to Doreen’s gang, pulling him deeper into the trap. The investigation adds another layer to the intertwining plots.

Doreen's apartment traps are sprung and Tom and Goldie manage to escape after a tense confrontation with Vantine and the gang. Tom returns to his hotel, where he finds DeForrest hiding in a closet, hinting at a secret identity behind the scheme. The night leaves more questions than answers.

Goldie discovers a newspaper article revealing that Duke Monette is the true owner of the S.S. Citadel. The article ties together the ship, the illicit cargo, and the key players in a single thread. This clue sharpens the focus of the investigation.

Tom and Goldie sneak aboard the S.S. Citadel and uncover raw silk hidden among bales of hemp cargo, suggesting a hijacked shipment. Their discovery confirms the ship as the nexus of the illicit operation. The cargo becomes a pivotal piece of the culprit’s plan.

Annie reports that Joan has left to meet her secret lover on Telegraph Hill. Tom witnesses a rendezvous between Joan and DeForrest (believed to be Duke Monette), who confesses using a secret identity to protect his daughters. The revelation exposes the personal stakes behind the criminal facade.

Duke asks Tom for help to thwart Doreen’s plan to hijack the silk. At the dockside, Duke and Tom observe Vantine, Doreen, and their gang boarding the Citadel, setting up a confrontation that will soon erupt on the ship. Tensions escalate as the vessel becomes a battleground.

On the Citadel, Duke knocks the engineer unconscious, and the boiler room is blown. Doreen and Rickey lunge to disarm Duke, but Rickey shoots Duke, allowing Tom to escape as the ship explodes. The climactic confrontation resolves the case amid blaze and chaos.