Two candidates are vying for the post of mayor of one of the major Western European cities - the Social Democrat Dr. Hayden and the "free nationalist" Alden. On the eve of the election, an independent journalist receives documents confirming Alden's connection with the secret services. He becomes the object of blackmail, but does not change his intentions to expose Alden.

1927. A retired Red Army commander Constantine Vorontsov is appointed a Criminal Investigation Department head in a principal city of province. An experienced repeater named Korney shows up in the city. Thanks to a successfully performed operation a place of a local thieves gathering place is now known. But Korney, foreboding of an ambush, changes the place at the last moment. Vorontsov doesnt have enough time to warn all his colleagues and heads for the thieves meeting by his own.