A small girl brings Joe Gunther a bird’s nest—made partially of human hair. In the search to match a body—and an identity—to the hair’s owner Joe comes across an unexplained death a grisly murder and a sudden disappearance. All seem to be entangled in a puzzling web of municipal corruption blackmail and industrial espionage. A shell-shocked World War II veteran nicknamed the Ragman may hold the key to it all—but only if Joe can get him to talk before the murderer strikes again.