Struggling to make a success of his detective agency, he finds himself the target of an ambitious local assistant district attorney after, an inquest has been held surrounding the death of a criminal. Skeen had tried to subdue and have him arrested; but the criminal resisted and chose to fight, resulting in the criminal's death. Skeen may be charged with manslaughter. An assistant district attorney ends the inquest, over the medical examiner's objections, by charging Skeen with manslaughter and demanding that he be arraigned on the charge.