McCloud, whose new-found celebrity (thanks to an article by Chris Coughlin in the Chronicle) vexes the Department, is assigned to protect a British theatrical maven who has received letters assailing his ""filthy, obscene"" productions and threatening his life.

McCloud complains about his assignment to rodeo detail, so Chief Clifford sends him to Special Auxiliary Force VI under the command of Sgt. Dameron, where he works to catch a murderer in Central Park.

In Paris, McCloud and a stewardess try to locate a mysterious arms smuggler with ties to an American mogul and a New York gubernatorial candidate.

The wife of an astrologer and widely-syndicated newspaper columnist is kidnapped in broad daylight.

A musician is framed for the killing of his teacher, a violinist whose long-lost brother was in the mob.

A TV commentator's critique of police shootings tarnishes the department's stakeout squad, and Chris Coughlin is threatened to force the release of a murder suspect extradited to Taos by McCloud.

A woman pursues the hit man who killed her sister, and in Mexico City is pursued herself.