Hotel servant Ed Martin witnesses the assassination of Stranski's behind-the-scenes political broker and identifies Zelli's killer. However, Zelli took the victim's documents, which endangers the leaders of the political organization. Zelli is released by the police after threatening to publish these documents. However, the case has already been published in the press, and since the outcome of the upcoming elections largely depends on the quick conviction of Stranski, the police find the "surrogate" killer Ed Martin. Beaten to death, he confesses to the crime, but later refuses to testify. Meanwhile, he finds friends who want to protect him.