In the thick of the Cold War, McCain investigates death threats against an alleged red. The citizens of Black River Falls are polite, understanding, and respectful -- except when it comes to communism. Joe McCarthy has been dead for two years, but men like Richard Conners are still fighting to clear themselves of his accusations. A liberal who served faithfully under Roosevelt and Truman, only to be slandered as a red during McCarthy's witch hunts, Conners has begun getting death threats written in blood. He hires private investigator Sam McCain to protect him, but no soo.