(3:35 PM Officer Assistance Call) A code 3 call comes in. Sgt. Larry Wilens responds to it on 46th street. The suspect is barricaded. Officers tried to serve a warrant to 63 year-old Kenneth Lynn and he shot at police twice through the door, but missed them. (Tactical Team Briefing) Deputy Chief Doug Smith says they asked Ken to come out to talk to him for neighborhood problems - smell and trash. They are trying to make contact with him and find out from neighbors if anyone else lives there since he could have hostages. The teams face is covered, they are inside perimeter, they can use gas on him if necessary. If he has a long rifle he can get them. They have to stay back and use high risk entry tactics. The team has to survey the house, will be close enough where he could hit them with a rock. (Negotiation Team Command Post) Neighbors stated he suffered a head trauma injury in WWII, but has never been to the hospital for mental illness, he has very poor eyesight, cataracts, heavy smoker, emphysema, bronchitis, hasn't drank for 13 years, but if he's drinking again he'll be very hostile and, negative. He just was in detox 2 weeks ago - a good sign he's been drinking again. His personal info is on the board "DOB 8/20/27 or 29, divorced, ex-wife Mildred (lives with Gail) alcoholic who gets hostile when he drinks, has 4 children". One cop knows him, didn't know he was a problem. Sgt. Charles Resch says he's a loner, has 3 or 4 old cars, his mom died 8 years ago, he's kind of weird. The cop who was shot at says it went right between them, splinters of the door hit him. Officer Rick Stanek says he has a 300 rifle, 3-4 shotguns with ammo, a German Luger, 38 & 45 revolver and a 25 automatic according to his son. Two weeks ago he called in for a report and they took him to detox instead of taking a report so he's mad at the cops. They get a call of an attic. Cops back up with blast shield, they run behind a car, stay low. They hide behind a car, want to get close to shoot gas and others wait next door at 4800. They want to negotiate, get him on the phone, if he won't answer they'll throw in a phone. Anything to talk him out, gas is the last chance, no turning back then. Sgt. Robert Gretton explains about the phone they are throwing in that will go back to the team directly to negotiate with them. The team goes up heavily armed with a shield, one smashes the window with a crowbar and the next tosses the phone in a bag. They call at 4:44 PM that it is in. They beep it from the station and Larry calls for him to pick up. Outside they call in to pick up the phone. Larry wants to help, tells him open it up and pick it up. He picks up. He doesn't blame him, they are both sick of listening to the beeper, what's going on? He can hear him. Then he hangs up. (6:25 PM) He said he's sick of the beeping and cut the line. Officer Dave Mattson is outside in camo gear. They want cold beers, fresh women and a pizza. Larry calls again. Sgt. John Hennessy says to be very authoritative, this is what they want him to do, no more playing around, for his own good. (8:08 PM) Larry tells him he has to talk to him. Ken says he had to tend to his dog's foot and put peroxide on it. What's all the yelling about? They want to talk to him. He says they like to hear themselves talk it's so loud. Larry says it's been an hour and half since he talked to him. People are going to react to him. What is it going to take to get him out? He wants Cordell and Ruben Johnson. He says Cordell is there. He says he's not. That's what they tell him, he can't come on though. He won't trust a cop, it's like trusting Dillinger. Larry says if he puts Cordell on will he come out. He might. If he does something for Ken he has to so something for him. The team outside creeps around to get drinks and come back, knees are killing them and they are thirsty. They cut his power. He doesn't give a crap, doesn't need it. He needs him to come out, he has people lined up. Are you afraid of getting hurt? He's seen those trigger happy sons of bitches in action. Larry says with all the people and the press around they aren't going to get trigger happy. He has to help him though. He promises if he comes out he'll secure the house and take the keys to his sister. He says he'll consider coming out if he can bring his dog with him. He can't do that. He'll turn him over to his son Dustin though and leave him in the basement. Sgt. Robert Skmora listens. Larry says to put him down and come back. He says for tactical to get set up. It's dark now. (9:39 PM) The plan is for him to come out. He wants to go to the VA. He was in 20 years ago for violence. He wants to see the SOB he talked to last time. Is he still there? He saw his name on the list. He wants to tell him how full of crap he is. If he tells him he'll take him to the VA and they won't accept him then what? That's a different story, he doesn't know, he won't have any power then. They'll talk to the people later. He wants them to talk now, later is crap. What else will it take to get him out? They worry about what they'll do with him in the future. Dr. Steve Geiger, Psychological Consultant says they have to worry about that, can't lie to him. He'll say I listened to him once, he won't again. He has access to lots of weaponry and will in the future. When he comes out they'll place him under arrest and clear the house. Ken asks what does he want him to do. He wants him to walk out with his hands up, stand on the steps and listen to the officers for what to do. They call the tactical team that he is ready. He comes out in a dirty blue street and hat. They tell him to walk to them and turn around, down on his knees, keeps hands up, then lay on his stomach. Two guys go over and cuff him. They are worried about other people inside, but he says there is no one. They take him to the car. He says again he's alone. Officer Riley Gilchrist comes over to Larry and shakes his hand and hugs him, good work. Ken got pissed that they were yelling at him outside and he came to the phone. Inside they show the two bullet holes in the door. There is a 30-30 on the couch. He had a gas mask next to him, he was prepared. He has a semi automatic, lots of riles and ammo there. It would've been a hell of a battle. The place is a mess and there are pill bottles all over the tables. Chief John Laux arrives and tells them it's recorded for posterity and will show they take a backseat to nobody, they are the best they proved it again tonight, nice job. The suspect was charges with second degree assault and released on bail the following day.

While Hastings is staying in the country with his friends the Inglethornes, the lady of the house is murdered. Unimpressed by the local police, Hastings sends for Poirot.