Mel Edison has just lost his job after many years and now has to cope with being unemployed at middle age during an intense NYC heat wave.

New York private eye Shamus McCoy likes girls, drink and gambling, but by the look of his flat business can't be too hot. So an offer of $10,000 to finds some diamonds stolen in a daring raid with a flame-thrower is too good to miss. His investigations soon get pretty complicated and rather too dangerous. At least along the way he does get to meet Alexis.

A Brooklyn mobster and his gang try to rub out their rivals.