The slick and charming younger brother of the mayor returns to Mosquito Creek. On the run from very unsavory people the card-shark's secret plan is just to lay low. However the ruse of 'going-straight' soon begins to unravel when a retired town resident and vocal critic of the town manager is found dead. Gordon McKenna [now 13] realizes that in order to investigate the manager's activities the young detectives need insider help. With the mayor away on business his brother has keys to all town hall offices. Gordon McKenna and Joey Salas [now 12] convince the uneasy gambler to assist. After finding crucial evidence, the mayor's brother becomes a reluctant hero with unexpected publicity and then attention from the very people he was trying to avoid...