Owen Jones returns to the main Abermorfa Police Station as an Acting Detective Inspector. Owen's new role includes his overseeing of the Special Branch unit based in the docks who police the arrival of ships and their crews particularly those from behind the Iron Curtain. An outbreak of flu in the town devastates the police leaving Owen to accept responsibilities, like complaints about police behaviour, usually tasks for the uniformed branch. Showing his ability by managing these new responsibilities plus his regular detective work Owen hopes will see his post be made permanent. What may enhance Owen's chance of becoming a Detective Inspector will be the quick solution of the bizarre death in the docks, of a well-known Ship's Chandler.
Owen's home life is a battle of wits between him and his wife versus their teenage daughter. The flu affects both his wife and daughter leaving Owen baffled as he faces a problem he has never encountered before - cooking.