his mystery is the story of Max Holman, a bank robber who just been released from prison. The day he gets out, he learns that his estranged son, who had grown up to be a police officer, was one of four policemen gunned down at a dry riverbed in LA the night before. Who did the killing, and why? The four police were not in uniform, apparently they were meeting in the seclude spot to share some beers while off-duty, that's the official explanation, any way. But Holman doesn't buy the story. It is clear that the officers were surprised, because none had time to draw their weapons (I guess even off-duty police carry weapons?) which leads to the obvious suspicion that they knew the shooter, and let him/her get close without suspecting any murderous intent.