Olga Belova, Morozov's colleague, gets information about Nikiforov's brother, who may know at least something about the assassination attempt on Yakushev. There is a murder of businessmen Verzilins and their son Nikita in the city. Miraculously, only daughter Vera managed to survive. Operatives work out different versions. Morozov is sure that the killers should be sought among the Verzilins' competitors, perhaps Kravchenko. Meanwhile, in the village where Vera and Nikita lived, their friend Stepnov appears.