 Joe Devlin is an Irish poet, singer, raconteur - and secret terrorist. He raises money in Los Angeles for his radical cause through a charity ostensibly meant to help terrorism s victims. Despite his hypocrisy, he has a strong belief in honor. When an arms dealer selling guns to Devlin tries to skim off $50,000 for himself, the poet-terrorist shoots him for being a traitor. Devlin leaves the man s hotel room after the "execution," but he makes a dumb mistake. The dealer has Devlin s new book in his jacket pocket, with Devlin s own inscription. That tiny clue is enough for the rumpled, redoubtable Lt. Columbo to make a connection between the two men - and learn things about Devlin that the poet would prefer to keep hidden.