PC Bradley has been sent to investigate a break-in when he witnesses an explosion. It is the car of ambulance driver Frank Metcalfe which exploded when he turned on the ignition, and it looks like attempted murder because he has received anonymous phone calls and a threatening letter a couple of days earlier. The grocer Mr. Dale is attacked under similar circumstances. But they have nothing in common. The only lead is a blue Ford Transit van seen on both occasions and that the attacker has military training and access to the local arsenal. Pete Atkins fits these requirements, but he claims his innocence. Oscar Blaketon also receives anonymous phone calls. Is he the next victim? Rev. Meeks represents a foundation which offers Lord Ashfordly to finance the renovation St. Judes Church on his lands, and his lordship hires Vernon Scripps and David to do work for him. Meeks especially asks them to be on the lookout for a particular baptismal font from the church.

Important things are about to happen in Aidensfield. The annual cricket match against Scarsdale is coming up, and if Scarsdale wins again this year the trophy is theirs for keeps. Oscar Blaketon is the head of the Aidensfield team, but turmoil is raging the village and he must leave many of his best players out of account. And he has excluded the women beforehand, because their job is to see to the food and the tea. The police have problems of another kind. They have been tipped off about a raid on an armoured transport. They catch one of the raiders, Dave Dooley, but his brother Ray and Ray's girlfriend Connie get away with the loot. Ray is not the kind of guy who lets his brother rot in prison and they kidnap PC Walker and threaten to kill him if Dave is not released.