Believing he has killed his captain in a brawl the Russian sailor Vladimir Ivanov makes himself scarce and asks PC Rowan for political asylum. But Ivanov does not trust immigration officer Fillingham and clears out once again during transport to the immigration office in York. To satisfy his hunger he steals the lunch of Dr. Radcliffe's daughter Jennifer, who is on a field trip with her class. Jennifer wanders off with her friend Dennis and follows the Russian with a childish notion of catching him and become heroes of the day. Sergeant Blaketon starts a big search for both the Russian and the two children.

Adam Lee surprises a burglar and is knocked unconscious in the subsequent struggle. When he comes to he identifies his attacker as his brother Joe. Apart from money Joe also stole Adam's car. Joe lives in Whitby and on his way to interview him PC Walker finds the car smeared with blood in a ditch and no sign of Joe. Alice and John Boaden's baby daughter has been born with a heart problem. The little girl may die if she does not get an operation, but operations like that are not performed in Great Britain so they try to raise money for a trip to America. Rumour has it that Wharton Place is haunted and Aunt Peggy does not hesitate to try and make money on that story even if she has to create a ghost or two.