In November, 1942, near the Volga, Stanlingrad is under siege of Commander Friederich Paulus and his 330,000 men. The Russian high command unleashes an operation to protect the Mishkova River to avoid that about four hundred tanks join Paulus' army. The Soviet artillery soldiers protect their position with their lives in a bloodshed with few survivors.
Shortly after a daring jewelry store robbery, two murders occur in the city. An experienced investigator suspects that there is a connection between these crimes. But there is no proof. At the same time, the gang leader not only does not think of hiding, but calmly communicates with the investigator in the vacation home. He is sure that he has subtly calculated all the moves, and therefore he is invulnerable.
Zhamin, a member of a geological expedition and a former criminal, receives a strange letter, after which he quits his job and hurries through the taiga to a nearby station. In the city it is necessary to leave and his main enemy Legostaev, whom Zhamin has long threatened to kill. Zhamin comes to the station alone. He‘s found to have a bloody knife and a large sum of money with him.
