The second burglars were Bernie and his dog grooming partner, Carolyn. They came to rob the Colcannons' West Side brownstone while the couple was out of town. They discover, however, that they've already been beaten to the punch. Fortunately, the first burglars left some valuables behind. The Colcannon home, though, still has a busy night ahead, and the next morning one person is dead. While Bernie negotiates for his ill-gotten gains with a scholarly pawnbroker who has a taste for Spinoza, the police suddenly show an interest. And when the next murder strikes uncomfortably close to home, it's time for Bernie to go to work. Because somewhere between a bungled burglary, a nasty case of double homicide, and a rare nickel is a case that makes little sense.