Such is the wisdom of Saxon, the Los Angeles actor/private investigator. The phone call that sets Seeing the Elephant in motion comes instead on a Friday evening at seven, but offers bad news nonetheless. Saxon's old friend and drinking buddy, Gavin Cassidy, has been found dead, ostensibly of a lethal combination of drugs and alcohol in a rundown Chicago hotel.

Although Saxon hadn't seen Cassidy in ten years, he feels compelled -- by both obligation and curiosity -- to take the red-eye to Chicago for Gavin's funeral. He arrives to find his old crowd -- and the old town -- much changed, and encounters rumors that Gavin's death might not have been accidental. Had Gavin Cassidy, a career cop, finally 'seen the elephant,' police parlance for becoming involved in a life-threatening situation, and been unable to extricate himself before it was too late?

Saxon's unofficial investigation into his friend's death is hindered by the still-strong Chicago political machine bosses -- and by the presence of his long-estranged, ex-con father, Jimmy Saxon.