United States Senator Jason Ritchie is the contender for his party's presidential nomination, running on his spotless moral reputation until he is found shot to death in his Waldorf hotel suite with a woman who is not his wife. Amateur snoop Liz Rooney's hobby of trying to solve sensational homicides is challenged.

Her curiosity gets her involved with suspects, including the jealous boyfriend of the murdered woman, the senator's wife and a Puerto Rican Nationalist known to dislike Senator Ritchie.

She and her former adversary, Detective Eichle, stumble onto one clue after another, finding an antique revolver and a gift-wrapped black lace nightgown at the crime scene. Soon enough, the lies and deception unravel and things start to make sense, but not before Liz's life is put in danger and she and Eichle realize there is more to their relationship than simple friendship.