John Blandish refuses to have anything to do with her as she is an illegitimate child born to his now deceased daughter and Slim Grisson when she was held captive by the latter 20 years ago.

Nevertheless, Mr Blandish, before his demise, puts his entire fortune in her name and in the care of a trust that wishes to keep the money and ensures that she is confined as an 'insane person', lest she claims her due inheritance one day.

Unfortunately Carol escapes from the Asylum one night, and this sets off many people on her trail - Sheriff Kamp and the psychiatrist who want her back lest she be kidnapped for money, by the trust lest she becomes de-certified as a psychiatric patient after 14 days out-of-asylum by law, a journalist Phil Magrath who wants to make it big for his paper by grabbing the news first, and soon by ruthless murderers who want to claim her money.

They attack and kill Steve and break away before the cops arrive, but not before Carol manages to blind Frank Sullivan.

She pretends to look after him, takes him and drops him midway in the city traffic, getting him killed by speeding vehicles.

The 1975 film, La Chair de l'orchidée (The Flesh of the Orchid) is an adaptation of the book.