"[3] The story alternates between the all-American Pennington family on their remote California ranch and a young Hollywood actress.

Custer has had an "understanding" with neighbor and childhood friend Grace Evans for a long time, but she finally confides that she wants to try being an actress before she agrees to settle down on the ranch.

Bit-part actress Shannon Burke, known on the screen as Gaza de Lure, remembers her Hollywood history.

To keep her drug supply steady she angrily agreed to visit him during the day, but refused to live with him, going home each night to her own place.

Lured by the money, Guy decides to cooperate, arranging to store and transfer illegal goods each week in a remote section of the ranch.

Sent to Wilson Crumb, he diffidently offers her a semi-nude part requiring a nude audition, and in a weak moment, she accepts.

The other side of Slick Allen's smuggling operation is drugs … sold through Wilson Crumb in Hollywood.

By insisting on a share of the profits, Shannon has saved enough to buy a home for her mother in the country, near a big ranch – coincidentally, the Pennington's.

With decent people, fresh air and exercise, she weans herself from the drug and then entirely kicks her secret habit.

Shannon recognises Slick Allen's voice from his meeting with Wilson Crumb, and fears for Custer's safety.

Eva arranges for a movie company to shoot some scenes at the ranch, at the request of … Wilson Crumb.

Guy becomes so upset and disoriented when he learns about Eva's suicide attempt that he is taken to a sanatorium (mental hospital) Custer and Shannon are both arrested.

Additionally, Slick Allen explained that he planted some of the circumstantial evidence against Custer, but decided to admit it after he realised that Shannon is his long-lost daughter.

Unlike his more popular books, this story boasts no gleaming hero and heroine, since both have been entangled by substance abuse.