Melsa and her debutante friends hunt for a murderer while eating bonbons, flirting with Ames, and otherwise behaving like irresponsible socialites.

The resulting manhunt includes searches of the Lane house, Belden's apartment, Lane's business office, and all of the local beauty shops; two attempts to intimidate Melsa; two shooting attempts on her life: at a charity ball, and a trap set for the murderer using Melsa as bait.

Meanwhile, Melsa is approached by Frances Glesk who is now the girlfriend of Sheila's ex-husband Edward Norris, a former convict, who has just finished a 10-year stretch at Joliet Correctional Center.

While Mike repeatedly accuses innocent people based on incorrect theories, Melsa deduces that Ronnie removed the body and cloak from the Lane house before the police arrived.

An escaping would-be killer leaves behind a piece of tar paper, which reminds Melsa of the subway construction site.