Sean Madigan, reporter, is pitted against the New York City police while he tries to catch the murderer of Marshal Haversham, sweatshop owner. Sean is after his first big story as a reporter and his first byline. This is the story that can make his career and keep him from starving. While he hunts for the killer and a banner story, the murderer goes on a spree burning down sweatshops and killing young women who work within the sweatshops. Also, several young woman are found dead and dressed in fancy ball gowns that had been made in secret within the sweatshops.
When Madigan's sweetheart, Bridget, a sweatshop girl, becomes a target of the madman, Madigan determines he will break the story, catch the murderer before the police do, and figure out the connection to the ball gowns. But, the murderer has other ideas. Can Madigan find the murder before he finds Madigan or Bridget?