Fresh from solving her late husband's murder, Gina Beaufort Kelly is dealing with her first case as a licensed PI: stalking Steven Morton, the husband of Gina's divorce attorney, Diana Morton.

University professor Steven is spending significant time with a beautiful, blond Russian young enough to be his daughter, which sets all of Gina's antennae quivering. But what's supposed to be a simple case of philandering soon turns sinister when the nosy neighbor of the young Russian girl is murdered, and Steven and the girl have vanished off the face of the earth.

Add in a ransom note for Steven's return, a bloody attack on Gina's associate Zachary, and the newest addition to the firm - a Boston Terrier that used to belong to the murder victim, but that has now attached itself to Gina - and the newly licensed PI has her hands full.