A missing student from a downtown university is found in a Shelby County drainage ditch and Kate's lover, Shelbyville detective Sam Williamson, is assigned to the case. Kate takes classes at the same school and falls, or is pushed, down the stairs one evening, breaking her ankle, and confining her to a wheelchair. Her fellow student, Vincent drives her to the emergency room.A creepy history teacher keeps hitting on Kate and is angry when she refuses his advances, another girl is kidnapped at IUPUI and Kate is drugged, and locked in the janitor's closet. Vincent saves her again, leading Sam to become suspicious of his proximity to Kate's assaults.Other complications ensue. Her daughter Ellie has marital problems, Kate's lawyer ex-husband, is cheating her out of revenue from the law office they jointly own, and a mysterious old man from the Senior Center Doris attends, seems to have appointed himself as Kate's protector. Her old nemesis, Bitch Barbara, has joined the local dramatic society and seems intent on sabotaging the latest production, directed by her dear friend Sebastian, who seems oblivious to Bitch Barbara's machinations, and worst of all Sam seems able to make time to lunch with an old girlfriend while disregarding Kate.With help from Doris and her friends from the Senior Center, Sebastian's play is saved, her ex-husbands financial shenanigans exposed, and the mystery of the Captive in the Quonset Hut finally solved.