Frustrated at being passed over for promotion to commander in favour of the younger, less experienced Sam Power, Langton heads the investigation into the murder of temperamental, promiscuous film star Amanda Delaney, who was seemingly about to embark on tell-tale memoirs. Langton and Travis are interested in a crucifix found on a corpse not belonging to the victim.

After interviewing Josh Lyons, publisher of Amanda's scandalous memoir, Travis convinces Langton she did not ruin his promotion chances. The police also pull in Helena Mitchell, wife of another of Amanda's lovers, who visited to ask her to end the affair, but left while she was still alive. She does however report seeing a man at the flat, and then, another corpse is found.

After the body of Felicity Turner, another of Amanda's old flatmates, is dragged from the river, the remaining college contemporary, Jeanie Bale, is brought in. She admits to having Amanda's diary, which she was planning to sell for £5,000.