A case of mistaken identity or delicious deception? BARBARA LACEY, a sultry blonde, saunters into the Night and Day, a St. Louis bar owned by ALFIE GREENBLATT. For hours, she waits to deliver a mysterious envelope to a man that never appears. Reluctantly, she entrusts it to ALFIE and steps into the back alley. Minutes later, Alfie hears the crisp pop of a bullet. He calls SERGEANT REGGIE COMBS to investigate BARBARA’s death. Accident or murder?

HELEN TATTAGLIA approaches her neighbors, ELVIN SUGGS and his partners, COBRA GLYNES and DIMOND “DI” REDDING, of the Grapevine Detective Agency. She suspects that her in-laws have arranged her murder at the request of their son, Marvin, and she hires them to trail her “abusive” husband. The detectives are skeptical, but they desperately need the money. They accept the case, and soon discover that Barbara Lacey’s past is rife with a host of shady ladies.

Beneath her prickly façade, DI longs for romance. She is smitten with DR. JULES DERRY, her college sweetheart. Elvin and Cobra protest. They believe he is unscrupulous. A talented plastic surgeon, DERRY lost his medical license after of a Tattaglia family member died during surgery. Derry’s subsequent operation on the original Barbara Lacey also proves fatal. DEJUAN, Barbara’s manager-husband, is livid, but he is determined to stay in business. If Barbara look-alikes assume her identity, his profits—legal or not—will thrive.

DeJuan underestimated the sultry blonde. He never thought Barbara would steal photos of the girls with Derry and DeJuan. DeJuan is determined to get it back. These “Plastic Barbaras” showcase Derry’s superior cosmetic surgery skills, and will help to regain his license. Derry’s romance with Di caused him to miss his meeting with Barbara.

REGGIE turns to the Grapevine Agency. Their “street” contact, PARRY LEACH, an ex-con, purloined the Lacey files from Derry’s secretary and jilted girlfriend, BARI LUX. A Tattaglia family member murders Derry, and Elvin and Cobra discover the stolen identities. Case closed!

THE END