Five-foot-two and pleasingly plump, Desiree Shapiro always takes cases she can sink her teeth into. That's why she's reluctant to investigate the death of little Catherine Corwin. The police, the medical examiner, and the child's doctor all concluded that the sickly nine-year-old died of natural causes... but her wealthy grandmother believes it was murder. To set the grieving woman's mind at ease, Desiree investigates. Everything seems kosher at the elegant uptown Corwin mansion -- until Desiree notices one small thing that convinces her someone wanted Catherine to die.