Returning to her office after hours, television production assistant, Samantha O’Hara, stumbles upon a dead body. Her boss, the producer of the true crime show, Ice Cold Case Files, has been bludgeoned to death with her own Peoples’ Choice Award. Sam, naïve yet ambitious, decides to continue with the project which may mean a promotion.
When Sam finds a threatening note, ‘stop digging into the past, if you know what’s good for you’, hidden among her boss’s things, she turns for help to ex-cop turned private investigator, Alec Rainbeaux. He’s not sure he can fit Sam into his busy caseload, but he realizes (even if she doesn’t) that this Ice Cold Case Files piece may have gotten her boss killed.
Alec and his tech-savvy assistant, Kenny, team up with Sam to delve deeper into the piece, which concerns the mysterious death of Hollywood producer, Sydney Blackthorn, 20 years ago. Rumors hinted that his death was really murder. Gossip centered on three of his closest friends: the eccentric director, Jackson Reeves, the auteur, Tom West, and the Chairman of the Board of World Wide News Corporation (the parent company of Ice Cold Case Files), Gavin Laramore. Digging deeper, they discover that an unidentified mystery woman was also part of the inner circle, but has since disappeared. Everyone involved, including Alec’s ex-partner on the LAPD, Lieutenant McNulty, wants the story left alone.
While Kenny & Sam continue the investigation, Alec takes on a blackmail case. Like a modern-day Phillip Marlowe, Alec falls for the stunning blonde being blackmailed, Mrs. Frances Silverman, who has more money than scruples. Alec’s split focus threatens to derail the Blackthorn investigation. When Kenny points out to Alec that getting involved with a client is bad for business they almost come to blows.
As Sam and Kenny spend time together, they, too, begin to have feelings for each other. Unexpectedly, Gavin Laramore offers Sam a promotion, but she must leave town in a few days. This is Sam’s dream come true, but Kenny accuses her of caring more about her career than about him or about her boss’s death. He storms out, leaving Sam in tears.
Sam asks Laramore about his job offer and his part in the Blackthorn death. He admits he was just trying to get Sam out of town and out of danger. It was the mystery woman, now Mrs. Frances Silverman, who was responsible 20 years ago.
Kenny and Alec also discover the identity of the mystery woman through a facial recognition program. Alec recognizes her as Frances Silverman and heads out to confront her. Sam and Kenny reconnect and race across town to help Alec. Mrs. Silverman is sad, but not surprised when Alec confronts her. She pulls a gun, prepared to use violence. Luckily, Sam and Kenny show up followed by Lieutenant McNulty. Mrs. Silverman is led away in handcuffs.
