A young widow discovers her husband's accidental death is the latest in a decade-long series of murders-for-profit.

Kay Daniels's troubled marriage ends when her wealthy husband dies in a car crash. After the funeral, a stranger, calling himself her benefactor, reveals the truth about the accident. An urbane foreigner of indeterminate origin, he explains how he targets an affluent couple in conflict, disposes of the wealthier partner, and then demands half of the estate from the newly rich spouse. Unlike the typical beneficiary, Kay refuses to acquiesce to his demands, leading to a battle of wills that escalates into a life-or-death ordeal to protect herself and her daughter.