In the sweltering summer heat of New York City, the naked body of a young model, Jean Dexter, is discovered in her apartment. The brutal scene suggests a violent struggle, leading to speculation over an attempted robbery or a personal attack. Detective Lieutenant Dan Muldoon and his young, street-smart assistant, Jimmy Halloran, are assigned the difficult task of piecing together the victim's last hours in the hope of identifying the killer. Starting with a sparse few clues, they navigate the complex maze of the city's dense population, where the bustling activity conceals dark secrets and myriad motives.

As the investigation unfolds, a portrait of the victim emerges, revealing a life touched by ambition, romance, and an interwoven web of relationships that extend from the high-rolling elite to the shadowy underworld. The detectives doggedly interview friends, acquaintances, and connections from the victim's past, each step providing tiny fragments to be assembled into a clearer picture. Amid the cacophony of metropolitan life, every lead and every witness provides potential breakthroughs or frustrating dead ends. The more they delve into the case, the more it becomes clear that the city, with its vibrant neighborhoods and hidden corners, is a vast puzzle that challenges their pursuit of justice amid its myriad stories and secrets.