A noir mystery where private detective Jack Mercer is hired by the enigmatic Vivian Kane to find her missing sister, Evelyn, a lounge singer at The Velvet Mirage nightclub. As Mercer investigates, he uncovers a complex web of crime involving diamond smuggling, political corruption, and murder. The case leads him to discover that Senator Bradford, club owner Tony Russo, and Vivian's estranged husband Victor Kane are running an illegal operation using the nightclub as a front. Evelyn had discovered their ledger of illegal activities and was killed to keep her quiet. After a violent confrontation where Mercer kills Victor Kane, he exposes the corruption, leading to arrests and resignations. The story ends with Vivian Kane disappearing with her dead husband's money, while Mercer is left contemplating the dark nature of the city he serves.