The heir to a wealthy family in Corpus Christi, Texas, Patricia (Tricia) Tracy anticipates receiving a substantial inheritance in four months. She may not live that long. In her newspaper column, "Tracy's Tidbits," she accuses Lupe Garcia of murdering his wife. He stalks her and attacks her, her life saved by Bill, a mysterious sailor she just met at a socialite party. Tricia falls madly in love with Bill and breaks up with her boyfriend, Mel Sweeney, the police detective. Soon Tricia and Mel are independently investigating a surge in cocaine use, the mysterious death of one of Tricia's friends, and a bribery scandal that has cost millions of dollars in damages. "Tracy's Tidbits," a social editorial, frequently gets Tricia in trouble with her choice of such controversial topics as cocaine abuse, environmental destruction, and civil disobedience. The main threat to Tricia's Inheritance comes from an unexpected source, and only Tricia's determination can save her life.