V. I. Warshawski (abridged)

Chicago private eye V. I. Warshawski knows from the start that Consuelo Alvarado's baby is trouble. Consuelo is 16. Diabetic. And the daughter of a friend. When she goes into labor too early, even V. I.'s wild drive to get her to the hospital can't save either Consuelo or her child. Soon V. I. is investigating possible malpractice at the emergency room - and falling for a doctor who works there.

Multimedia conglomerate Global Entertainment has purchased the Chicago Herald-Star, forcing the paper's staff to scramble for new jobs. Reporter Murray Ryerson, V.I. Warshawski's longtime friend, lands a plum job as host of a Global network television show. On her way home from a party in honor of Murray's success, V.I. stops to help a woman lying in the street. Her Good Samaritan act sends her straight into a case that exposes dark hidden truths behind the razzle-dazzle of the entertainment industry.