Bloodied gunfire victim Eric Brant lands in a passing car, hands the driver a codebook, and gives her a message for Houston: Fear for Tomorrow. Brant dies when the car blows up. His assailants then go after Houston's buddy Vince Novelli.

At a mystery writers' convention where Houston is the keynote speaker, publisher Wayne Slocum shoots hated mystery writer Emily Armor three times with a .45 magnum, then brazenly entreats his friend Houston to help solve her murder.