Egocentric poet Jacob Garretty would do anything to keep his poetry journal, The Village Quarterly, afloat. When foundation president Don McCallum shows up and announces he is cutting funding to the journal, Jacob appeals to assistant and lover Lauren to use her sexuality to change Don's mind. Though reluctant, she agrees. While Jacob enjoys the advances of arts patron Sandra Dunbar at a poetry reading, Lauren carries out Jacob's wish, and winds up dead on the street. Detectives Nichols and Wheeler discover the deadly passion that exists behind the arts.

Henry Muller packs the apartment of his recently deceased mother on the Lower East Side. A lonely man, he watches Grace Purefoy through the window, a young girl from the neighborhood on her way uptown to sell drugs for dealer, Justin. Later that night, Grace tells Justin she's done selling drugs. Justin objects and Grace runs for it. As if on cue, Henry opens his door and Grace slips inside. A familiar face from younger days, Grace trusts Henry. She takes a hot shower and by way of thanks, kisses Henry. The simple kiss unleashes years of repressed desire in Henry, and when Grace names Henry for what he is - a pervert - he kills her in a rage of silent fury. Detectives Nichols and Eames must track down a killer who is surprisingly adept, and too close for comfort.