Frank Vogel has developed a unique line of hair-care products and needs money to grow.

When he runs an ad in The New York Times asking for investors, Thomas Harwood replies and agrees to invest three million dollars to get the products into the market. Harwood claims that his money is coming from a settlement with the federal government that involves a bank in Colorado and the government bailout of the Savings and Loan industry in the 1980s. He tells Vogel that he's signed a confidentiality agreement and can't say any more about it.

Nine months later, he's still saying the same thing, while Vogel teeters on the verge of bankruptcy. After contacting other companies in which Harwood has promised to invest, Vogel learns an interesting fact: they're all desperate for capital and Harwood's been giving them all the same runaround.

Finally, Harwood informs Vogel that there's been a breakthrough. The government has agreed to pay him and everyone will get their money. But before the payout date comes, Harwood is found dead on the side of the road. Is it a hit-and-run accident, or is it cold-blooded murder?