There were three legacies in Sally Beck's brief life. The first was her grandmother's bequest, which allowed Sally to attend an elite girls' school. That was followed by the second, a life-changing event she experienced while a student there. The final legacy was due to Sally's chance encounter, years later, with someone from her past which set in motion a chain of violence no one could have foreseen.

When a young woman killed in London traffic is found to be carrying no identification, Detective Inspector Colin McDermott is assigned to figure out who she is and to track down her family so they can be notified. Soon he discovers she had not one but two identities, which concealed a very private life. When the trail leads back to McDermott's alma mater, the detective is faced with the possibility that the young woman was murdered-and whether an old friend and mentor is involved.