Pop recording star Billy Jo Tate is slain in front of all his guests at a party celebrating his latest hit. A ""good-ol' boy"", Billy Jo is surrounded by users and people he used - his agent, his ""best buddy"", a smarmy astrologer, a jive arranger, Tate's showgirl sister, the woman who discovered him, and a female (and married) admirer. When Tim spots a shady character at Billy Jo's funeral, Burke confronts the man and learns what prompted the singer's murder.
