 An pregnant African-American teen-age girl, Shawna Hughes, is caught shoplifting a jacket for her younger brother. Virgil Tibbs interrogates her, and Bill Gillespie releases her. She goes to the freight company to confront Dan Mackey, father of her child, who is unconcerned. That night she has premature contractions, sneaks out of the house, and has her baby in the woods. Unknown to Shawna, someone witnesses the birth. The dead infant is discovered at the city dump, and Althea Tibbs guesses who the mother is. Martin Campbell, Shawna s step-father, and her mother, Louise Hughes, are thoroughly supportive. When Virgil questions Shawna, she admits killing the baby, but Virgil thinks she is covering for someone.