 Dr. Frank Robb (Dan Biggers), the county coroner, reports several suspicious deaths by morphine overdose at Newton General Hospital to Chief Bill Gillespie (Carroll O Connor). In addition, a considerable quantity of narcotics is missing from the hospital pharmacy. Cora Lucas (Suzanne Stewart), Aunt Ruda Gibson s (Fran Bennett) roommate in the hospital is the latest victim. Suspicion falls on Dr. Lambert (Earl Holliman), who has access to hospital narcotics and has attended each of the dead patients, as well as Ruda Gibson. Virgil Tibbs (Howard Rollins) is convinced his Aunt Ruda knows more than she is willing to admit about the situation.