Melanie Travis loves her teaching job at Howard Academy, where plans are underway for a Spring Pageant to honor the school's 50th anniversary. Immersed in the preparations, Melanie is hurrying to retrieve a painting of one of the illustrious co-founders when she comes upon a disturbing scene: Eugene Krebbs, the Academy's elderly caretaker, is arguing with a girl whose name Melanie learns is Jane. It's clear that Jane isn't a student at Howard, and Melanie wonders what she's doing at the school. Two days later, Krebbs is discovered on school grounds-stabbed to death. As Melanie recalls the loud argument, she realizes that she's right in the middle of a full-fledged homicide investigation. And the closer to the truth she gets, the closer she comes to being the next victim.