Quinn and his power hungry political advisor undertake the unlikely transformation of dirty and disheveled Lily into the model of gentility and social grace that was Miriam Westin. The transformation goes more smoothly than expected, and Quinn finds himself succumbing to the temptations of this spirited version of Miriam, who is so hauntingly like her, and yet so charmingly not.

Once in the vanished woman's shoes, Lily is privy to some of Miriam's secret former activities, making her increasingly suspicious -- and then fearful -- about the real cause of the mysterious woman's disappearance.