Confectionery magnate John Briggs, head of an ailing empire and at odds with union leader Kenny Barber, is found dead of an apparent heart attack in a hotel bedroom. He was about to sell his company to millionaire Emmett Schwartzman. His sole heir is long estranged daughter Geraldine, to the chagrin of his brother Phillip, whom Geraldine appoints as company director. Young police pathologist Jack Hodgson claims Briggs was murdered, believing he had been with a prostitute, and is sufficiently persuasive that Leo recruits him to replace Harry, now working in New York. Briggs' right hand man Trenter pays off escort Deanna Collier, who is actually Geraldine's daughter and had just tracked Briggs down. Geraldine gives Deanna a charm bracelet but soon afterwards the girl is murdered.

A medida que Nikki descubre que Deanna no era hija de Geraldine, sino una oportunista dispuesta a estafar a Briggs, Schwartzman decide no comprar la empresa de confitería. Entrevistada por el DS Gold en presencia de Nikki, Geraldine explica que fue violada por Phillip Briggs cuando era adolescente y que su bebé fue entregado en adopción. Annette, la asesora legal de John Briggs, quien encontró a Deanna, expresa su malestar a Tranter por el engaño y luego aparece asesinada. Geraldine es arrestada, pero los patólogos, con la ayuda de Clarissa, la mentora discapacitada de Jack, descubren la verdad, aunque el asesino nunca llega a juicio. Sin embargo, Geraldine se reúne con su verdadera hija.