Detective Della Wilder (Pam Grier) and her partner are in the middle of investigating the murder of a woman who crumbled the high-profile career of her lover Dr. Sam Chaney (Rutger Hauer). In what first seems to be an open and shut case, Della happens upon an evil conspiracy perpetuated by a pharmaceutical company. In a desperate move for help, she looks towards Dr. Chaney. Together they form a special bond and begin to realize that they need each other just to survive.