Art galleries are receiving demands from an extortionist calling himself 'Dada' who has proved his ability to make important paintings melt. 'Dada' is in fact Jed Frewin, an old enemy of Cornelius and a master of disguise. The insurers' agent, Carol Bolitho, consults Cornelius, and Frewin insists JC should personally deliver the one million pounds in ransom money he has demanded. Then Frewin kills Meriel Connors, his accomplice in the art world, and suddenly he is living on borrowed time.