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Private Notes
When designer and co-owner Chris Alden is killed in a fire at a company producing swimwear Barnaby investigates on Alden's life insurance policy. He meets his old friend, fire insurance agent Jim Parks, not knowing that in the need of money to help his ill wife Parks collaborates with arsonist Lucas Ives.
At the request of his friend Andy Spencer J.R. flies to Maui, Hawaii, and is immediately caught up in a nightmarish situation: At the meeting-place J. R. is found with a stabbed dope pusher and arrested for the crime. Believing his friend will help clear him, Andy is summoned to the police station, but Andy disavows him. Police Lt. Walt Abbott finds marijuana and money in J. R.'s bag, further incriminating him. Barnaby and Betty arrive in aid of the framed J.R., but due to an old grudge Abbott denies any help. In desperation, JR escapes from jail to try to solve the crime.
After escaping from prison, J.R. enlists the help of Andy's sister, Toni and tries to meet with Andy, but a trap has been set, and Andy is killed. Convinced that J.R. is innocent of her brother's murder, Toni takes J.R. to a small cabin on the property, where J.R. witnesses the harvesting of marijuana and realizes that Toni's older brother Michael is involved in the smuggling of drugs in pineapple boxes.
Shortly after Betty handed over some files to boxing promoter Vince Ferrari he falls to death from his balcony. Betty suspects murder and as a key witness she does not only meet reporter Tom Powers but is threatened by a blonde woman, whom the prime suspect saw at Ferrari's apartment.
Unbalanced widow Amy Cameron, Barnaby's niece, is suspected to have shot Clark Harrison, but cannot remember. After Amy's attempted suicide Barnaby analyzes her blood and finds traces of a hypnotic drug, producing black-outs. He uncovers a scheme involving Amy's house keeper Mary.
At the request of a former girlfriend in Chicago, J.R. tracks down her younger sister, Jennifer, who has run away to LA. While at a party, Jennifer makes a phone call from the bedroom and sees the drugged rock-star Randy March and the red dress belonging to March's dead girlfriend. Believing that Jennifer may have seen the dead woman, March's representatives try to track down the teen.
While trying to seduce and drug young Jeanny for the white-slavery market Les Harmon and Al De Paris accidentally kill her. Barnaby searches for her, but Mr. Adamson, owner of a lodge, seems to conceal information. Betty, working undercover at the lodge, finds out about a blackmailing.
At the Olympic gymnastic tryouts for young Kim Barnaby recognizes her father Richard Gibson, a man presumed dead after robbing the coin exchange ten years ago. While Barnaby is trying to find a ghost, accomplice Jordan orders Gibson alias Simmons to get rid of the private detective.
Betty's friend Leslie Jessup is raped near Webster House and identifies the first comer suspect, Eddie Tucker, as the culprit. As Betty believes Tucker is innocent she investigates, searching for more victims and witnesses. But the true rapist places more clues to incriminate Eddie.
When a counselor at the Fresh Start drug rehab is killed under suspicious circumstances, J.R. goes undercover as his replacement to investigate. He uncovers evidence that another counselor and a student may have been involved, but his life is in placed in jeopardy when his vehicle is searched and the killers learn that he is a private detective.
To warn their father Tom Avila masked Tony Sierra assaults Tina and Jimmy, resulting in Jimmy's death. Tom is an early retired cop, whose enforcement group hampers the extortion of the ""dominios"" street gang. His friend Barnaby prevents him from taking revenge.
Betty investigates as she cannot believe that her friend, theater agent Larry Collins, died from a heart attack while jogging. She finds out that Larry had an affair with his assistant Anita, but suddenly married actress Jessica. When colleague Krueger finds out about Anita's embezzlement, she kills him, and Jessica is the suspect.
J.R.'s law school friend Wes Carter supplements his government grant by driving taxi. When one of Wes' passengers is stabbed and leaves a coat with $100 000 in the taxi, suspect Wes flees, fearing racial discrimination. J.R finds out about illegal campaign contributions to a senator.
During his investigations to find millionaire Kirkland's girl friend Ursula P.I. Gannus is shot, because he ""knows too much"". He asks his old friend Barnaby for help. Ursula steals items from Kirkland's art collection and her accomplice Nick smuggles them. Gannus wants to get a piece of the action by extortion.
Fashion photographer Gwen Haywood is assaulted by a man who steals all the negatives of her photos taken at Rosewood Airfield and blinds her with acetic acid. Barnaby tries to restore a photo from a damaged frame that shows an airplane that crashed. He and J.R. uncover an insurance fraud.
Connie Hollister is a musician working as a waitress. Her ""manager"" and friend Billy goes to Singleton and Devine Promotions to get her songs published. When they try to cheat him, he is killed. Connie asks Barnaby to find Billy, while Devine needs Connie's signature.
On a cruise to Costa Grande Betty Jones fell for Steven McCarthy. When returning, she is told he was murdered, but the dead one is someone else. Betty finds out that ""Steven's"" real name is Frank Winslow, who sympathizes with people trying to overthrow the dictator of Costa Grande.
The appearance of comedian Lindy Powell, friend of J.R.'s, at the Caravan Club results in a big disappointment and a quarrel between him and club owner Chapman. When Chapman is murdered, Lindy is the prime suspect. Loan shark La Palma also had a motive for killing.
Being on hustler heading unwittingly young Susan Cooper tries to hitch-hike, is mistaken for a prostitute and accidentally killed by judge David Kingsley. Susan's father asks Barnaby to clear her name. During his investigations Barnaby meets ""Chronicle"" reporter Walt Di Angelo, a friend of Kingsley's.
Judy Corbett works at Radburn School to help her autistic child Jimmy. This dedication ruined her marriage with Roy. Shortly before she can meet her friend Betty she is murdered. The only witness is Darlene, another autistic child. Betty tries to get access to Darlene's world to find out about the murderer.
When writer Al Geiger at Luxor Publishing Company reports incriminating evidence against Luxor's niece Jackie, Steve Webber suggests him to hire Barnaby. After meeting Barnaby Geiger is found dead. J.R. investigates and finds out that Ralph Luxor's business advisor Wells Thompson posed as ""Barnaby"".
Betty's cousin once removed, Donald Forest, asks her to investigate the death of his father, but before they can meet he is killed. William Tarkington IV and V, private detectives, think Betty is the prime suspect, who wants the inheritance of her great aunt Emily. When Betty is also threatened they change their mind.
