What can a girl do, whos only nine years old, when she discovers her father has a girlfriend and may be leaving home? Daphne Beckman had to face that question, and all by herself. Her mother, nervous and unpredictable, was preoccupied totally with a research paper for graduate school. And her father, though gentle and affectionate, was so busy with law work and having his play produced that he could never find time to calm her fears. There was Vick, her brother, of course, but he was so easy. Daphne knew hed just have to go along. Because she did know the one thing that would keep her Daddy home: kill his girlfriend!