A serial kill is working in the Denver, Colorado area. Tiffanie Westerland, a determined young woman who refuses to accept her father's money, has entered a beauty pageant to win a college scholarship. She has encouraged her young friend Elise to do the same.A week before the pageant, Elise disappears. Tiffanie attempts to help Elise's parents find her, but the search is fruitless. The police locate Elise's body in a dumpster--another victim of the serial killer. Tiffanie blames herself.Tiffanie wins the contest, and another contestant introduces her to handsome Danny Bishop. Tiffanie is attracted to muscular Danny but keeps her mind on her goals.Shortly after the contest, Tiffanie is nearly killed in an auto accident. While in the hospital, a late night visitor threatens Tiffanie. A series of events has led her to believe that her boyfriend Carl may be responsible in an effort to scare her into making their relationshop more serious, and eventually into marrying him.Her quest for the truth leads her on a deadly chess game with an adversary who only wants it to end with a Check and Mate.