Penny Nichols and the Black Imp

Penny Nichols is a quick‑witted young woman who spends a breezy Saturday afternoon racing through Belton City with her friend Susan Altman. Both are eager to slip past the velvet rope of the Gage Galleries and catch a private unveiling of a $5,000 statue—an event reserved for a select few. With a set of tickets inherited from Penny’s famous detective father, the duo feels confident they can beat the clock and enjoy a taste of high‑society culture.

Their plans are jolted when a sleek gray sedan barrels through a stop sign, forcing Penny into a sudden brake that sends the car skidding into a fender‑to‑fender clash. The driver, a sharply dressed man with a gardenia in his lapel, immediately blames Penny, unaware that her father’s reputation precedes her. As tempers flare and accusations fly, the girls must decide whether to let the incident ruin their night or use the unexpected encounter to their advantage, all while the coveted statue awaits inside.