The Green Arrow interrogates Count Vertigo, in his own inimitable style. Count Vertigo gives up some minor information, regarding a fuel alternative. The Green Arrow renders Count Vertigo unconscious. The Green Arrow turns Count Vertigo over to the authorities. The Green Arrow goes over the case in his mind. Abigail Horton, of Horton Pharmaceuticals, had died. In her will, the lion's share of her fortune, as well as controlling interest in her company, had been left to the Green Arrow, in his civilian guise, Oliver Queen.

Horton's family, particularly her son, Theodore, Junior, and daughter, Cynthia, were outraged. Horton's lawyer's junior partner, Deidre Wagner, had intimated that Horton's death was purposeful. Queen's apartment was targeted by an arsonist, who, himself was burned to death, by remote signal, when questioned. Theodore, Junior was revealed to be Horton's killer. After failing to assassinate Queen, Theodore, Junior was murdered by Count Vertigo, to keep him from talking. Theodore, Junior drew a hexagon in the sand, reminiscent of Horton's hexagonal wedding band. It's the Green Arrow's only clue.

Mister Jones, an operative of the Central Intelligence Agency, calls on Queen. Jones quickly discerns that Queen has no useful information, nor does Jones provide any to Queen. Switching tactics, Queen tries to run a ruse on the board of directors, to garner information, but Queen's gambit fails. Frustrated with the investigation, Queen opts for a different tact. Queen feigns disinterest in running Horton Pharmaceuticals, then begin publicly spending his inherited fortune in a most debauched manner. Wagner calls Queen out on his behavior.

Not knowing if he can trust Wagner, Queen keeps up the debauched playboy façade. Horton's lawyer, one Mister Thorndyke, reports that Queen is no longer a threat, but they are no closer to discovering Horton's fuel alternative. By chance, Queen's secretary, one Mrs. Sangster, provides Queen with the breakthrough he's needed. Queen, using the password "Benzene Ring", is able to get into Horton's encrypted files, and discover the formula for the fuel alternative. Queen discovers that the man who originally synthesized the fuel alternative, Doctor Woodley, was also murdered.

Unbeknownst to Queen, Horton's computer has been tapped, and the architects behind her murder, also have the information. Queen is targeted for assassination. A sniper draws a bead on Queen, just before being gunned down by Jones. Jones protects Queen from a group of shadowy gunman. Queen runs for his life. A barrage of bullets send debris flying into Jones, rendering him unconscious. Queen, as the Green Arrow, takes out the gunman. The Green Arrow teams up with Jones to bring Horton's murderers to justice.

Notes:

• Rope Arrow used which worked like the Batrope.