Private Investigator Curt D'Accio is seeking justice. He was hired by wolf-shifter Russell Chandler to track his wayward, sea-going half-sister down and convince her to return home. After weeks of chasing Tabitha's boat wake, he found her. And a boatload of animosity toward her family. Undaunted, Curt perseveres, and Tabitha eventually agrees to return with him. Curt barely survives an ambush outside their hotel. Who attacked them? Why? The police are stymied: no motive, no leads, no suspects, and their case quickly goes cold. Curt refuses to give up, determined to find the answers and the one responsible for her murder.

But he is pitted against a cunning adversary who thinks of others only as pawns, disposable chess pieces. Curt's search will illuminate a long-buried secret and the dark heart of a killer that will do anything to keep it hidden. It will also cost him more than he ever expected.