Jason Stone is a retired government agent who worked for the Secret Service and DEA for many years, much of his time undercover. As a "hobby" in retirement he infiltrates and breaks up dogfighting rings. Stone adores dogs and abhors dogfighting. He is in his early sixties, a master of martial arts, highly educated (Princeton PhD in literature). He loves music and cooking and takes great solace from the land. He is haunted by memories of his childhood, of Viet Nam, and of experience as an undercover agent. Stone strikes a deal with the Highway Patrol in a Midwestern state to penetrate and dismantle dogfighting operations. In the process he discovers a larger conspiracy that involves drug trafficking and sets out to take it all down.

The action builds to a climax in which Stone is forced to confront a bloody and gruesome death.