In Indianapolis, a sniper is taking down drug pushers. The case is assigned to Detective Lieutenant Webb Masterson and IPD's Special Case Unit, but building the case is slowed by the lack of witnesses and by contacts who won't talk. The situation is further complicated by the addition of a hit-and-run case in which the survivor, Senior FBI Agent Frank Ryder, was either the victim of an accident or a hit by "person or persons unknown." As Masterson and his team work the cases, the sniper-or a copycat-commits a multiple-death shooting near the city center, which threatens to ignite a public relations/tourism crisis. Masterson's superior officer, Deputy Chief Cecil Collins, creates a task force to focus on the sniper case, with the SCU team as the lead. But Masterson refuses to let the Ryder case get cold. He and Sergeant Leo McGrew, his second in command, continue to devote time to the case while attempting to conceal their "unauthorized activity." When Masterson uncovers a connection between the two cases, and also suspects possible involvement of law-enforcement personnel, he presents his findings and his suspicions to Deputy Chief Collins.The deputy chief's response sets the stage for the conclusion of the book.