When an elderly shop owner can no longer pay for the services of the Patrol Specials private police force, he tries to get help from his friend in the police department of San Francisco only to wind up murdered. Dismas Hardy is putting together a lawsuit against the Patrol Specials when his friend is accused of the murder. The policeman and the lawyer must try to protect each other and their nearest and dearest.

"In "master of the legal thriller" (Chicago Sun-Times) John Lescroart's electrifying new novel, attorney Dismas Hardy is called to defend the least likely suspect of his career: his longtime, trusted assistant who is suddenly being charged as an accessory to murder. Dismas Hardy knows something is amiss with his trusted secretary, Phyllis. Her out-of-character behavior and sudden disappearances concern Hardy, especially when he learns that her convict...

Attorney Dismas Hardy makes a discovery that threatens his family and his friendship with homicide lieutenant Abe Glitsky while representing Dr. Eric Kensing, a man accused of murdering the head of San Francisco's largest HMO.