Six-year-old Clifford Greenwood vanishes from the family hotel Wildenvey and an employee is found dead. Detective William Wisting believes the boy was kidnapped. The Greenwood family is shocked, but Wisting discovers they have secrets.

Wisting is under pressure, still without leads. Clifford's parents await contact from the kidnapper but receive a mysterious message that leads them to a gruesome discovery. It's clear the kidnapper wants to tell them something, but what?