Ernestine Addison and her son Bobby are gunned down in cold blood. A tipster points Lt. Joe Kenda towards a shadowy figure spotted fleeing the scene, but the case heats up when he receives word that the killer's murderous rampage isn't over just yet.

Officers find the lifeless body of furniture salesman behind the wheel. But Faast didn't die in the wreck - he was shot point-blank in the temple. Lt. Joe Kenda must track a killer whose promising career took a dark and deadly turn.