Transplanted Canadian Doug Loggins is the new principal at Palm Oasis High School-in a small desert community located in California's Colorado Desert. A local tribe, the Napoc Band of Whitewater Indians, flaunting state law, open a gaming "Casino." Doug must deal with ancient squabbles, local politics, and disputes about the meaning of sovereignty in addition to his own administrative duties.
But these ordeals are nothing compared to the situation he faces when one of his students, Simone Garcia, turns up dead. Loggins and authorities suspect a drug related death, but in pursuing justice they butt heads with the leader of the Napoc nation, Reginald "Cisco" Tramhurst, a powerful figure who was instrumental in getting the "Casino" built on Indian land.
When Loggins joins forces with the beautiful Anna Carpenter, a recently divorced Palm Oasis prosecuting attorney, he's surprised at their instant attraction. But the closer they come to the chilling truth surrounding Simone's death, the more their newly burgeoning relationship is threatened. In chasing the links to Simone's death, Doug encounters a life threatening attack, an entrepreneur of questionable character, a frequently contumacious peace officer, a double named attorney and the true survivor, Brutus. In a desperate chase, Doug takes to the air to find a killer and save a life.