For centuries, fishermen have been working the waters off these barrier islands. The ocean has supplied its bounty, but it also has held many secrets including lost ships and dreams of treasure. For those with evil intent, it has also served as the perfect cover, a dumping ground for evidence and victims alike.When the crew of the Missy Sue pulls in their daily catch, they find the body of a young man entangled in their net, garnering the attention of Ailene Burke McCoy, the captain's wife, whose idle curiosity has often led her to trouble. Now, her lively interest in the murder and her past history of solving crimes draws the attention of the killer. When she receives the delivery of a severed hand followed by a body dropped in the sound near her home, it's clear that the killer is now fixated on Ailene. With an attempt on her life and the body count rising, Ailene finds herself caught in a life and death game, a game that could lose her those that she loves.