The fourth book in the Detective Jake series. The newly formed Special Crimes Task Force is handed a case no one else seems to be interested in because most of the other police and detectives figure it's nothing but harmless college pranks. What the team finds is a group of hippies being persecuted for their beliefs in a pacifist lifestyle. The harassment and violence is building and Lieutenant Jake Stalb wants his team to solve the crimes before someone gets killed. The case is wrapped up and Jake hurries off to the hospital where his wife, Clarissa, is in labor. However, instead of being able to enjoy a few days at home with his newborn baby, Jake and his team must solve yet another case. This time, a member of his team has been injured and is missing. All evidence points to Detective Sanchez being held in exchange for a gang member responsible for the death of a rival gang leader's girlfriend. The suspect turns out to be someone they never would have expected and his motive a complete shock to everyone involved.