KATIE, 18, the celebrated kidnap victim of three years earlier in her small coastal hamlet, becomes involved in a major murder mystery when the body of a wealthy co-owner of a suburban daily newspaper is recovered at sea by fishermen, the victim of a shooting. Lead investigator Bob Wood and his partner have a prime suspect in the murder case, the business partner of the victim, but the evidence is insubstantial. When the acting DA forces the matter to trial he is facing Rusty Garcia, the crafty young defense attorney hired by the accused. Jake Thomas and Katie Rose join the trial team as observers as Jake researches a book on the celebrated case. When the trial remains unresolved, the now young adult Katie, about to enter the university, second guesses the legal heavyweights and comes up with a theory to solve the case and enlists Jake in her efforts. (The second book in a seven-part series.)