PeoplearevanishingfromthetownofSteadworth,Texaswithoutatrace.ThetownsfolkarestunnedtolearnthesheriffsDept.havenoleads.Howdoessomeonesimplyvanishwithoutevidence?
Thatisuntilsix-year-oldBrookeBennettistakenfromDillardHillPlaygroundfromrightunderhermother'snose-and,justliketheothers,vanishedwithoutatrace.Almost.WhoevertookBrookeleftonlyoneclue:twodragmarksintheplayground'swoodchipsleadingawayfromtheslide.
OfficerJimBrown,arecentlypostedveteranfromHouston,istheonlyonewhosuspectsthere'smoretothisthanjustasimpleabduction.Infact,theevidencehefindsleadshimtodiscovertheterrifyingtruth...