All Cassy Taylor needed was a man with a Social Security card. When Feeney Williams applied for the cook's job at her restaurant, she thought her problems were solved. Then Feeney winds up dead. As if that weren't enough, Cassy's husband Owen is arrested by a Federal marshal and jailed for the murder. Desperate, she calls her old high school flame Pitt Lewis whose talent as an investigative writer might help Owen. But if Pitt accepts will this task also give them an opportunity to reignite the passion they once experienced? More importantly, could Pitt betray Owen, his long time friend? Beleaguered by his magazine editor's proposed drug-related assignment, Pitt decides to temporarily ignore those demands and tries to help his friends. When Pitt arrives in Ashton he finds this long-time friend refuses all help and will not talk with Cassy or his own attorney. Why? Did he indeed murder Feeney Williams, or is he hiding some other criminal activity? All questions must wait while Pitt turns toward the victim's life to find answers, but he faces a blank slate and begins his search armed with only a photo and Cassy's vague recollection of the last place where Feeney worked. Following a faint trail from Iowa through Illinois, to Princeton, New Jersey, and finally to Louisville, Kentucky, Pitt gathers information from those who knew the mysterious Feeney Williams. A last stop in Owensboro, Kentucky leads to the discovery of a trial transcript where Feeney was a prime witness during the prosecution of major drug lords. Here the Federal Witness Protection program pops up, but Pitt is forced to return to Ashton with the final puzzle piece still missing. There the search erupts with a surprise for all. Join Pitt's race along Williams' murky pathway to Ashton as he hopes to solve the mystery of his death and save Owen.