Hunting monsters is his business. A New Mexican ranchero hires Mordecai Slate to track down the vampire who ravished his daughter. Don Pedro Sanchez wants Kord Manion brought back alive, so he can drive in the stake himself. Slate finds his prey in Las Cruces, and comes up with an unusual way to transport him back north. Kord's brother, Dax, and his gang of vampire outlaws follow half a day behind. During the chase, Slate rescues a girl and has to get her out of harm's way. Their journey leads to a desert ghost town, Rio Muerto, where Slate will face his greatest challenge in the ultimate battle between good and evil.