Private investigator Tess Grey's latest case involves tracking down Hayley Cameron, a young girl who has fled after discovering that she was adopted. Tess, aided by her fianc� Po Villere, traces Hayley to the apartment of Madison Toner - one of Hayley's college friends - in Bangor, Maine.

Despite Tess's pleas, Hayley refuses to return to her adoptive mother. Both Tess and Po believe there's more to her running away than it seems, especially when they see Madison's father bloodied and beaten. Concerned for Hayley's well-being, they conduct a stake-out.

When thugs turn up to extort Madison and Hayley, Tess and Po feel duty bound to get involved. But what are the girls embroiled in? Who are after them and to what lengths will they go? Tess and Po don't know it yet, but events are about to grow deadly.