Hillston, North Carolina Police Chief, Cuddy Mangum has his hands full, and it looks like his beloved job is on the line. Just as he's being recognized, nationally, as an innovative crime fighter, and his department is ranked number one in small cities in the south, there appears to be a serial killer loose in Hillston, murdering and mutilating women. To make matters worse, this brazen killer seems to be taunting and challenging Cuddy and his best friend, Homicide Lieutenant, Justin Savile V, personally, leaving the two of them messages on the bodies, and clues in their offices, homes and cars. The entire police department is running in circles, and beginning to look both inept, and incapable of solving these crimes. As the body count rises, North Carolina politics come into play, and Cuddy and Justin are issued an ultimatum...solve these crimes, now, or turn in your resignations..... And to complicate matters, the case turns high profile when megarock star Mavis Mahar becomes the target of the killer's rage. Justin takes on the job of protecting the beautiful musician and thing turn from professional to personal as the deadline approaches and the body count rises...