As this work of romantic suspense opens, Quinn Harlowe, previously an analyst at the Department of Justice, finds her pleasant snack at a café abruptly interrupted by the appearance of her former co-worker and college friend, Alicia, clearly extremely distraught. After some incoherent, paranoid pleas for Quinn’s help, Alicia races away, and Quinn never sees her friend alive again. Although it appears that Alicia has committed suicide, Quinn doesn’t buy it. Rather, she links Alicia’s death to a mysterious complex close to Quinn’s home. She finds unexpected help in her unofficial investigation from Huck McCabe, who identifies himself as one of the complex’s guards.