V.I. Warshawski's impossible god-daughter Bernie convinces her to look for August a young film-maker who has disappeared. The evidence indicates that he has gone to Kansas in the company of Emerald an older black movie actress who wants to film the story of her life. Her search takes V.I. from the military base Emerald was born on to the farm where she grew up outside a university town ploughing up past and present-day secrets as she goes. What is happening at the former nuclear missile site next door to the farm? Everywhere V.I. turns she seems to be finding more trouble - with not a sign of August and Emerald. And then trouble turns to death…

Part of the The V.I. Warshawski Series series.