Homicide Detective Kit McKittrick and psychologist Sam Reeves arrive at Mary Sherman's house after she fails to turn up for an arranged meeting with Kit's foster sister Akiko. Three weeks earlier, Akiko received a call from Mary out of the blue claiming she had information about her birth mother. Now, Kit, Sam and Akiko land on her doorstep only to come under fire from an unknown shooter and to discover Mary's dead body inside the house.

Who was Mary to Akiko? What information did she have, and why did she choose now to come forward? If her murder is not a coincidence, Akiko's safety could be at risk. Kit is determined to find answers for her sister, but every piece of information revealed just leads to more questions, and no one connected to Akiko's story is quite who they seem. And there's a major stumbling block: an injured Kit has been officially taken off the investigation, and ignoring the order could have lasting consequences for her career.

But how can she sit back when she, her sister and the people around them are in serious danger?