Contenu
When Tribal Police Officer Bernadette Manuelito arrives to speak at a character-building program for at-risk teens, she discovers chaos. Annie, a camper, has just returned from a solo experience hours late and traumatized. The girl stumbled upon something unspeak-able; worse still, the instructor who hiked in search of her is missing in El Malpais, the rugged lava wilderness bordering the Ramah Navajo Reservation.
The instructor’s disappearance mirrors a long-ago search in which the legendary Joe Leaphorn took a crucial role, and Leaphorn’s memory and connections come into play as Bernie’s quest exposes her to the chilling face of human evil.
Meanwhile, Jim Chee tackles what should have been an easy assignment but deadly confusion abounds. Before he can find the truth, an unexpected blizzard, suspected misuse of tribal funds, an angry tribal councilor, and the arrival of a new FBI agent complicate the dual investigations.