Faith Mitchell completed a long computer seminar mandated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigations. Her mother, Evelyn, a retired police commander, is watching Faith's four month old daughter, Emma.

Faith has been through countless training exercises but when she sees a bloody handprint on her mother's door, she goes into high gear. She finds Emma locked in her mother's car, unharmed.

After she calls for backup, she sees movement inside the house and, thinking that her mother is in danger, she decides not to wait. She enters the house and finds one man deceased, in the laundry room, then she confronts two other men. She shoots one of them and the other runs away. When Faith chases him, he shoots at her and she is forced to return fire, killing him. Now, there are three dead men, but no sign of Evelyn.

Will Trent is Faith's partner. Amanda Wagner of the GBI is his boss and Evelyn's best friend. They lead the investigation. We learn that Evelyn had been the commander of the narcotics division prior to her retirment. The men in her unit were accused and found guilty of stealing money from every narcotics arrest. Although Evelyn was not part of the investigation, she took an early retirement.

Amanda and Will conduct the investigation, fearing that there might be a turf war. During this time, Will and Dr. Sara Linton are forced together a number of times and become romantically involved.

The story deals with the loyalty that Will and Amanda have for their friend, Evelyn. We also see Faith begin her own investigation. We follow the search with the supposition that Evelyn did take some money. With the evidence pointing in that direction, the steadfast loyalty shown to Evelyn is admirable, as if Faith's love for her mother.

The action moves swiftly. With an inventive plot, knock out characters and a fascinating conclusion, this is an engrossing read.