The novel's protagonist Alex Lautrec is a former NYPD Lieutenant currently running his own successful P.I. Agency. Out of the blue he receives a call from his former wife, now residing in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She reveals that her current husband, a renowned artist and sculptor has been killed in a bizarre foundry mishap. Though declared an accident, she believes his death was intentionally staged by the foundry's owner, a larger-than-life entrepreneur named Victor Savage and pleads with her ex to fly out to Santa Fe and investigate.Lautrec views the case as sufficiently compelling to shift his case-load onto his partner's shoulders and head for New Mexico. His first discovery upon arrival is that his former wife has lost none of her considerable sex-appeal and prays he can retain his focus while house-guesting under her roof.His first call upon Savage convinces him that his client's suspicions are warranted, bolstered by a warning to back-off.