After a decade in prison, triple-killer Emanuel black is finally freed to resume a normal life. Within days of his release his ex-love - stripper and good-time girl, Melody Campion, is murdered. all fingers point to the ex-con. when the murder weapon is found the police start the search for a disgraced cop with a score to settle. they find him ... dead. then Emanuel's thirteen year old daughter, Blanche, is kidnapped. are the crimes related, is Emanuel black the link between the two incidents, or is it all a bizarre coincidence?
a frantic tale of cat and mouse as innuendo and false claims lead to frayed nerves and wrong diagnosis as crooks, bent cops and Durham's top brass are led on a merry dance.
Is the killer someone from the past holding a grudge against Emanuel Black or is it one of Melody Campion's married ex-lovers fearful of being named and desperate for permanent closure?