Houston has a problem only David Mason can solve.

For three years one of the most sadistic serial killers had been preying on women. Time after time he eluded the Houston police without leaving a trace. When two FBI investigative teams fail, the bureau sends David Mason back to his hometown.

Returning to Houston would bring trouble David hadn't anticipated. An ambush from his personal life awaited him. With that going on, he had to face a more critical predicament. He hadn't been in the field in years, at his request—the smell of crime scenes was affecting him.

But all this was the least of his problems: he had to match wits with the smartest killer he'd ever faced.