An explosion at the home of Copper State University CFO kills four people, including the CFO, James Donner. Sunset Hills police determine that Donner had been shot dead prior to the explosion. Acting on an anonymous tip, they find the murder gun in the office of the University Registrar, Ms. Audrey Simmonds—the romantic interest of Scottsdale Police Detective Manny Acosta.

Ms. Simmonds's fingerprints are found on the murder gun and tell-tale signs of bomb-making are found in her garage, and she was known to be on very bad terms with the Donner. Sunset Hills police arrest her on suspicion of quadruple homicide.

Detective Acosta is convinced that Ms. Simmonds is innocent, but the Sunset Hills police aren't interested in the theories of a Scottsdale detective. Acosta enlists the help of his friends, Jeff and Connie Fletcher, to help determine what actually happened.