When Sandeen agrees to look into the mysterious disappearance of Phillip 'Buzz' Holland, he doesn't expect to cross dangerous members of a deadly criminal conspiracy. After traveling to Pittsburg State University, the spot where 'Buzz' Holland disappeared, he gets a huge surprise when he has a chance encounter with a former girlfriend from his own college days. Now a sophisticated woman and member of the University faculty, she has become unwittingly involved in Holland's disappearance.
Puzzling over the few available clues, Sandeen is surprised when his own well-being is threatened. Pressing on with the help of his former girlfriend and a priest with unexpected talents, Sandeen confronts several violent young men who are determined to do whatever is necessary to keep their secrets hidden.
As he pushes ever more deeply into the mystery of 'Buzz' Holland's disappearance, Sandeen learns of related acts of violence, including murder, and begins to unravel the thread connecting these crimes. As he follows those threads, he learns that trying to be an investigative writer, while at the same time owning and operating a successful espresso shop, is proving to be far more difficult than he anticipated. He will have to choose one or the other, and the wrong choice could spell disaster.
Putting most of his energy into solving the mystery of 'Buzz' Holland's disappearance, Sandeen develops an uneasy alliance with a police detective. When all the pieces fall into place, he becomes a target for murder, and only good fortune puts a straight-shooting detective between Sandeen and a determined murderer.