Even though smuggling humans is a federal crime, Director of the Texas Department of Public Safety Jim Travis sends Oliveras from Austin to Galveston, his assignment to monitor progress of the investigation, help if he can, and keep his bosses and the governor up to date on the latest developments. In addition to re-meeting alluring, saucy FBI agent Maria Esparza, he finds himself working with Tom Grady, another agent he knew from the Mexico border taskforce. He and Grady had not gotten along well in south Texas, but Oliveras must now let bygones be bygones if he is to succeed in his assignment.
Pitted against the FBI is Rafael Santiago, a Costa Rican, who treats human beings as a commodity. He has co-conspirators in Costa Rica, Panama, and Texas. A dock worker in Galveston and a Costa Rican woman are among those who aid him in his scheme to provide clandestine entry to the United States for those who can pay.
Unraveling the network takes persistence and a little subterfuge on Oliveras's part, but he soon becomes aware that he may get caught in a different kind of net. One made of silk.