Dr. Catalona, esteemed professor of biochemistry, is running on empty. He has failed to do anything productive at work for so long that his university is about to fire him – tenured or not. His home-life is no better. His wife has finally had enough and walked out the door. He can't deal with either. The last thing Dr. Catalona needs (or, perhaps, the one thing) is a good confrontation. He gets one when he flees a minor traffic violation and sets a homicidal cop in pursuit of him. Dr. Catalona has made an enemy of someone he should never have antagonized. What he doesn't realize is that he and his enemy grew up at the same time in the same rural community many years ago. They were enemies then – and have been ever since. He does not realize how intertwined his life and that of his pursuer have been. Nor does he realize how interwoven are the threads of his own life. With everything going on, the next year of Dr. Catalona's life will be interesting. It will change him – if he survives.