Black Tom wears the second ring, called the sky ring. His sudden appearance keeps the people on edge, for there is no record of him prior to this summer. It soon becomes clear that Tom is mistreating Bessie, giving her meat when she's a vegetarian and injecting her with powerful drugs. There are several deaths out on the lake which Bessie is being blamed for. But no one can blame her for the murders that take place on Picnic Hill. Mason suspects Tom. Yet Tom knows how to beat the system and is never convicted of any of them. And Mason has to prove one thing...that Black Tom is not his brother.