When by-the-book FBI agent Megan Elliott realises that the murder victim she's investigating carries military ID, what seemed to be a simple murder enquiry turns a lot more serious. An unusual mutilation on the body causes Meg to suspect the murder is target specific, especially when she discovers another recently murdered soldier with the same disfigurement. She knows she's on to something - only then she's suddenly pulled off the case and threatened by military police, who take possession of the homeless body themselves. Forced to partner up with burn-the-book mercenary Jack Kincaid, Meg begins to realise all too soon that the killer's primary target is much, much closer to home. And that Jack really is more trouble - dangerous trouble - than either of them had bargained for...