Alex Reynolds is not what one could reasonably call a "dog person" ) although his mother, Jean, and his lover, PeterLivesay, most assuredly are. So when their friends Mason andRyan need someone to care for their beloved West HighlandTerrier, the only one who isn't thrilled is Alex himself. Butthe long week is over, Mason and Ryan have returned from theirtrip to Washington and to Alex's relief, it is time to return Muffin . But Alex's relief is short)lived. Ryan comes home one day to findMason brutally murdered, Mason's doll collection destroyed, and the house thoroughly searched. Shortly thereafter, Ryan is alsomurdered. Now, in addition to the rest of the consequences oftheir untimely deaths, Alex has the one thing he never wanted ) custody of Muffin. The killers now mistakenly believe that, in addition to inheriting their friends' annoying dog, Alex and his family havethe missing artifact. And they are more than willing to kill again if it isn't returned very soon.