Jacqi Garza was abducted when she was eight. She got away but her life has gone far off course in decade since. Now she’s the prime witness to a murder. Phelan Tierney, a former lawyer, has taken her under his wing, but she’s not easy to help.

This is dark and disturbing, if ultimately hopeful. It’s a portrait of a town in distress and of some of its citizens. Some are still trying to make a difference, while others are too lost in their own pain and woes to care anymore. Jacqi seems lost in a hell due to her awful family and her trauma compounded by her own self-de­struc­tive­ness, but Phelan sees a spark in her. His girlfriend, Cass, is troubled by his whiteknight­ing. And Skellenger, the cop, feels guilty about mis­han­dling her abduction case.