When Hannah Griffin was a little girl her home went up in flames killing her mother. It was the nation's worst murder scene, now 20 years later Hannah is investigating a child abuse case when the past comes hurtling back. A killer with unfinished business is on the loose and that makes Hannah's blood run cold.

"When a number of scientists are mysteriously killed on an insignificant scientific outpost on the planet of Loria and no alarm is raised, Commander Rickets of the Galactic Space Arm (GSA) is angered that no one can explain why. Rickets orders Lieutenant Amanda Bostick along with two armed Guardians, Sergeant Hamoud and Corporal Nasim, to investigate. All three have faced setbacks in their careers and time is against them: the GSA is demanding answers...

"On the ocean liner Mauretania, two European scientists with a dramatic new invention are barely rescued from abduction by the Van Dorn Detective Agency's intrepid chief investigator, Isaac Bell. Unfortunately, they are not so lucky the second time. The thugs attack again-and this time one of the scientists dies. What are they holding that is so precious? Only something that will revolutionize business and popular culture-and perhaps something more....