Publisher's Synopsis
A slip of paper with coded information is found outside an abandoned warehouse in New Orleans by immigration authorities just after a hasty exit by illegal immigrants. When the newly-appointed FBI Director, Steve McMann, hears of the discovery, he believes that information may be tied to suspicious coded web activity already on his radar in D.C. This development gives McMann another opportunity to engage the consultation services of former FBI cryptologist, Haley Browder. He does so with the hopes he will persuade her to come back into his life, from years before personally, as well as professionally.Still reeling from the sudden ending of her short, but intense, relationship with Jay Thibodaux, US Marshal, Haley immerses herself into her job as Deputy Sheriff as well as the new case with the FBI. The case quickly develops into the discovery of a highly-organized sex trafficking ring in New Orleans led by a Hong Kong Triad offshoot. Jay Thibodaux in the meantime has resigned his Marshal position after learning of his family's involvement in the criminal conspiracy that led to his prior protection detail with Haley. The detail ended with his being shot, and with his ending his relationship with Haley. In an effort to refocus his life, he takes on the restoration of a mid-1800's plantation in rural Louisiana. During the initial work on the property, a mysterious letter appears along with ghostly crying sounds.Haley's FBI work is side-tracked mid-stream when Jay reaches out to her wanting to renew his relationship with her. Haley and Steve work to discover who is behind the present-day slavery, while Haley and Jay once again work together to solve the mystery behind the long-ago message found and the haunting of Jay's new home.
