A steamy hot August in San Diego, California. The rotting body of an immigration attorney, Diego Ortiz found with a Mexican stiletto protruding from his chest.

Disgraced Jake Smith is back from Arkansas and set up a private investigation service. He has been keeping a low profile, not wanting to confront his old nemesis, SDPD Detective Stephen Lyle.

Now fruitless with the death of his only client. Smith has no choice but to insert himself in the investigation. It is a race to bring him down. The Federal alphabet agencies, the SDPD, the Melendez Drug Cartel or someone else is all in the running.

Diego Ortiz has a long list of enemies. So many adversaries. So many want his empire. No one knows his past. No one knows his real name or even if he is a licensed attorney. The controversy piles up. The mystery runs deep. From the underbelly of San Diego to the streets of Tijuana, nobody is above suspicion. The chases, the tortures, the arrests, the clues are all there.

Can you figure it out before the final chapter?