This story takes place in glamorous, yet crime-ridden New York City. Detective Jackson Fires has just joined The Hate Crimes squad. The story opens with Detective Fires first day in the squad. The Lead Detective, Jennifer Grainier, who is Fires direct supervisor, has received many accommodations in her years on the force. When she turns a case over to the District Attorneys office, it is so detailed and perfectly checked the case practically speaks for itself. It was due to these cases that she earned her promotion to Lead Detective First Grade, awarded to her, by the Police Commissioner. There are only four detectives in this squad and they are swamped with cases. When Detective Fires requested a transfer from Homicide, the Police Commissioner took notice. He strongly suggested to Captain Jake Henley of Hate Crimes, that he bring Fires into his squad. Their cases are handed down from other departments when they have given up. Fires has a reputation of never giving up on a case. Failure isn't an option for him. Grainier isn't sure she wants Fires in her squad so she challenges him with a case, his previous squad had given up on. A Jane Doe was found murdered in a hotel room. No identification, and no one seems to be missing her. She was tortured before being killed. This case is five weeks old and her body waits in the morgue for someone to claim her. These cases are hard enough to solve when they are fresh, can Fires find a place to begin after all this time?