When Hilda's husband, Gary, and her mother, Marion, are killed on their way to the airport, it seems like a tragic accident. But Hilda's friends--Claire, Tia, Gus and Amanda--suspect otherwise. They are particularly upset by the death of Marion and are determined to find her killer. Marion had worked hard, along with the rest of them, to buy and organize a home for her autistic nephew, Bill, Tia's sister-in-law, Mavis, and another young man, Roscoe, who'd all come to Edmonton from a Calgary institution for people with developmental disabilities. Claire's Aunt Gus begins the action by fishing for possible suspects at Gary's business. There she bumps into an old friend who becomes an invaluable asset to their group. Slowly some important clues emerge, thanks to another new group member--Matthew, Amanda's 16-year-old, computer-savvy grandson. These clues lead to some tense adventures on a cruise, and dangerous interactions with members of two motorcycle clubs. But still the group seems no closer to finding Marion's and Gary's killer, and Police Inspector McCoy and Sergeant Crombie are also stymied. Then Tia's baby is born and while visiting her at the hospital Claire comes across the first glimmerings of an answer.