More than anything in the world, Pauley wants a family; as an infant, he was left on the doorstep of the police station in Mesalinda, Texas where he is now a homicide detective. He was never adopted. More than anything in the world, his pregnant wife Marty wants him to quit the police force. But he likes his job and he worked hard to get where he is. His dilemma deepens when he is faced with the biggest challenge of his career-a bloody murder with no apparent motive that leads to an increasingly complex and baffling case. As the solution to the mystery grows more and more elusive, he must make a decision: appease his wife, or solve the crime. Elizabeth Jordan was raised to believe she is special. And she is. She is focused and tidy and thorough, and she is beautiful; she looks like a pretty, soft little thing. However, as Pauley says, "So does a thistle, but when you touch one, you get a hand full of nasty little quills." Elizabeth's quills come fast and often. She must find a bloodless way to kill someone, and she wants to enjoy the effort, so she plays a clever game - and the body count rises, along with the suspense.