Maggie Gardiner, forensics expert for the Cleveland police department, and Jack Renner, a homicide detective with a killer secret, return in bestselling author Lisa Black's new thriller as they confront the darkest threat yet to their careers-and their lives.
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The body of fifteen-year-old Rachael Donahue-abandoned by society, raised in foster homes, and violently unapproachable-has been discovered at the bottom of a stairwell at Firebird, the secure facility for juvenile offenders in Cleveland. For Maggie and Jack, Rachael's death comes with a disturbing twist-the girl may have been involved with a much older man.
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But Rachael's not the only resident at the center to come to a dead end. Firebird's ten-year-old owild childo has overdosed in the infirmary-back-to-back tragedies that appear to be terrible accidents. As a forensic investigator, Maggie knows appearances can be deceiving. And Jack knows all about deceit. That's why they both suspect a cold-blooded murderer is carrying out a deadly agenda.
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As Maggie's ex-husband gets nearer to uncovering the secrets that Maggie and Jack must hide, it becomes increasingly harder for them to protect a new and vulnerable victim from a killer with unfathomable demons.
