When his latest case falls on him and his partner—quite literally—Detective Nick Markov knows the demolition of his car by a not-yet-cold body is the least of his worries. The dead body is that of prominent businessman Andrew Langan, and suicide is swiftly ruled out after Nick pursues the killers down twenty-seven flights—and loses them.

To his superiors' frustrations, Nick doesn't buy into the popular belief that Langan's soon-to-be ex-wife Augusta is behind the murder, even though she has the motive, the opportunity, no alibi and a shady past. The only reasons Nick has for going against logical dictates are the feeling in his gut and the constriction in his chest.

Augusta soon finds herself thrust back into an unwanted spotlight and her quiet life shattered. Then things go downhill. In between dodging the media, Augusta fights off a mugger, deals with a kidnapping attempt and confronts goons better dressed than she. With Nick Markov, who dredges up a past she'd rather forget and feelings she'd rather not admit to having, Augusta must race to unravel her deceased husband's perilous legacy of deadly secrets before she finds herself skydiving without a parachute.