Marder's wife is dead. The news about her family in Mexico was the coup de grâce, and she left this life as deliberately as she lived it. He blames himself, as does his son, who hasn't spoken to him for too long. Marder lives alone, works alone, and feels alone. After yet another piece of shattering news, he makes a plan. But he doesn't count on his old friend Patrick Francis Skelly--who knows him better than any other living person--joining him. Like two deranged soldiers of fortune looking for a fight, they head off to Mexico. Marder thinks he knows who his enemies are, but even he cannot anticipate what he's up against in his search for revenge.