At the age of ten Jack witnesses the abduction of his mother and the return of her warm heart. The chilling experiences shape him. He becomes the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner. More family members die. His father's brain is returned after his abduction. As always there are no demands and no trails. Jack inherited the Burcher fortune and a dedicated family serial killer.
After many years of no more killings, Kayda Webster comes into Jack's life. He falls in love. She is the light in his dark world. When he thinks maybe the family nightmare is over, he hosts a Hillsborough County Fourth of July Celebration at the Burcher estate. The festivities take a turn for the worst. People drop dead around Jack. Attendees run for their lives. Kayda vanishes, leaving Jack alone.
The FBI believes Kayda, code name Little Dragon, is employed by a mystery cabal. Her mission is to deliver the Burcher billions by manipulation, murder, marriage, or massacre. Her abrupt disappearance went undetected by extensive surveillance in place at the Burcher estate. The FBI believes their marriage delay did not fit the cabal's timeline. The mass murder was another attempt to terminate Jack Burcher. They had to remove Kayda when it failed.
Jack rejects all FBI theories. He is certain someone took Kayda and now he must find her. Jack withdraws from the FBI and all Hillsborough County law enforcement who have failed his family. He searches for Kayda and answers alone. Meanwhile, the Burcher Affair appears to evolve into a national security matter that garners the attentions of the President of the United States and World-renowned forensic sleuth, Dr. Elliott Sumner.
Is Kayda Webster the Little Dragon? Is she part of some convoluted initiative by a stealth cabal taking wealth and the Burchers are just one target? Or is Kayda in love with Jack hiding somewhere? Is she evil or is she in some way protecting the man she loves? Is it possible Kayda shares in Jack's innocence and has answers that can avert an unimaginable national disaster with hideous roots in Hillsborough County?