Caryn Castle, a small town police officer in the Midwest, kills a man in self-defense while on duty, a traumatic event that shakes her confidence. At the same time, in Florida, an ex-husband, Jimmy Castle, is involved with a mob hit man in a rip-off of drug money. Double-crossed, Jimmy manages to swipe the loot but makes the mistake of heading back to his hometown. He is pursued by the initial hit man, the Pray-er, and another gunman, Luis Santana, who was in on the heist. A cat-and-mouse game ensues in which Caryn finds not only herself but also her family in danger if the money isn't returned to the Pray-er and Santana. Her only hope of saving herself and the people she loves is to either cooperate with the Pray-er or to outsmart him. Re-arming herself, Caryn vows to bring the pursuit and the danger to an end in a face-to-face encounter. One certainty exists for her: not all the players will survive the crucial hour. | Castle's Keep by Thomas Cox, Paperback | Indigo Chapters