Professor of Anthropology David Woolcloth has disappeared in the midst of a controversy over the returns of Native American remains. When his body is found on the eve of an international conference in the chamber at the state museum where the remains are stored, Director of Campus Security Leroy Simpson and Detective Tom Big Lance search for his murderer among those who might have wished him dead, including advocates on both sides of the controversy, his professional rival, his wife and his lovers. Simpson, who has never dealt with a murder case before, receives little respect as a campus security officer, and Big Lance, as the only Native American on the local police force, is unpopular among his peers. Although their investigation is hampered by their status as outsiders among law enforcement officers, their long-standing friendship allows them to cross cultural boundaries as they search for the killer. Fans of detective fiction, residents of the Great Plains and anyone interested in the difficulties faced by Native Americans will enjoy this book.