Myth has it that Adrien’s art deco period building houses more than his bookstore and flat in the form of an unsolved mystery – the disappearance of 1950s jazz musician Jay Stevens. But myth becomes stark reality when construction workers find a skeleton beneath the floorboards during the renovation of Adrien’s bookstore, and all evidence points to the fact that these remains are those of Jay Stevens and that he was murdered some fifty years ago. To further complicate matters, someone has been trying to break into Adrien’s building pointing to the probability that the murder and attempted nightly intrusions are somehow linked.

While the LAPD does show up to investigate, their resources are stretched and focused on current, rather than half a century old cold cases. But the nightly intrusions continue and Adrien is compelled to do something about the mystery himself since the LAPD is lukewarm on the matter. Adrien hires Jake who has quit the force and struck out on his own as a private investigator. Adrien and Jake once again become sleuthing partners, but the mystery is not the only thing that needs resolving. They quickly realize that they must come to terms with the many issues left hanging in their relationship all the while trying to not get themselves killed as they investigate the murder.

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Adrien English has finally received some recognition for his writing and his book “Murder Will Out” has been optioned by Hollywood actor Paul Kane. As a result, Adrien finds himself at a Tinseltown luncheon with all sorts of Hollywood types. Not his usual crowd, but because there are plans to turn his book into a movie he’s making a concerted effort. During the luncheon, Adrien is seated next to movie financier Porter Jones and forced to endure Porter’s self-absorbed conversation on deep-sea fishing. But when Porter Jones drops dead face down in his soup, Adrien once again finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Adrien receives another jolt when the LAPD shows up and he comes face-to-face with his former lover – Jake Riordan. Now a lieutenant, Jake arrives with an ambitious young dick named Alonzo. As they begin questioning the guests, it becomes apparent that Adrien has been singled-out as a person of interest. Adrien’s connection to Porter’s death is completely circumstantial but with forensic results pointing to murder detective Alonzo remains suspicious. With Jake’s concurrence Adrien is solicited to put his sleuthing skills to work by asking a few questions of the possible suspects. This throws Adrien and Jake together once again working to solve the crime, much to the displeasure of Adrien’s boyfriend Guy. But little does anyone know that bringing Adrien and Jake together to investigate the murder is all part of the master plan.

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College student Angus Gordon has been working at Cloak and Dagger Books as an assistant for almost a year. Although his boss, Adrien English, thinks that he is a touch on the strange side, what with his interest in the occult, he is a good employee. Besides, Adrien firmly believes that he’s young and will outgrow this nonsense, eventually. When Angus starts receiving strange and progressively life-threatening phone calls Adrien comes to his rescue by providing the means for Angus to disappear for a while at least until things calm down.

The only problem is that gruesome murders start to take place, famous authors disappear and Cloak and Dagger Books becomes the mark of a satanic cult. Add to this his association with the now missing Angus and Adrien finds himself smack in the middle of trouble again. With the body count rising, the LAPD is once again investigating. But much to the chagrin and against the advice of his sometimes boyfriend LAPD homicide detective Jake Riordan, Adrien is compelled to do some nosing around of his own. This not only plays havoc with his relationship with Jake, it also places Adrien directly in harms way.

Adrien’s life has become more complicated as of late, what with the prospects of a new family, his chronic heart problems, Satanist threats, a host of possible suspects, the question of Angus’ involvement in this sordid mess and last but certainly not least, his increasingly complex relationship with Jake. Things eventually come to a head with an altogether dramatic ending to the crime mystery and possibly to Adrien and Jake’s relationship.

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