Fifteen-year-old Rachael Donahue-abandoned by society, raised in foster homes, and violently unapproachable-has been discovered, dead, at the bottom of a stairwell at Firebird, the secure facility for juvenile offenders in Cleveland. For Maggie and Jack, her death comes with a disturbing twist-the girl may have been involved with a much older man. But Rachael’s not the only resident at the center to come to a dead end. Firebird’s ten-year-old wild child has overdosed in the infirmary-back-to-back tragedies that appear to be terrible accidents. As a forensic investigator, Maggie knows appearances can be deceiving. And Jack knows all about deceit. That’s why they both suspect a cold-blooded murderer is carrying out a deadly agenda. As Maggie’s ex-husband gets nearer to uncovering the secrets that Maggie and Jack must hide, it becomes increasingly difficult for them to protect a new vulnerable victim from a killer with unfathomable demons.