A mutilating knife-killer haunts the small Southwest-desert town of Mescal. Though most victims have been prostitutes| the first was none other than Travis Mescal|
the only son of the town's first family. When the Sheriff proves unable to solve the case| the town leaders invite Investigator Burns to unravel the mystery. Along
the way| he confronts tension with the Sheriff| trouble with some citizens| and finally a killer whose motive we've heard before in Ripper-lore.