Traumatized by a recent life-or-death investigation, Sharon McCone flees to her ranch in California 's high desert country to contemplate her future. Deep depression shadows her days and nights, and a chance encounter with a troubled, highly secretive Native American woman begins to haunt her dreams. Even though she is determined not to investigate anything during her stay--and perhaps not ever again--McCone is drawn into the plight of the young woman and her dysfunctional family. A murder and traces of violence at a deserted resort lead her across the desert and into Nevada , and finally to a remote and isolated ranch, where danger lies closer that she expects and where her future and life itself may hang in the balance.