Twenty-three years ago Anna North survived a living nightmare. A madman kidnapped her, cut off her pinkie, then vanished. Today Anna lives in New Orleans, writing dark thrillers under another name. She finally feels safe.<P>Suddenly Anna's quiet life takes a frightening turn. Letters start to arrive from a disturbed fan. Anna is followed, her apartment broken into. Then a close friend disappears.<P>Anna turns to homicide detective Quentin Malone, but Malone's more concerned with the recent murders of two women in the French Quarter. But after a third victim is found&#151;a redhead like Anna, her pinkie severed&#151;Malone is forced to acknowledge that Anna is his link to the killer&#133;and could be the next target.<P>Now Anna must face the horrifying truth&#151;her past has caught up with her. The nightmare has begun again.