Twelve people have been shot at point-blank range and left to rot in the desert sun. It's Sophia St. Claire's job to do something about it. She's Bordertown, Arizona's new chief of police&mdash;and she's out of her depth. <P>Help arrives in the form of Department 6 hired gun Roderick Guerrero. As far as Sophia's concerned, his involvement only makes things worse. Maybe he's managed to turn his life around. And maybe he's a good investigator. But as the bastard son of a wealthy local rancher, he has a history he can't get past. A history that includes her. <P> Rod refuses to leave town until the killer is caught. He's not worried about the danger posed by some vigilante. It's <I>Sophia</i> who threatens him. Because he's used to risking his life&mdash;but his heart is another story.