Once, Special Agent Smoky Barrett hunted serial killers for the FBI. She was one of the bestโuntil a madman terrorized her family, killed her husband and daughter, and left her face scarred and her soul brutalized. Turning the tables on the killer, Smoky shot him deadโbut her life was shattered forever.
Now Smoky dreams about picking up her weapon again. She dreams about placing the cold steel between her lips and pulling the trigger one last time. Because for a woman whoโs lost everything, what is there left to lose?
Sheโs about to find out.
In all her years at the Bureau, Smoky has never encountered anyone like himโa new and fascinating kind of monster, a twisted genius who defies profilersโ attempts to understand him. And heโs issued Smoky a direct challenge, coaxing her back from the brink with the only thing that could convince her to live.
The killer videotaped his latest crimeโan act of horror that left a child motherlessโthen sent a message addressed to Agent Smoky Barrett. The message is enough to shock Smoky back to work, back to her FBI team. And that child awakens something in Smoky she thought was gone forever.
Suddenly the stakes are raised. The game has changed. For as this deranged monster embarks on an unspeakable spree of perversion and murder, Smoky is coming alive againโand sheโs about to face her greatest fears as a cop, a woman, a mother . . . and a merciless killerโs next victim.