Since his retirement from the Navajo Tribal Police, Joe Leaphorn has occasionally been enticed to return to work by former colleagues who seek his help when they need to solve a particularly puzzling crime. They ask because Leaphorn, aided by officers Jim Chee and Bernie Manuelito, always delivers. But this time the problem is with an old case of Joe'---his "last case," unsolved, is one that continues to haunt him. And with Chee and Bernie just back...

Reservation "Bad Boy" Thomas Begay is found dead-drunk under the La Plata Bridge ... not unusual for Thomas Begay. What is unusual, however, is the beautiful BIA investigator Patsy Greyhorse, found lying beside him ... not drunk, or even a Navajo, but very dead nonetheless. Charlie Yazzi, fresh from law school, risks his career ... and his life, to help his old friend. The answer seems to lie with the Yeenaaldiooshii ... should one choose to believe...