Tim Hess is a semi-retired veteran cop staring at a death
sentence - his own. In the throes of a losing battle
against cancer, his time is literally running out. Three
times divorced, childless, Hess is the classic loner cop -
and he's happy to accept the job held out to him: tracking
down a ruthless killer who's been abducting beautiful
young women from Orange County. Merci Rayborn has a
reputation for causing trouble. Brash, ambitious, and
impatient, she hasn't devoted any time to her personal
life, and she's not terribly popular with her peers or her
superiors - a matter that isn't helped by the sexual
harassment case she's recently filed against some fellow
officers. Hess isn't thrilled to be taking orders from
this difficult yet smart young woman. And he certainly
isn't planning to fall in love with her....