The facts: journalist Zenia Arden is missing, her abandoned car is found with three pints of her blood splattered inside, and one of her fingers severed from her body is found close to the car. From these facts, the authorities believe there is no way she could have survived what looks to be a brutal slaying. Henry Kelly, her police officer secret boyfriend, believes he will be implicated as the murderer. Henry goes to his old friend John Grismer, an ex-police officer now insurance investigator, to help him uncover what happened to Zenia. In his search for the truth, John finds that Zenia's three supposedly closest friends - magazine editor Roz Andrews, university history professor Tony Fremont and yoga instructor Charis White - are all less than sad at Zenia's death, their lack of remorse which they are open about when questioned by John. Apparently, Zenia came unexpectedly and independently into each of their lives...

Jack Mosley, a burnt-out detective, is assigned the unenviable task of transporting a fast-talking convict from jail to a courthouse 16 blocks away. However, along the way he learns that the man is supposed to testify against Mosley's colleagues, and the entire NYPD wants him dead. Mosley must choose between loyalty to his colleagues and protecting the witness, and never has such a short distance seemed so long...