A bizarre string of murders has cropped up around Seattle, heralding the appearance of the city#146;s -- if not the nation#146;s -- most brutal and insane serial killer of all time. On the case is Detective Robi "Darc" Darcmel, a brilliant investigator both hindered and helped by his high-functioning autism.When Darc saves the killer#146;s latest victim from certain death, he winds up as the guardian of a young mute girl who communicates only through simple sketches. Yet this "Janey Doe" may hold the key to understanding the murderer#146;s madness and could give Darc the vital clues he needs to keep the body count from rising. The killer isn#146;t just reveling in bloodshed -- he#146;s turning the whole of Seattle into his own nine circles of hell.But before Darc can put the final piece into place, Janey is kidnapped and Darc is invited to join the killer in an obvious trap -- one he has no choice but to walk straight in to. There, he must confront an impossible dilemma: kill Janey himself or allow all of Seattle to be destroyed.