Bishop Bone is asked to determine whether Paul Crosby, Lawton's Man of the Year, died from an accidental fall off his oil rig, did he jump or was he thrown. Insurance money is at stake. Bonnie Mae, Paul's mother, needs money to keep from losing the well to disgruntled investors and threatening creditors. Paul's estranged trophy wife stands to gain from his death. Her daughter from a prior marriage is pregnant by Paul. Her father and others had threatened Paul. A coil of explosive used in drilling wells went missing at the time of his death. Bone's search for that ends with a deadly surprise.

His efforts are hampered by lay preacher, Abraham, who has connections with Crosby Oil and whom Bone is suspicious.