Abducted in the middle of the night, ten-year-old Ashley Gibson needs a saviour. Small town detective, Tony Petrocelli, must find her before it's too late. To achieve his goal he must break solemn promises, violate his own code of ethics, and bend the law. Despite a troubled marriage, an uncooperative police chief, and a talented but flawed partner he must work though false leads and a media frenzy in a race against time to rescue Ashley. Detective Petrocelli has one important ally - the victim. Ashley uses her wits and experience with her controlling, and sometimes cruel, father to manipulate her captor and keep herself alive long enough for help to arrive.