A cold case starts it all-human bones discovered beneath the Martian soil in the alien Disty's main city. The Disty evacuate, believing the area contaminated. Forensic anthropologist Aisha Costard investigates and discovers that the bones belong to a woman last seen thirty years before. But the woman didn't vanish, nor did anyone believe her dead. She Disappeared, along with her children, after being charged with crimes against an alien civilization. Costard believes the children hold the key to this mystery, but she can't find them on her own. So she returns to the Moon to hire Miles Flint. As Flint investigates, events move swiftly around him, and suddenly what began as a simple murder case turns into an incident that might destroy the entire solar system.... "Wonderfully plotted and written, this fourth entry in Rusch's Retrieval Artist series is a compelling read." -RT Book Reviews "An exciting, intricately plotted, fast-paced novel. You'll find it difficult to put down." -SFRevu "Like the other volumes in the series, this one combines elements of taut thriller, PI murder mystery, and SF." -Locus