“This is the deal, darling: you help me solve this murder…or I kill you.”

A year ago, Joe Davis, humor blogger/low-grade Twin Cities celebrity, found himself and his friends spending a night pursued by cops and criminals (like you do). Among the pursuers was a comely contract killer named Deirdre. Though Deirdre and Joe saved each other’s lives that night, Joe hoped to never see her again.

Looks like that hope has been dashed.

Deirdre turns up on Joe’s doorstep, pursued by the police after apparently murdering the CEO of a prominent Minnesota company. While Deirdre was hired the commit the murder, it appears to be a set up. The murder was committed before Deirdre arrived, leaving her at the mercy of the police. Now Deirdre needs Joe to help clear her name before the cops’ pursuit ends her chosen career. Joe is hesitant, but Deirdre drives a hard bargain: help her or become her next victim. Decisions, decisions.

The investigation leads Joe down a path of corporate intrigue, malfeasance and skullduggery. The suspects include an ignored wife, a jealous friend, and an ambitious coworker. How does a potentially doomed project and the death of a corporate whistleblower tie into it? These are the things Joe must figure out if he is to survive this case. All with a figurative—and sometimes literal—gun to his head. No pressure, right?