Almost two years had passed since 'Z-day', the day dead came back to life and almost wiped out the living. Now the lines between the undead and the living were well established and humanity fought and lost ground almost daily. Behind the lines things were no picnic either. Although Des Moines was well back from the front lines the shortages of food, ethanol and luxury items had spawned an illicit trade based on sex, money and pre-Z-day political power. Rationing is a way of life and corruption is par for the course in a city where the few police left to do the job were cripples from the front lines with few resources at their disposal.
While ringing in the new year Kaylee was attacked and left for dead, her roommate murdered before her eyes. Detective Brian Nelson was assigned to find out who, or what, murdered one young woman and left the other to freeze to death in the alley. As Kaylee recovers the pair team up to find justice for her roommate in a world where justice is not a marketable commodity.