In 1970 Chicago, Parker Spooner, actuary and private eye, married with four children is hired by Frank, a college physics professor, to find Nicole, a former student who is missing and who Frank loves. Nicole is bothered by a dark secret that she wouldn't convey to Frank. Parker finds Nicole's boyfriend, Dave, murdered and later locates an alive and beautiful Nicole. Richard, a gruff neighbor, who once made a pass at her, along with Nicole, and George, her angry father, are all suspects in Dave's murder. On another case, Parker investigates Miles, financial officer of an investment firm, for Natasha Pillsbury, president of the firm run by her disabled husband, William. Parker finds nothing wrong, which is the assessment of the outside auditor, Jeremy Wilson. Natasha is bothered by a doppelganger, and Miles is shot dead in a sleazy motel room. Paula Dean, Miles's lover, and Jeremy testify while an affair between Natasha and Jeremy muddy this case. Parker now has two murders to solve and an attraction to Nicole that jeopardizes his marriage. But Parker also has unexplained "insights" that show him connections among events. The nature of these insights, whether they are psychic, religious, or quantum is not clear, but they come unexpectedly to Parker and enable him to solve the cases and bring resolutions to multiple issues that will reveal surprise after surprise to delighted readers.
