Ray Sleet is a sleuth who recognizes a payday when he sees one. So, when a mysterious woman named Elvia Fleer appears at his office in the middle of the night, he's enticed by opportunity. Elvia's husband, wealthy hotel owner Ernst Fleer, is missing. If Sleet can find him, he might just be able to keep the lights on at his agency—and then some.
But much like the city they play in, Ernst Fleer's life is full of secrets and lies. In every dark corner, Sleet uncovers a new clue about Ernst's shady dealings, including the debts he owes and the people he's wronged. As Sleet continues to dig, he learns that casino licenses are being awarded throughout the city, and some people will do anything to get their hands on one. It seems that Ernst Fleer was a gambler, and he may have made the ultimate wager: his life. All points seem to converge on a grotesque criminal known as Thresher Gore. Anyone in the city can be bought for the right price, criminal and cop alike. No one knows this better than Thresher Gore, who has a reputation for getting exactly what he wants no matter what he has to do to get it.
The closer Sleet gets to the truth, the more muddy things become. Ernst's enemies are becoming Elvia's, and in turn, Sleet's. As Elvia's seductive draw grows more powerful, he'll have to work to protect both her and himself. Sleet will have to risk everything to get his answers, but simply asking the right questions in this city can get a man killed.
