Clifford Ratz carries the burdens of others and the weight of his own dysfunction. His story is a bruising character study of a small-town drug trafficker in the 1980s. Over the course of this psychological suspense novel, Clifford is imprisoned and framed for murder by corrupt prison guards. Later betrayed by the light of his life, who’s walking a razor-thin line of self-destruction, Clifford is forced to make a decision. Does he turn his back on her and focus on himself? Or does he protect her, consequently risking his own life?