"Two years ago an Amish man, Joseph King, was convicted of murdering his wife and sentenced to life in prison. Now King has escaped. Armed and desperate, he turns to Chief of Police Kate Burkholder to prove his innocence."--

Eight years ago Joseph King was convicted of murdering his wife and sentenced to life in prison. A "fallen" Amish man and, according to local law enforcement, a known drug user with a violent temper, King has escaped, and is headed for Painters Mill. When King shows up and kidnaps his five children from their Amish uncle's house, Chief of Police Kate Burkholder know he is armed and desperate with nothing left to lose. Fearing for the safety of the children, Kate is led into an ambush, but King releases her unharmed and asks her to prove his innocence. Kate embarks on her own investigation to discover the truth.