"Ellie stops for a friendly chat with gardener Eduardo Fuentes while patroling one of Los Angeles's premier concert halls. A few minutes later she's shocked to discover him lying at the bottom of a staircase, clinging to life and whispering something indecipherable. Nearby, the father of Xu, a Chinese classical musician superstar, claims Fuentes was knocked down while attempting to steal his son's multi-million dollar cello, a story Ellie has trouble believing. Meanwhile, Ellie has issues of her own to deal with, like the curious theft of her car, a 1969 Buick Skylark. But after the gardener takes his last breath and Xu mysteriously disappears, it's clear to Ellie that she must act quickly before someone else falls silent" -- From back cover.