Colt Harkan's not much of a laughing man, or he might better appreciate the biggest joke of his life. Fresh from his time undercover, his first day at Mason PD finds him partnered with Everett Kane-a man determined to stumble through life and still come up the golden boy. Makes it all look so easy, talking to people with his sun-bright smile. Everett just...cares. It's like the man can't help it. But even in Mason, Colt sees darkness at the fringes, and catching that State Rodeo case starts two unexpected obsessions-proving Patrick Combs' death was a murder, and screwing around with Ev in the backseat of their car. Seems to work out fine for them both, when Ev isn't busy with his women or his wife. One of these days, Everett's going to find the rock bottom he's digging for, and Colt can't help but push him along. The bosses won't admit it but there's more to Combs than meets the eye, and that bigshot Richard Edwards knows something for sure. Ev would say it makes him a pessimist, but Colt just has that feeling, an ice-sharp truth learned in days spent dodging death. Getting honest words from Edwards and Everett both? Might be what kills Colt yet.