New Mexico, 1943: Emily Schwarz, the Anglo teacher at the isolated Pueblo of San Antonito, discovers the corpse of a nineteen-year-old boy, his blood mingling with the muddy waters of the tiny Rio Chiquito. Who shot Juan? His cousin? A jealous girlfriend? Emily's good friend then vanishes, followed by the disappearance of Juan's little brother. Aided by Gregorio Cruz, the tribal sheriff, and by the mysterious Mr. Shepherd, Emily's quest for truth leads to small Hispanic towns, Native American villages, and Bohemian Santa Fe. The search ultimately endangers her own life, and the investigation broadens. Is this a local killing, or could wartime secrets be at risk in this sleepy backwater?