It is New Year's Eve, nearly six weeks into an off-and-on , effectively cutting it off from the outside world. But now there are reports of a plane down in the Quilak mountains. With the National Transportation Safety Board unable to reach the crash site, ex-Trooper Jim Chopin is pulled out of retirement to try to identify the aircraft, collect the corpses, and determine why no flight has been reported missing. But Meanwhile, PI Kate Shugak receives an unexpected and , a charge that could change the face of the Park forever.