The past will not stay in the past. Ancient murders have ripple effects through time. Places have auras. People have memories. The house on Russian Hill brought them and their secrets all together -- the billionaire ex-con, the preservationist, the homicide cop about to retire, the Chinese oligarch who honors his ancestors, and the monster in search of an identity. The California drought exposes a riverbank and a skeleton, setting off a chain of events where murder is the preferred form of negotiation and secrets are the currency of choice in a world where no one is quite innocent and every one must confront unexpected demons.