Alistair Eugene Holmes' life depends on his ability to pass as ordinary and dull. Blending with the university's students, he enters the archeology's museum with one purpose: Steal the Death stone one of the professors has unearthed. A moment's distraction by the pretty curator gets him tossed out of the museum. When he manages to sneak back inside, the death stone has been replaced by a fake onyx. Which of the three suspects left the taunting message written in black magic? The cocky Dixon, the manipulative Olivia or the love blind Hannah?

Adventure and excitement. For twenty-seven years, Hannah Jessup has dreamt of escaping her hum-drum middle class existence. She's spent years building exhibits around the musty collection of archeological artifacts to gain the attention of one man: Cooper Dixon, the university's answer to Indiana Jones. On the eve of the exhibit's opening, she is absolutely certain his proposal is imminent.

On the big day, Coop's failure to propose is exacerbated by the introduction of his new assistant: cute, seductive Olivia Palmer. She takes Hannah's place on the spring dig, at the exhibit's opening and insinuates herself into the romantic dinner planned for Coop's return. Irritated but determined, Hannah adapts to the new rules of the game by using Alistair to make Coop jealous.

Alistair readily agrees to Hannah's plan. As her beau, he can keep his three suspects under close surveillance. Too close, in Hannah's case. His heart ignores the pretense of their courtship and doesn't care if she loves another. Attempting to clear her of suspicion, he enters her dreams only to be seduced himself. The night of the opening, his nemesis attacks.

Unexplained fires, rats and cockroaches are just the beginning and soon the dying begins.