Private Detective Spenser is on his easiest job yet. Art professor Ashton Prince has hired him to help recover a stolen painting. The thieves will return it in exchange for a ransom. All Spenser has to do is accompany Prince just in case. & collect his fee. But as Prince walks away from the exchange towards Spensers car carrying the wrapped painting it explodes. Prince is gone & with him Spensers cash. Starting to investigate Spenser discovers Princes past is far from squeaky clean but nothing warrants going to such unusual lengths to kill him. Who did it & why?