The monster storm "Bernardine" did more than devastate the tiny Gulf Coast community of Belle Ville. It uncovered suppressed evidence that exonerates a man wrongly imprisoned for murder. Twenty years ago Nell Jarreau identified Alvin "Pirate" DuPree as the murderer who killed her boyfriend right in front of her--and she later went on to marry the detective, now the police chief, who made the arrest. She and Clay raised a daughter and had a happy life--but now Pirate is free, leaving Nell haunted by doubt, guilt, fear . . . and troubling hints that a rot may be festering at her own family's core. For the sake of her sanity, her marriage, and the safety of those she loves, Nell must uncover the truth about a nightmare that will not end. But the search is leading her into twisting dark alleys she might never escape from . . . where a wild card ex-con waits in the shadows.