When violence from the drug wars with the Mexican cartels crosses the border into Arizona, severely injuring an old friend, Ali Reynolds steps in to investigate. Ali owes Jose Reyes a debt of gratitude for the help he gave her years earlier. When she's summoned to his bedside at Mercy Medical Centre in Tucson, it's impossible for Ali to turn away. Ali also finds her good friend, Sister Anselm, is there as well, working as patient advocate on behalf of another seriously injured victim, an unidentified border crosser who was raped and savagely beaten.