In a seedy downtown Los Angeles motel called the Shangri-La, death stares up at homicide detectives Bouchard and Kleinfield. Leah Fuentes, a celebrated actress, is at the top of her profession. She is married to wealthy businessman Mark Buzzelli, who owns the Buzzelli Construction Corporation in Los Angeles, and is also the CEO of the Wilton Trust Company in San Francisco. During their investigation, Bouchard and Kleinfield uncover information that the IRS has Buzzellias Wilton Trust Company under surveillance. Bouchard and Kleinfieldas investigation centers on Buzzelli and his two nefarious business associates, Stefano Valon and Vincente Peraldo. The motel manager is later found murdered. Did he see something he shouldnat have? Someone is systematically killing off people connected to Buzzelli and his organization, but who and why? A murder, long past, sheds light on their case. Bouchard and Kleinfield eventually come face to face with the killer.