In 1845, California was still a colony of Mexico, and tensions were mounting against the United States. Monterey closed its ports to all American ships, and Roger Bardine, the U.S. Consul, was missing. It fell to John Hayward, a special agent for the U.S. Army, to begin a secret search to find Bardine. But things got off to a very bad start when, soon after arriving in Monterey, Hayward landed in prison for resisting arrest. His luck turned when he was paroled to serve out his sentence as a ranch hand on the nearby Rancho del Sur. Not only was he charmed by the beautiful owner of the ranch, but he could also continue his clandestine mission. And he knew his mission would lead him down some dangerous trails once he learned about the mysterious group known only as the…PHANTOMS IN THE NIGHT.