When an unidentified, well-dressed man is found dead on Navajo land, Sergeant Jim Chee immediately senses a setup. Federal authorities quickly swoop in to shut down the investigation, claiming a tragic hunting mishap. But Chee suspects the murder is tied to a staggering royalty scheme stretching to Washington, D.C. Meanwhile, rookie Border Patrol Officer Bernie Manuelito snaps photographs of an exotic ranch on the Mexican border—unwittingly capturing a clue to the crime. To uncover the truth and keep Bernie safe, Chee must untangle a web of political corruption before it claims its next victim.