It is 1990, and urged on by demanding parents, Laurie Davis begins searching for her missing, mercurial, older sister, Alison. The family, all archaeologists, has homes in St. Augustine, Florida, and Santa Fe, New Mexico. But beneath their success and wealth, the family seethes anger and betrayal centered on a book that Alison's writing. Alison, always a few steps ahead of Laurie, as she searches for her in New Mexico, Texas, and Mexico, becomes worried when disturbing things start happening. Laurie receives threatening phone calls that relate to Alison. She is almost run over in Santa Fe. Someone is upset that Alison is questioning the archaeologist establishment. One of three attractive male archaeologists that Laurie meets in her quest invites her to meetings that open her eyes to what Alison is writing about. Alison, frightened by threats to her life, finally contacts Laurie. On a last desperate trip, Laurie races to save her sister's life before it is too late.