There are too many people with secrets. Michael LaSalle knew who they were and what they wanted to hide. That's probably why he's dead. Ageing Indianapolis private detective Deets Shanahan is asked by an old enemy to investigate a murder - one to which his old adversary could be linked. He says no, but Howie Cross, Shanahan's sometime partner, takes the case and finds links to the crime in lush and decadent New Orleans, where he looks for something - anything - that will shed light on the case.