Retired Virginia General District Court Judge R. MorganArmstrong continues the adventures of B. B. Gunn and his best friend, KentClark, both twelve years old, as they are caught up in the mystery of whathappened to a young community member. The son of a local pastor is missing, whichis most unlike the lad to alarm his parents. Rather than relying on the police,the church congregation begins searching for the boy, suspecting the police maybe involved.

BB and Kent discover that their town is not free fromprejudice. Matthew Cubley is not only their friend and owner of a local hotel buthas just been appointed as the temporary prosecutor and is searching foranswers with the help of the two youngsters. The county is divided along raciallines as the case of the missing boy is partially resolved. However, thisconclusion creates more problems than it solves for the young men and the townleaders. Factions clash, and danger arrives from several sides, with theyoungsters caught in the middle!