Mark Darrow grows up to become a trial lawyer thanks to Lionel Farr, a professor at Caldwell College. It s time for Farr to ask his protégé to return the favour: a scandal threatens to destroy Caldwell. Returning to Caldwell as president opens old wounds. Sixteen years before, he discovered the body of a student at the base of The SPIRE, the bell tower that dominates the campus. His best friend, Steve Tillman, was charged with Angela s murder and given a life sentence. Darrow begins his own inquiry into the murder, and is convinced that the killer is still at large.