When a former classmate begs Pleiti for help on behalf of her cousin - who’s up for a prestigious academic position at a rival Jovian university but has been accused of plagiarism on the eve of her defense - Pleiti agrees to investigate the matter.

Even if she has to do it without Mossa, her partner in more ways than one. Even if she’s still reeling from Mossa’s sudden isolation and bewildering rejection.

Yet what appears to be a case of an attempted reputational smearing devolves into something decidedly more dangerous - and possibly deadly.