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Winter 1777
While the Revolutionary War rages up north, Faith Clarke struggles to survive in an economy that has faltered since the war's onset. Cut off from her family in Pennsylvania, she has never felt more alone. When a group of Virginia Militia takes over her tavern for quarters, she is relieved to have the income even as she wonders what trouble this will bring. The troops are young, undisciplined, and led by the mysterious Captain Hoag. When rumors run rampant regarding an imminent invasion, Faith finds herself caught in the panic. Adding to the discord is her young brother Seth's obsession with an enslaved woman owned by the prominent Randolph family.
When the body of an enslaved woman is found strangled outside the market, tensions flare as a frightened populace looks for someone to blame. When a second enslaved woman is found murdered, accusations fall on Seth, whose volatile behavior leaves him open to suspicion. Faith is torn between who and what to believe. Did his love for one woman lead him to silence others? Shortly after his arrest, one of her staff is raped a stone's throw away from Clarke Tavern. Having such a violent act happen so close to home galvanizes Faith. She has to discover the truth.
Despite the increased military presence, deaths continue. An evil presence has soaked the besieged town in fear. No one knows what is more terrifying, the threat of British invaders without, or a cold-blooded killer within. When Seth escapes, Faith realizes time is running out to prove his innocence. He has angered the wrong people who see him as a threat in more ways than one. When a young soldier is found dead next door, Faith realizes that there is more going on beneath the surface. Someone is willing to do anything to keep a secret. Faith seeks answers among the free and enslaved, hoping someone reveals the answer. As losses mount, she realizes there is no greater loss than to lose everything one holds dear.
