Four years after his wifes death, art history teacher Derek Gaines has finally made a kind of peace with himself. He tries his best to stave off memories. His days are ones of familiar routine. Guarded against further pain, he keeps relationships at a safe distance. Its all part of his necessary transition to surviving alone. If anything is truly responsible for Derek making it back from the brink its his edifying work as a consultant for auction houses -- and indulging a consuming sideline job: tracking stolen art. But Dereks latest hunt will lead him toward challenges both professional and personal -- that hes not prepared to face.
