Annabelle McGee is 50, divorced, and the owner of The Artful Dodger, an art shop. The story begins with a visit from an old enemy, Phayla Eberhart, former queen of River's End High School, who leaves a ghastly painting for Annabelle to sell on consignment, but soon is found dead, laid out like a cold salami in the deli case of the local grocery store.