Matthew Montgomery's quest to solve the mystery behind his wife and daughter's brutal murder has led him as far as the train tracks go: Topeka. This cautious, law-abiding man has come to this hub of sex, violence and alcohol in search of a man who goes by the name of Jason Cauldry, from whom he intends to get some answers about the death of his loved ones. And find him he does. Turns out Cauldry is lord and master of the town's brothels, enrolling all the Indian women unfortunate enough to cross his path. Desert Star was one of them. She's dead. Wakita is another, and she decides to help Montgomery find out why an assassin would trek all the way down to Washington to kill two women he'd never laid eyes upon, leaving a strange star engraved on his victim's body.