At a sleepy New England college an elderly professor, Henry Triggs, becomes embroiled in turmoil beyond his comprehension. A young woman student goes missing and issues of clandestine booze, drugs and murder suddenly undermines college harmony, trapping Triggs in a spiderweb of trouble and the college in a an unexpected nightmare.

Torn by some of his own long-standing issues, he finds that confronting a vicious drug kingpin requires much more moxie than simply playing by college rules. Calling on the steadying influence of his recently departed wife and some loyal friends made over time in town-gown relationships, he stumbles through investigations that are both dangerous and bittersweet. New challenges in both academic and non-academic life change forever his outlook on the peace and quiet of college life.