Amid a series of unsolved rapes in San Diego’s beach communities, attorney A.J. Hawke is retained to represent David Caine, a college student accused of raping and killing his girlfriend. Claire Rewake. The young man is also being treated as a suspect in the other rapes. David claims he is innocent of any wrong doing, even though the police produce a “confession.” Meanwhile, the power brokers at City Hall—including the Presiding Judge—attempt to suppress media coverage of the rapes because the tourist season is going into full swing and their financial interests are at stake. In the preliminary hearing, Hawke successfully convinces the judge to dismiss the case against David because the investigators used psychological manipulation—the controversial Reid Technique—to coerce the confession, and DNA evidence suggested the dead woman was raped by someone other than David. But when David attempts to take his own life, believing he is responsible for his girlfriend’s death, all bets are off. He is placed in the county mental health unit, on suicide watch. He confesses to killing Claire in a fit of rage after he found her in her bedroom following the rape, and he is sent to a rehabilitation institute in Oregon. \tThe rapist’s DNA is subsequently linked to a martial arts expert, which leads to a showdown between him and Hawke, a mixed martial arts expert and former cage fighter. The fight ends in a draw, and the rapist gets away. But at the memorial service for Claire, the attendees learn that the police believe they have the rapist in custody. This sets up the sequel: The Return fo the Sphynx.