Harsh January rain falls on a sick homeless man...Roaming the dark streets of Los Angeles, Ray Cobb wants nothing more than a dry place to sleep. But his night is far from over.The comfort of his Chinatown squat has been tainted by murder and Ray is the only suspect in the killing. To clear his name, he must turn to his old friend, Detective Nick Archer. But Ray is going to have to prove his innocence without Nick's help. The detective is dealing with a bizarre murder case of his own.Low Seward, the biggest action star in the world, has just been found shot and mutilated in a dirty Skid Row apartment. Nick only has two leads - a packet of mysterious purple powder found on the victim and a set of whacked out witnesses glued to the floor.Ray and Nick's investigations collide as they slide deep into a pulp noir world of drugged out movie stars, indentured Ukrainian hitmen, and a fastidious florist prone to kidnapping.Mistakes from the past resurface and both men learn reckless decisions can have dire consequences.