On the last day of her life, film student Lisa Benedict stumbles onto something that no one, not even the government, wants her to see. Sur La Mer, an insane asylum for movie people, is being used to train some of the world's most wanted fugitives in the use of identities. Lisa must be silenced.

Her death is made to look like the work of a psychopath then loose in Los Angeles. He has already murdered and mutilated at least six young women. It seems a good plan until they learn that Lisa Benedict is the younger sister of one of Paul bannerman's deadliest operatives. And Carla Benedict has come looking for them.

Back east in "Fortress Westport", Bannerman has been trying to retire. he and his entire group of contract agents only wish to blend into the community, live normal lives. No one believes him. When they fly to Los Angeles, solely to find Carla, Bannerman becomes both hunter and hunted.

His enemies: the powerful, the corrupt. His unlikely allies: an actress who has not spoken since the coming of talking pictures, a deadly husband and wife hit team who had tried to save Lisa, and a maniacal killer who resents being blamed for a murder he did not commit.