Ardis Cole is summoned to Russia to help Grant Merlin's friend, Nikolai, locate a priceless marble statue called Neva. The life-sized sculpture vanished seven years ago along with the artist, Nikolai's uncle Treve Savik. Most people believe Treve destroyed his masterpiece then committed suicide after being jilted by the statue's beautiful model, Varina Morinsky. On the way to the Savik mansion Ardis is nearly pushed to her death in the Moscow subway. Once in St. Petersburg Ardis discovers the grave of a murder victim, buried for seven years. The search for the missing sculpture also turns into a hunt for a dangerous killer...