Dr.Brewster’ssuicidetakesaparticulartwistwhenthepathologistdeterminesthathehadalsobeenboundandgagged.TheBrewsters,bothmedicaldoctors,ranaprivateclinicandtheirsonJohn,wholivedathome,isdoctoralcandidateinphilosophy.OnepossiblesuspectisMichaelSteppingswhothreatenedtheBrewstersandtheirnurseafterhisdaughtersufferedsevereside-effectsandisnowinavegetativestatefromabotchedoperationtwoyearspreviously.TheforensicslabdeterminesthatoneofSteppings’sthreateningletterswasalteredandMorselearnsthatBrewstermayatonetimebeenhavinganaffair,sohemustconsideranotherpossiblemotiveformurder.