Valerie Cole is a pediatrician looking forward to her summer break. She dreams of beaches and martinis, of good books and sunbathing. Instead, she finds herself coaxed by her charming brother into a working vacation, two weeks in a remote Mexican city where his nonprofit has just opened a free clinic.

Something goes wrong almost immediately, and Valerie finds herself locked in a dingy trailer in the middle of nowhere with a man she recognizes as an ex-con thanks to the tattoos that cover his body. He claims she was in an accident near his home, and that the storm that led to her accident prevents him from getting help.

Valerie thinks he’s lying, but can’t imagine what his motive might be. Is he a kidnapper, set on the ransom fund her father set aside years ago? Or is he really just the good Samaritan he claims to be?