Waikiki, Hawaii. Golden sunshine. Waving palm trees. Sparkling water. To Hawaiians, it's a guiding principle the law of the splintered paddle; to private eye Ava Rome, it's a calling to protect the defenseless. Jenny Mordan is a working gilr who falls victim to a police detective's harassment. She turns to Ava Rome for help, Ava devises a plan to take the detective down. Cassie Sands is a teenager who, failing to find acceptance at home, seeks refuge with a marijuana grower. Ava finds the girl and returns her to her father after taking the grower down. Norman Traxler did ten years in San Quentin nurturing his hatred of Ava Rome, the young MP who took him doen for assaulting a prostitute. Afte his release, he stalks Ava, fueled by his desire to take everything away from her.