Little Woody Swope was gravely ill. Treatment was possible, if painful. But his parents, members of a bizarre sect called The Touchers, threatened to take him out of hospital. Then Woody was gone. So were the Swopes, leaving their motel heavily blood-stained. Enter Alex Delaware, child psychologist, young, burned out and semi-retired. He and his LA cop friend Milo find a heap of suspects - an ageing ex-hippy doctor; a back-country police chief; a male stripper; even Nona, Woody's sister, a flame-haired Lolita with hate in her eyes and larceny in her soul. But the truth was more bizarre that even Alex could have imagined...
