When a single painting goes missing from the traveling exhibit of European artists on display at the Oakwood Public Library, Detective Vern Hodges is assigned to the case. His knowledge of art works, being minimal, he calls on his civilian consultant, Daniel Mannheim, to help him out. Mannheim is a special education teacher at the local high school and frequent aide to the OPD. The search for the missing painting leads to murder, political corruption and the revelation of one of history's more famous painters. As a team searching for the truth, Mannheim and Hodges ruffle the feathers of power brokers at the highest level.