 Frank arrives in North Dakota to investigate a series of horse murders. Normally the Millennium Group would not get involved in this, but the killings have a ritualized element to them and Frank fears that the killer may soon escalate his activities. He encounters resistance from farmers who react with disgust to his analysis of the killer s sexual motivations, and from local veterinarian Dr. Vaughn who is disgusted with the hypocrisy of farmers who mistreat and slaughter their horses asking for help when someone else kills them. Although Frank hopes to head off the killer before any human lives are lost, the man is already starting to shift his fantasies from horses to women.