Micah Ann Cameron, recently retired Public Works Director of a Cincinnati suburb, a petite, independent, and feisty modern-day version of a female John Wayne (sort of), sees herself as sweet and lovable. Tiring of her life of leisure, Mac opens a cute little shop, "Boutique Serendipity: Gifts and Guns," and gets herself elected to City Council. Roxanne Brydwell, ex-wife of Councilman John Brydwell and the only other woman on council, seeks Mac's help when her daughter disappears. Despite her doubts, Mac agrees to help Roxy at the same time she agrees to help Annie, whose bipolar sister has returned after five years away and is terrorizing the family. Friend and employee, Diane, calls excitedly to tell Mac that her shop's big plate glass window has just been smashed. Unwittingly, Mac finds herself drawn into a web of murder, drugs, WMDs, gangs, and general mayhem, and she winds up a target herself.