内容简介：
An early morning call for Homicide Detective Neil Anderson proves to be more than the usual drive-by shootings or a drunken brawl gone bad on the San Antonio streets. A beautiful woman, well known in the night club scene, is found burned to death in her apartment under the most unusual of circumstances. There is no sign of cause or foul play. The apartment is undisturbed with exception of a small pile of human ashes and a scorched pair of stiletto high-heeled shoes. Thus begins a case that will change Anderson's life forever. The medical examiner rules that it is spontaneous human combustion and label's the case, "Krook's Syndrome," a literary appellation from a Charles Dickens novel. Another victim is discovered in his car on the streets of Austin and Anderson finds himself paired with Texas Ranger Captain Cody Avila. The odd couple match begins badly. Anderson has a lot of resentment towards the rangers, but Avila proves himself to be quite an investigator. The arrangement becomes tolerable. They quickly find a trail of a mysterious man named Carlos. This trail puts Carlos in the company of both victims at the times of their deaths. Carlos de Leon, a very handsome Spaniard, becomes the target of the investigation. Elaine Sanders, an attractive television reporter, carries on her own investigation and soon crosses paths with the two lawmen. She has a reputation as a tough journalist, particularly when it comes to the police. Anderson makes a deal with Elaine for her information and help and in exchange she gets the exclusive. Anderson also finds himself strongly attracted to her. Elaine, a single mother, is cautious but is attracted as well. Baron Juan Carlos Avila de Leon, the youngerbrother of PoncA(c) de Leon, found the Fountain of Youth through the ancient blood rites of the Moche Indians. The Conquistador has been walking the Earth for over five hundred years, paying the price of his immortality with the souls of his victims. His master Xocotl is the ancient god of fire and he thirsts every thirty years. Only his blood kin can stop him and can only kill him with The Rites of the Brocho de Aragon, which are carried by a secret Vatican splinter group known as The Black Deputies.