A prominent animal researcher is found hanged in the midst of angry protests against his experiments. Suspicion falls on Dottie Riddle, the Cat Lady of Pecan Springs -- a local biology prof whose sympathy for stray cats just might make her capable of murder. But China doesn't think so. She hires a lawyer for Dottie and starts looking around for clues. But she and Ruby quickly discover that digging up old evil is a dirty and dangerous business!