Raymond Harlan is thirty-four, a relentless detective navigating the corruption of the Roaring Twenties. Standing at six foot one with tousled black hair, tired eyes beneath heavy brows, sharp features, and a constant look of irritation, he’s a man worn down by the city he swore to protect. After months of investigating The Velvet Note—a speakeasy disguised as a respectable tea room—Raymond refuses to let the case go, stopping its singer at dawn in pursuit of the truth.