It's the heart of the summer. Kids are playing in open hydrants. The water pressure is sinking, and tempers are rising. The cops of the 87th Precinct know that someone out there is fighting fire with fire. And as usual, its all about ... Bread. The bread in this case of money. Lots of money. Money lost in a warehosue fire. Money gained in extraordinarily successful, important business. Money waiting in the check-printing machine of an insurance company. Carella and Cotton Hawes have take over the arson case from indolent Andy Parker. But what they find behind a tale of fire and money is murder. Lots of it...