Nicholas Epps (Steven Bauer – “Primal Fear” “Scarface”) is a hard boiled New York City Detective whose special Police unit relentlessly attacks the mob’s narcotic empire. After a bust in Central Park goes bad, his partner is murdered, leaving Epps as the only witness. When a contract is put out on Epps’ life, he reluctantly enters into the Federal Witness Protection Program.
Assuming a new identity as John Cole, liaison for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Epps is sent off to the Navajo reservation in Arizona where’s he’s to stay until he is called to testify. He is met at the airport by a tribal police officer named Audrey Wyako (Irene Bedard – Golden Globe Nominee for “Lakota Woman”, voice of “Pocahontas”) who gives him a ride to his hotel – only to find it on fire as they arrive. Sympathizing with his plight, Audrey’s sister Elizabeth (Charlotte Lewis – “The Golden Child” “Sketch Artist”) a sociologist studying the Navajo culture, offers to take Epps in. the two immediately hit it off and a sizzling affair begins.
While Epps settles into his new surroundings, Audrey is wrapped up in the investigation of a series of suspicious murders on the Indian reservation that may be related to the theft of Indian artifacts. Her young and suspicious and superstitious partner, Robert, suspects that witchcraft may be involved. Their prime suspect is an old half-breed Navajo named Not-Lightning-Struck (Ed O’Ross – “Universal Soldier” “Red Heat”).
Meanwhile back in New York the Mafia is frantically trying to track down Epps. They catch a break when one of their plans in the police department named Stevens spots Epps in the background of a CNN interview. Wasting no time, thugs are dispatched immediately to the reservation to track down Epps and silence him for good.
As Audrey and Robert close in on Not-Lightning-Struck, the mob closes in on Epps. All converge at once in an action-packed conclusion that leaves no loose ends