A contemporary crime mystery set in Saint Paul, Minnesota, BACKWASHED finds young Dion Drury confronting his past twenty years after the murder of his father. Kady L'Orient, a pretty police investigator with a troubled history of her own, believes the disappearance of his mother is the key to the cold case. They form a bond as their search for the truth is hampered by the police officials originally assigned to the case. Arno St. Albans is a sergeant who comes to realize that his loyalty to Honest Mike Walerius, a city councilman and police lieutenant, may be misplaced. The characters' interactions lead to a revelation that provides both a window to their history and a possible brighter future. Damaged people find each other.

Pete Gallagher is a native of Saint Paul, Minnesota. He resides in Ramsey County.