Detectives Goren and Eames start an investigation when the release from prison of a wealthy, aggressive old man is followed by the murders of his trophy wife and his lawyer.
During an interview the man maintains that he was the real target of the assassins. But matters are further confused when Goren finds a connection to a notorious and smart crook who is still in jail. The jailed man possesses the same paranoid personality and has received a hit list and is ready for an escape plan for both he and his son, the main suspect of the killings.
The case picks up speed when the detectives connect a few dots and suspect that the grumpy and vengeful old man might be involved in those deaths and more.