Matt Scudder, an ex-NYPD cop turned unlicensed private investigator, is approached by a drug trafficker named Kenny Kristo, whose wife has been brutally murdered despite the ransom he paid to her kidnappers. Scudder reluctantly takes on the case and starts investigating, uncovering a disturbing pattern of similar kidnappings and killings targeting the families of drug dealers. His pursuit leads him to confront a pair of psychopathic killers who seem to be targeting a very specific demographic, employing gruesome methods that suggest they take pleasure in inflicting pain and suffering on their victims.

As Scudder delves deeper, he realizes that law enforcement can't be relied upon given the moral ambiguity of the victims’ backgrounds. He teams up with TJ, a homeless and street-smart teenager who provides him with valuable insights and assistance. Together, they follow a trail of clues through the dark underbelly of the city’s crime world, which brings them closer to unraveling the killers' identities and their motives. The investigation becomes increasingly dangerous, forcing Scudder to confront his own demons while racing against time to prevent another murder.