In a small town in Texas, Sheriff Sam Deeds unearths a 40-year-old skeleton in the desert, reigniting interest in the unsolved murder case of brutal Sheriff Charlie Wade. The discovery dredges up long-buried secrets and reawakens old grudges in the racially divided community. Sam, the son of the beloved and legendary Sheriff Buddy Deeds, finds himself delving into the past, a journey that forces him to confront his own complicated history with his father and the town's history of corruption, violence, and prejudice.

As Sam digs deeper into the investigation, he crosses paths with Pilar, a local teacher with whom he shares a romantic past. Their reconnection in the present day becomes intertwined with the town's history as the investigation exposes the entangled narratives of the town's residents, both Anglo and Mexican-American. The inquiry into the identity of the skeleton and the truth about Sheriff Wade's death threatens to turn longtime allies into adversaries and long-held beliefs into dust. Throughout his search for answers, Sam encounters resistance from those who want the past to remain buried, leading him toward an uncomfortable truth that challenges the town's and his own understanding of justice and legacy.