A seasoned but burnt-out Kern County deputy sheriff named Joe "Deke" Deacon returns to Los Angeles for what should be a quick evidence-gathering assignment. While there, he becomes embroiled in the search for a serial killer who is terrorizing the city. In contrast to Deke's approach to policing is LA Sheriff Department Sergeant Jim Baxter, a young hotshot detective who is leading the manhunt. Deke's hunches and unorthodox methods of investigation are both a boon and a source of friction, as Baxter finds himself intrigued and influenced by the older cop's instincts.

Amid their investigation, the duo zeroes in on a creepy and cunning suspect—though the evidence against him is circumstantial. As they relentless dig deeper, Deke's past comes to light, and the chase becomes personally and professionally dangerous. Deke must confront a haunting secret from his career while Baxter grapples with the dilemmas and pressures of such a high-stakes case. Interwoven with the pursuit is Deke's own journey of redemption and reconciliation with his inner demons as he tries to prove that the sum of all the little things can indeed blow the lid open on crimes that sit heavily on his conscience.