Sergeant Tom Valens, a dedicated Los Angeles police officer, is on a high-stakes stakeout late at night when he encounters Dr. James Ruston, a prominent physician. The situation escalates rapidly, and Valens is forced to shoot Ruston. However, Valens claims that Ruston was reaching for a gun, but no weapon is found at the scene. This sets off a chain of events that puts Valens’s integrity and career on the line. As he faces public backlash and an internal investigation, pressure mounts from all sides for him to prove his actions were justified. Crucially, Valens must locate the mysterious gun he insists Ruston had and uncover hidden aspects of the reputed doctor's life.

Valens embarks on a tense journey to unravel the truth, diving deep into Ruston's past and connections. He interviews Ruston's associates and friends, trying to piece together clues that might exonerate him. The investigation takes Valens into a web of deceit, exposing scandalous affairs and illegal activities that suggest Ruston may have been involved in something far more sinister than it first appeared. Simultaneously, Valens struggles with his own self-doubt and guilt over the incident, questioning his instincts as he races against time. The stakes rise higher with each revelation, leading to moments of peril and moral complexity as Valens fights to clear his name while uncovering a conspiracy larger than he initially suspected.