Tough, no nonsense, Marine vet, Alden Rockwell has lost his bid for re-election as sheriff of Maksville County. Reluctantly, he settles into retirement, accepting that Preston, a smooth-talking, more politically savvy cop has taken his place, a cop he mentored. Alden's wife has died, and still grieving, he spends much of his time tending to the chickens, pigs and house pets she loved on their farm. Even his daughter, Ember, who is following in his military footsteps, and about to deploy, can't ease him from his malaise. Alden's good friend, Sheriff Clint Thorne, has been re-elected in neighboring York County. Alden and Clint go way back, growing up in their respective counties and serving together in Vietnam. Their friendship is solid; made up of good-natured banter, sincere concern, and the kind of code passed between two law enforcement professionals who've worked cases all their lives. They'd been the two-county duo for years. While investigating a mysterious symbol that's appearing in more and more places in York County, Clint gets a little too close to the truth. Clint's wife pressures Alden to look into the shooting. Alden starts poking around for answers, and certain people are not pleased. As Alden works to seek the truth and find justice for his friend, he's drawn deeper into a web of crime, deceit, corruption, and evil threatening to take over the town, a web only he can untangle.