A homicide detective hunts a serial killer, only to discover the prime suspect's son is key to uncovering a deeper, familial conspiracy. Homicide detective Ellen Ridley of the SFPD is pursuing a serial killer targeting young women in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her investigation leads her to Stephen Tregear, a hacker and code breaker, whom she believes is the perpetrator. However, Tregear is not the killer; he is the son of the actual murderer, Walter Tregear. Ridley and Stephen must then collaborate to find Walter, engaging in a deadly game of cat and mouse as the body count escalates.

The premise sets up a tense thriller with a complex familial dynamic at its core. The narrative appears to focus on the escalating danger as the killer's body count rises, necessitating a race against time. The partnership between the detective and the killer's son suggests a dynamic where trust and suspicion will be key elements. The story is likely to explore the psychological aspects of confronting a dangerous parent and the moral ambiguities faced by the protagonists.