Retired Denver Chief of Police Sean Mills retires to a southern New Mexico town in hopes of leaving his police career behind him. This is not to be. A horrific murder in his retirement community intrudes, but he is prevented from investigating by an incompetent sheriff. Humiliated after a second murder, he and his wife leave town to visit old friends. A third murder takes place in his absence. The Governor of New Mexico reaches him at the home of his friends and begs him to return and take over the investigation. He agrees and returns to his retirement home fearful the investigation has been so bungled it may be impossible to stop the murderer before he kills again. Assisted by a young policeman from the city, his first priority is to find a connection between the victims.
