Private detective Matt Scudder has more than once unraveled cases that seemed hopeless to the police, and risked his life to help his clients avoid prison. However, now he has little doubt: the drifter George Sadetzky is guilty of the murder of respectable lawyer Glen Holtzman. The evidence is so clear that the police are ready to close the case. And yet, at the request of the suspect's brother, Matt takes up the investigation. Step by step, he tries to establish a connection between Sadetzky and his victim in order to determine the motive. But the further Matt moves forward, the more him questions. And the most important of them - who was Glen Holtzman really and what dangerous secrets was he hiding?..