Buck Calhoun, Tweedy's old friend, has returned to California from Maui, whereupon he buys a boat and secures it near the town of Isleton in the Delta. Once settled, Tweedy gets invited over. Buck has agreed to help his former mentor and friend, Cal Braun, a former cop and now a private investigator who's lost his daughter-in-law to murder and his son to suicide. Her body is found in the trunk of her car, his on nearby Mt. Diablo. The case has been declared closed, but Cal isn't satisfied. Plagued by unanswered questions, he asks Buck to investigate. At first Buck declines Cal's request to investigate, reasoning that Cal has the knowledge and experience to undertake his own investigation. Cal persists however and Buck relents, but only after warning him that the investigation could lead to more grief. Cal accepts that possibility insisting that only the truth will bring peace. Tweedy is recruited by Buck as a fellow-assistant, a role Tweedy feels obliged to accept as a friend of many years.