Two childhood friends, one black, one white, whose lives intertwined in segregated East Texas return to Longview when Harley Groves, the man credited with making them the successful men they became, is murdered. They knew Groves, who had lost both feet to the Korean War, as a kind, gentle man who just wanted to share his life with the woman he loved and never raised his voice or a hand to anybody. Except for that one terrible, memorable night in Harley's pool hall called "The Chicken Shack."