It is 1997 and Holes and Lori are growing apart as Holes becomes further immersed in his career. He learns that they have fundamentally differing views on humanity: Lori believes in the good in all people, while Holes knows that even those who outwardly appear harmless can be capable of evil.

Holes is called to the double murder of Neal Abernathy and his son, Brendon, in Hercules—an area not known for murder. As he gathers evidence, Holes develops empathy for the father and his 12-year-old son. Neal’s widow, Susan Abernathy, discovered the bodies. However, as she guides officers through the home to determine whether items are missing, her behavior seems strange.

Though his role is to collect and assess evidence, Holes offers to help investigate the Abernathy case. Holes finds four potential suspects in Neal’s personal life but remains suspicious of Susan, who quickly announces her plans to remarry and remodel the home where her husband and son were killed. The police receive an anonymous letter advising them to look into a life insurance policy on Neal. Despite many compelling suspects, however, the case goes cold when no concrete evidence can prove anyone definitively responsible.