In the small town of Ardenton, Iowa, one would not expect much action. Then a car blows up outside of town. An escaped convict shows up...and is killed on arrival. Another car is stolen from a wealthy retired businessman. And that businessman hires John Smith to protect him.

John Smith, a former police detective, has moved to Ardenton to start a private security agency and agrees to take the job. Suspicious cops, the dead convict, and his own client all have secrets to hide. As the case continues, John has a startling realization: the target on his client's back has shifted to his own. As he scrambles to put the pieces together, he realizes he has to shake a murderer off his trail...or die trying.