In Eagles Landing, California, Assistant District Attorney Beverly Mendoza has been selected to prosecute a disturbing case: the brutal murder of a local judge and the rape of his wife. The defendant, Rafael Santiago, once vowed to get revenge against the judge for sending him to prison, and the judge's wife picked him out of a line-up. It seems like an open-and-shut case. But appearances can be very deceiving.

At the same time, homicide detective Stone Palmer is investigating the rape and strangling of a young woman. Career criminal Manuel Gonzalez is in custody for the crime, but he pulls the rug out from everyone when he claims he's the one who murdered the judge. Could it be a case of mistaken identity? Or two desperate, violent men out to manipulate and beat the system?