A triple murder in a restaurant and Seargeant Larry Starczek (Tom Selleck) becomes the lead investigator. The prosecuting attorney, Muriel Wynn (Monica Potter) is his lover follows him and they identify the suspect in the murders. The suspect Romeo “Squirrel” Gandolph (Glenn Plummer) is taken into custody, confesses, is sentenced to death, and now resides on death row. We jump ahead seven years and Muriel is now married, and Starczek is retired. The judge in the case, Gillian Sullivan (Felicity Huffman), is being released fron prison after being convicted of taking bribes. In a couple weeks, Squirrel is to be executed. Arthur Raven (William Macy) a corporate attorney is assigned the case and try to put a stop to the execution.