In a city of 3 million people Jake Cutter is a cop who cares more about justice as he does the law. When his partner is shot on a routine bust and Jake takes down the three men responsible he comes to the attention of Internal Affairs. An investigation clears him but it leaves Gill Deveraux, the IA inspector, with more questions than answers. Cynical, experienced and with a strong commitment to the law she sets about investigating Cutter.
Back on duty Jake is allocated as a partner to Luther Smallbone, a twenty five year veteran who is set in his ways. While investigating their first case together he and Jake clash over some small items of procedure. Jake accedes to his partner but runs his own investigation in parallel to Luther's slowly winning Luther round to the idea that his ideas and methods may have some merit.
In their investigation Jake and Luther come across a reference to the Arlington Network but they can find no reference to it within police records. When they try to follow this up outside the department Luther is gunned down in his car. Jake immediately comes under pressure from all sides to let the investigation go.
Unable to work through police channels and unwilling to leave things as they stand Jake begins his own "off book" investigation. As he uncovers more layers of deceit and deception within the city administration Jake goes further and further outside police procedure until he is left working with just one partner from his past. With IA still after him and Gill Deveraux closing in Jake has to up his game if he is ever going to truth the truth about the Arlington Network
