Shelly O'Reilly, seeking a quiet life in Alpine, Texas, stumbles upon a hidden mural and a copper box containing a journal, photograph, and coin in her old church. With her niece, Leslie, and trusty beagle, Bruce, she unravels a century-old mystery tied to the powerful Thorne family. The journal reveals a dark past of land disputes and murder, witnessed by Elena Valdez, whose photograph they also find.

As Shelly and Leslie delve deeper, they face threats and intimidation from the Thorne family, who are desperate to keep their ancestor's crimes buried. With the help of a local historian, Dr. Elena Ramirez, and trusted friends, they race against time to expose the truth and bring justice to the victims of a century-old crime.