The world of New York City school politics takes a deadly turn when Hector Sanchez, the popular principal of an up-and-coming public school, is murdered. Detective Claire Codella catches the high-profile case while she's still struggling to get back up to speed. This is her first case since taking leave to battle cancer.

Still recovering and still fighting to fit back in at the precinct, Codella must contend with a new partner and an old disease to find out who killed Hector Sanchez. As she investigates, she turns up question after question—and finding the answers may cost Codella her life.