Bob Wallace is a good man who has just had to endure a horrifying event. A short time after his daughter dies, Bob heads to a local coffee shop to sort out his thoughts. When a stranger approaches his table and asks to join him, Bob has no idea of the man's motive. As Bob reluctantly listens, the man explains he is seeking the grief-stricken. His employer has the capability to go back in time and erase people, not just their memory, in order to ease the pain of loss. All he has to do is agree and then the man will disappear, along with any indication that Bob's daughter ever existed. When Bob refuses, he believes he will never see the man again. But five months later when the man reappears, the torment begins. Barney, who appears to be a likeable fellow, takes Bob on a mind-boggling tour through religion, politics, and morality. But what Bob does not know is that there is more to Barney than he realizes. Barney's employer is an enigma. He/she has two manifestations: one is beautiful and deadly; the other is suave and charming. Both are evil. Barney is the tale of a grief-stricken middle-aged father's life-altering experiences after he encounters a charming stranger with a plan.