The town of Norbold, England, is famous for its low crime rate, thanks to the zero-tolerance policy of Chief Superintendent John Fountain. And new police recruit Hazel Best is happy to keep it that way. Lying with his dog in a jail cell at the local police station while recovering from a concussion, Gabriel Ash hears the last words of a man who is later found beaten to death. He's certain they contained a hidden message, but no one believes him. And Hazel Best must now decide whether pursuing the truth is worth her career.