The story unfolds in an outlying neighborhood of a large provincial city. Knyazev and Zemtsov work together to combat street and domestic crime, yet they hold opposing views on how best to fight evil. Knyazev, a seasoned detective, believes that efficiency is paramount—meaning the most direct route to solving a crime. Zemtsov, a newly minted detective and former military man, takes a more humanistic approach rooted in a love for people and a belief in their capacity for positive change.

At the local precinct, Zemtsov meets criminal defense attorney Natasha Zakharova and is immediately drawn to her. He is undeterred by the fact that she is the daughter of the precinct chief—his own direct superior. However, while Natasha is fond of Zemtsov, she also entertains the advances of the son of the law firm's owner. Knyazev is close friends with a colleague, Shatalova, but there is—and can be—no romantic intimacy between them, as he remains devoted to the memory of his wife, who died a tragic death. His every thought is consumed by the search for her killer; he is obsessed with the case, and this obsession begins to weigh heavily on both Shatalova and himself.