Hes been on the job for 20 years, and has a pretty wonderful life with his wife and 14 year old son, Jacob. All that changes when one of the sons friends is killed in a particularly brutal crime in the park. His body is covered with leaves, looking like a spur-of-the-moment crime. Barber is on the case and involved with every aspect of the crime until it becomes obvious that Jacob may be guilty of the crime. Barber is taken off the case, and chooses to defend his son in court. The family begins to fall apart as the doubts creep into the marriage and in their belief in their son. Of course, since this is a legal thriller, there are lots of hidden secrets and twists and turns along the way.