When Dr. Jim Bob Brady goes to visit his uncle Howard on the eve of Howard’s liver transplant for cirrhosis and cancer at University Hospital, Uncle Howard tells Brady a shocking story: He murdered his best friend in his younger days, back when he was a vagabond and rode the rails. Fearing he might not survive the surgery he asks Brady to try and locate the family of the victim and make amends as best as possible.

Unfortunately, Howard’s fears are realized, and he dies in surgery. In his uncle’s honor, Brady decides to undertake the daunting task of identifying a murder victim from 30 years ago with only a nickname and a location.

While Brady investigates, Howard’s family decides to sue University Hospital for negligence, and Brady is torn between loyalty to his hospital and loyalty to his uncle’s family—Brady’s family. Was there medical negligence? Should his uncle even have been a candidate for the transplant in the first place? And who is the mysterious technician who may have played a part?

Brady calls on his son J.J. and J.J.’s private investigation firm to help ferret out fact from fiction. As the story unfolds, and with the help of his beloved wife Mary Louise, Brady tries to determine whether his efforts will result in a colossal waste of time or in an act of atonement for the murderous deeds of his deceased uncle.